Extracted from The Shreveport Times (Shreveport, LA)
Friday, September 27, 2002

Martha O'Neal DeLee

SHREVEPORT, LA - Engaged with life, given to helping others, and active in many circles, Martha O'Neal DeLee passed on to glory and new life Wednesday, September 25, 2002. Born in DeRidder, Louisiana in 1919, she moved to Shreveport in 1928 with her parents, Judge Robert Jonathan O'Neal and Emma Louise Brown O'Neal. She became a member of Noel Memorial United Methodist Church and maintained her membership in that great house of God. Her hands touched many people there: she was a leader in the Rasmussen Sunday School Class, a teacher in the Ceramics Ministry, a volunteer in the Neighborhood Ministries and Food Pantry, and a church office volunteer. In addition, she was a founding member and twice president of Chapter M of the P.E.O., and a member of the Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity, Beta Gamma Chapter (Centenary College, 1937), for whom she was a national traveling consultant.

She was married to Dr. Stuart De Lee, who practiced medicine in Shreveport and was Coroner of Caddo Parish. Her husband of 54 years preceded her in death in 2000. Mrs. DeLee is survived by her daughter the Rev. Cornelia DeLee of Berryville, Arkansas two sons, John Stuart DeLee of San Antonio, Texas, and Thomas Michael DeLee of Texarkana, Arkansas. In addition she has several grandchildren: Rebecca Koss Turecki of Crescent City, California Jonathan Tarleton DeLee, Hudson DeLee, and Kathryn DeLee of San Antonio and Alexandra DeLee of Texarkana. Her sister, Marjorie O'Neal Snider and her nieces Merrill Anne Snider Walker and Claire DeLee Melton also mourn her passing, as do the three great -grandchildren.

The celebration of life service will be at Noel United Methodist Church, corner of Highland and Herndon, on Saturday, September 28, at 3 p.m. with interment to follow at Forest Park Cemetery. Family visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday at the Rose- Neath Funeral Home on Marshall Street.

The family requests that memorials in lieu of flowers be given to one of the following ministries: Noel United Methodist Church's Neighborhood Ministry or the Scholarship Fund, 520 Herndon, Shreveport, LA 71101, or to the Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity Foundation Martha O'Neal Beta Gamma Religion Grant for second career women entering ministry, 8702 Founders Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268.

Rose-Neath Funeral Home
Marshall St. Chapel, 222-0348