Andrea Melou James

Andrea Melou DeBlieux James, born February 4, 1939, in Natchitoches, Louisiana, passed away peacefully at her home in Woodworth, Louisiana on May 9, 2026, after a brief illness, surrounded by family.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Melou will be celebrated at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church in Alexandria, Louisiana on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 11:00 am, with Rev. Paul M. LaPalme officiating. Interment will follow at Henderson-James Hill Cemetery in Boyce, Louisiana under the direction of John Kramer & Son Funeral Home.  Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the funeral home, with a Rosary being held at 6:30 pm in the Kramer Chapel. Visitation will continue Thursday from 9:00 am until 10:30 am at the funeral home.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hyams DeBlieux (Kathryn Melou Brown DeBlieux); her former husband, William Fielding James, Sr.; her son-in-law, William “Bill” Cecil Hatter; and her brother-in-law, Julien Vienne.

She is survived by her son, William Fielding “Colt” James, Jr. and wife Angela “Angie” Legendre James of Woodworth; her daughters, Kathryn Melou “Sissy” Jones and husband Kevin “Bart” Jones of Woodworth and Claire Rebecca “Becky” James-Hatter of St. Louis, Missouri; her brother, Henry DeBlieux (Carol); and her sisters, Diane Vienne, Marteel Henry (Skeeter), Claire Weaver (Billy), and Lynn Havard (Doug).

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Fielding Michael James and wife Leslie of New Orleans, Allyce James Carbine and husband Matt of New Orleans, Madeline Melou Jones Hebert and husband Gavin of Ellington, Connecticut, and Margaret Ann Jones of Lafayette; and her great-grandchildren, Hudson Calvit James, Marilyn Melou James, Hattie James Carbine, Silas Geary Carbine, MeiLan Melou Hebert, and Ann Corinne SongZhu Hebert.

She was born and raised in Natchitoches and graduated from St. Mary’s High School. She later married and moved to Boyce to raise her family. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend.

Melou worked most of her life, including time with the Kisatchie-Delta Planning District and the Rapides Parish District Attorney’s office where she spent the majority of her career as a legal secretary.

She was a great cook, an avid reader, and loved to travel with her friends and family. She also loved the game of bridge and her bridge community, achieving the distinction of Life Master in 2019. Through bridge, mahjong and travel, she made great friends, and she treasured those friendships.

Pallbearers will be Fielding James, Matt Carbine, Gavin Hebert, Frank Willis, Matthew “Keppy” Keppinger, Houston Keppinger, Bart Jones and Michael Arbour.

Honorary pallbearers will be James “Jam” Downs, Larry DeBlieux, David Marler, Danny James, Skeeter Henry, Billy Weaver, and Doug Havard.

We would like to send our heartfelt gratitude to her caregivers who were provided by Exceptional Care over the last few weeks: Cathy Lemmons, Christa Charrier, Molly Edwards, and Justine Littleton. In addition, thank you to the staff of Passages Hospice, specifically Heaven Pavolich and Janice Coty.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Henderson-James Hill Cemetery, 160 Clubhouse Drive, Woodworth, LA 71485.