TALLULAH “I fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7-9.

Lillie Jumonville Holstead, known lovingly to family and friends as “SeSe,” died Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015, leaving all who knew her to reflect joyfully on the remarkable life she lived and to cherish the legacy she created. Born April 4, 1928, in Plaquemine, La., to Enoul Adolph and Lillie Brown Jumonville, SeSe, from her earliest years, displayed charisma, quick wit, keen intelligence, and boundless energy making her, despite her petite frame, seem larger than life. She was a 1945 graduate of St. John High in Plaquemine and attended Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio and Louisiana State University.

In 1951 she married Robert A. “Racer” Holstead, and together, as esteemed members of America’s Greatest Generation, they carved a life of acclaim during their 56 years of marriage. While widely traveled with far-ranging interests, SeSe would always acknowledge that her greatest adventures centered on the time she spent with her children, son Robert A. “Robbie” Holstead Jr. (Lizette Nesom); daughters, Alexis Thompson (Bud), Heidi Mayeux, Chere Bourgeois (Al) and Lillie Holstead; grandchildren Buster Bourgeois (Sanaz), Danielle Bourgeois Clapinski (Greg), Chad Mahaffey (Tara), Brad Bourgeois, Megan Mahaffey and Hilary Thompson; and great-grandchildren Andrew and Cate Clapinski and Ace Bourgeois.

She is also survived by three sisters-in-law, Mary Jumonville, Jacqueline Jumonville and Mary Beth Carr; special cousin Tidda Roberts who was like a sister; numerous nieces and nephews; and countless friends of all generations.

Although always proud of her South Louisiana heritage, SeSe happily embraced Tallulah as her home upon moving north and for 60 years was an integral part of community life.

She was a devoted member of St. Edward’s Catholic Church. She was an accomplished bridge and tennis player who thrived on competition and gaming of all sorts. SeSe was the official “poet laureate” of the NAAGQ, an association of Louisiana Tech football players who resumed their athletic scholarships after serving in World War II.

SeSe was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and four brothers, John Enoul “Boyzie,” Alexander Edgar “Bubba,” John Calhoun “Skeezix” and Andrew Jackson “Jackie.”

Visitation will be at Glenwood Funeral Home in Tallulah on Sunday, Oct. 4 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 4:30 p.m.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, Oct. 5, at St. Edward Church in Tallulah at 1:00 p.m. with visitation at noon. Interment at Silver Cross Cemetery will immediately follow the mass. Pallbearers will be her three grandsons, nephew J.E. Jumonville Jr. and treasured friends Dr. L.P. Neumann, Tommy Bishop, Jim Tucker and Jim Brown. Honorary pallbearers are Dick Brown and Jeff Harkey.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to Doctors L.P. “Pop” Neumann and Lee Humble for their many years of devoted care.

Also special thanks are offered to the entire Tallulah community for loving SeSe and becoming her extended family.

Memorials may be made to St. Edward Catholic Church or the American Cancer Society.