Lila's Obituary

Lila’s Story...

Lila Hazel Hayes was born on March 10, 1930 to Eugene Hayes and Kathie Lee Mack in Trinity, Texas. She took an early interest in cooking as a young child climbing on a chair trying to help her grandmother cook. As the eldest of her siblings, she always felt responsible for them and in turn was a very devoted and protective big sister. Lila attended Booker T. Washington High School and later married Ira Ligon Jr. on January 16, 1949. Through this union, eight children were born.

Lila dedicated her life at an early age to Christ. After moving to the “Freedman’s Town” in Houston, aka 4th Ward, she joined Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church. She and Ira later settled in a new black working class neighborhood, Blueridge, Sunnyside. As an original mother of her neighborhood, many people considered her home their home as well as a safe haven. She welcomed everyone and would feed everyone. She and her late husband, Ira helped raise her brother-in-love J.W. Ligon as well as her two younger siblings, Carolyn “Tootsie” Haynes and Robert “Bubbie” Milton, as well as her niece Deborah “Debbie” Louis.

Lila was a skilled baker, cook, upholsterer, and seamstress. Her pies and cakes were infamous amongst anyone who knew her. Lila was also a soprano who could be heard singing spirituals throughout her home on any given day. She devoted her soprano voice to singing the gospel of Jesus her entire life joining the choir when she was about 13 years old. She was very strong in her faith and dedicated over 50 years of service at Greater Mount Horeb Missionary Baptist Church as Deaconess, the Mission President, Treasurer, choir member and bible study regular. Lila loved her church family and was extremely fond and thankful for the decades of friendship with her choir buddies Sister Ruth Bledsoe and Sister Shenettra Reed. She was the mother of the church until her later years when her illness prevented her from attending. She spent her last years of worship with her daughter Irene at Redemption Church of Pearland. Lila was employed by the Welch family and the Stewart family for over 40 years.

Lila and her late husband Ira Ligon Jr created an abundant family legacy as they were very strong in their beliefs and believed in being fruitful and multiplying. Lila is preceded in death by both parents Kathie and Eugene, 2 sisters Mary “Vip” Tony and Clyde Esther “Babe” Macgregor, 1 brother Sydney “Sunny” Hayes, her spouse Ira, 3 sons Michael Lyn, Dale Eugene, and Jerry Don. She leaves behind 1 son James Earl (Hattie), 4 daughters, Ira Nell, Irene Sue, Kathy Aleta, LaTiffany (Richard), 1 sister Carolyn and 1 brother Robert (Flora Jean) sister in love JohnElla Ligon Wise (ElRay) of California, brother in love JW Ligon (Erma Jean), seventeen grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, several great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and family friends.

Order of Service Processional

Scripture Reading Old Testament New Testament

Jason Hess Sean Nelson Redemption Church Pearland

Prayer of Comfort

Min. Booker T. Canty Jr. Abiding Faith Baptist Church Kevin Jones

Solo Resolution: (Obituary) “read silently”

Expressions: (limit 3 minutes) Solo

Shenettra Reed

Eulogy Min. Booker T. Canty Jr. Abiding Faith Baptist Church Solo

Recessional: Clergy, Active Pallbearers & Family

Beverly Buchannan

To my sister who I love so much, I would like to thank you and your husband for raising me and my brother. We love you and will miss you. Rest in peace my sister. We will see you again.

Your baby sister, Tootsie.

Mama, I thank God that I had a powerful and phenomenal Mother. The Queen that led our family with love, support, and guidance. To God be the glory for a loving, caring, God fearing mother. You will forever be missed and loved forever in my heart.

Love, Nell”

How I miss my mama. She was the one who introduced me to Jesus. I remember how she used to sing songs about Jesus as she did her chores throughout the day. Her high soprano voice would surround the house. She was always there for so many, sharing and caring. She took in cousins, uncles, and aunts. She was not going to let anyone be homeless or hungry.

She did not have silver or gold; but she had a delicious home cooked meal to share. As her health began to fail, she became my road buddy. I will miss the trips to Sam's, the Friday night women fellowship and Sunday Worship with her at Redemption Church, taking her to see nurse Molly and Dr. Simi, fun days at the bowling alley which started in 2019 when my friend Lila Jarrow had a bowling birthday party, and taking her with me to my friend, Vanesta's house where we had many good times. Oh, how I miss my mama! Yet, I can rejoice because I know she is at rest, safe and secure in the loving arms of Jesus.

Irene Heaven awaits your heart, and flowers bloom in your name. Fly to the angels. All the stars in the night, shine in your name.❤ Love Kathy Love to everyone here from the problem child. My grandmother was my angel on my shoulder that talked me and the twelve devils on my other shoulder out of a lot of things.

Love, Ken

Thanks Mama for your unconditional love. Thanks for leading our family by example. Thanks for always being there.

Love and miss you Tiff , Rich, Miles and Laila

To my favorite lady, Here and now I am filled with a mix of emotions; gratitude, love, and sadness. You have been an integral part of my life, and losing you brings tears to my eyes. I am so grateful for your never-ending love, support, and patience. I am proud to call you my grandmother. Thank you, Granny, for everything. I will miss you and you will always be in my heart.

I love you, Nae-nae Mother in Love I want to thank you for being such an awesome mother-in-love. When I married your son 49 years ago, I had no idea what a special role you would play in my life. From the very beginning you embraced and accepted me. I am sure there were times you had to bite your tongue. You were always there trusting me and allowing me to work things out for myself. Often, I would share with coworkers and friends about you and your many talents. I soon realized just how blessed I was to have you in my life. You have always been so strong, supportive, encouraging and such a great listener. As the years continued to unfold, I learned to appreciate and respect you more and more. I am so grateful and a better woman for the many things you taught me. I sure wish I would have learned how to make your delicious cornbread dressing. You are a very powerful Woman of Faith, an excellent Granny to James & Jason, a delightful Great Frannie to Jaidon and a pure angel of a mother-in-law to me. And I just wanted to tell you I love you I truly do!

REST IN POWER MY LADY Hattie B.

You offered kindness and greetings with a hug and a kiss each freely out of love which I will miss I chose a star in the sky at night to say a prayer for you to it’s bright light you are in God’s heavens now and no longer in pain in my thoughts you will always remain how lucky I was and how blessed I’ve been you were more than my Aunt I love you and miss you Aunt Lila Debbie

Active Pallbearers Kendrick Ligon Sr.

Robert Jackson

James Ligon II

Andre Ligon

Jerron Ligon Johnson

Richard Sauls

Marcus Ligon

Deon Wallace

Honorary Pallbearers JW Ligon

Marcus Haynes

Kendrick Ligon Jr.

James Ligon Sr.

Hannibal Milton

Deairio J. Douglas (Ligon)

Robert Milton

Jason Ligon

Miles Sauls

Daughters, Grandaughters & Great Granddaughters The Choir & Mission of GMHMBC

Special Thanks and Acknowledgements We deeply appreciate your kind expressions of sympathy in our time of great sorrow. Thanks for every card, phone call, text, email in every way that you all blessed us and especially your prayers. Each presentation of kindness and love has been sincerely appreciated. Please keep us in your prayers and we will keep you all in ours.

Final Resting Place Houston Memorial Gardens Cemetery 2426 Cullen BLVD. | Pearland, TX 77584

Final Arrangements Entrusted to: Carl Barnes Funeral Home 746 West 22nd Street | Houston, TX 77008

Program Services Provided By: Zellie’s S.A.Y. Events | mbass1869@gmail.com | 281.624.8898