Violet Vestal Humphreys Phelps (September 12, 1926 –January 30, 2021) announces she has permanently relocated to her new address on Golden Street in New Jerusalem. There will be a marker at Zion Hill Cemetery outside of Farmerville, LA, commemorating her years here but she wants everyone to know: “You’re welcome to come visit my marker and remember the times we shared together but I am not actually there! Of course, you can also remember me every time you enjoy some hotwater bread, purple-hull peas, a grilled cheese sandwich, a good salad before a steak, hot, buttery popcorn, a chocolate malt, make a crock of ice tea with a pinch of baking soda, or drink a cold glass of ice tea with block ice! I no longer need that old body. God gave it to me over 94 years ago through my parents Vera Idelle Roark and Roy Humphreys. It served me well. But it was not made for my new location; it was too vulnerable to time and disease. My new one is perfect for eternity! I’d like to ask Dwight Phelps, Dennis Phelps, David Phelps, Jarod Williams, Mike Roark, to escort that worn out and used up body for deposit at Zion Hill. I would also like to ask Larry Humphreys, Steve Rugg, John Cobb, Gerald Cummings, David Roark, Jerry Roark, Robin Roark, Ken Durden, Monty Phelps, Barry Phelps, Donnie Phelps, Billy Carpenter, and Perry Hancock to ensure they do it well! Thanks guys, until you are better paid!”

During her 94 years on this earth, Vestal was a devoted resident of Louisiana, living in Caldwell and Ouachita parishes. She was fueled by coffee and Jesus. She and her husband, Vaughn, worked with and cared for each other before his going ahead of her in 2008. Vestal now has finished all her journeys here and new adventures are already unfolding.

Vestal met Vaughn while she worked at the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office and he worked at Monroe Hardware. They saw each other for the first time during lunch at the local Woolworth Five and Dime in downtown Monroe. His handsome looks, strong personality, and practical intelligence immediately captured her heart. They were married at Stone Avenue Methodist Church in Monroe on December 19, 1948. Their adventures began and continued for almost 60 years together, including sharing hundreds of games of Rook on Sunday nights with Reeds and Hendersons, as well as Saturdays at D’Arbonne Lake.

Vestal was a proud 1943 graduate of Ouachita High School and attended business school where she learned shorthand, typing, and basic bookkeeping. She was a long-time member of First Baptist Church West Monroe and loved her Sunday school class while she was able to attend. She treasured all of her family (immediate and extended: Roarks, Humphreys, Cobbs, Phelps, Williams, Ruggs) and enjoyed hundreds of friends. Before retiring she served for decades as the office manager and personal secretary to her husband and their small aluminum construction business, Phelps Distributors Home Improvements. For several years she also worked at C & O Electronics. She raised two sons on Louisville Ave. in Monroe before moving to Fontana Rd., next to a small house where she and her older brother Milford lived as teenagers. Most recently she enjoyed being a resident of Christus St Joseph Assisted Living in Monroe and remains grateful for the compassionate and dedicated staff who helped her, especially these past few months.

Vestal wants to share the following report:

“Many of you know that my biological dad died while my mom was giving birth to me. I never knew him. However, I was raised by my mom and Mr. D.A. “Jess”Smith (who married my mom), as well as my older brother (Milford) and many aunts, uncles and cousins during my childhood. Guess what! I have now met my biological dad, and been reunited with my mom and Mr. Smith, as well as so many of my uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, and my precious mother-in-law Ila. They all preceded me here.”

“My Louisiana homes were always important places to me. For 42 years Vaughn and I helped others improve their houses and businesses. However, the Master Builder here perfectly understands what I need, without my even asking. My new home is better than I could have imagined. Some of you shared your clothes, cars, or furniture with me at some time during my life there. Thank you, until you are better paid. But here everything is always new. Many of you know how my house on Fontana Rd was broken into, vandalized, and burglarized several years ago. There are no locks on any doors or windows here because we are absolutely safe and secure. Remember how I often would lose my keys? Well there is no need for keys here. I never really lived in a neighborhood there; our neighbors lived a distance away or were often other businesses. But here I have absolutely wonderful neighbors. We love to visit. No one gossips or judges. Everyone thinks the best of each other. And Girl, my laughter here seems to go on forever. It’s absolutely the most awesome place. It’s absolutely heavenly.”

Vestal continues, “Now Girl, I am not just sitting around in a rocking chair, riding on a cloud, eating chocolate and drinking coffee. I have work to do, both challenging and very rewarding. It actually doesn’t even seem like a job at all; it is a labor of love and adoration. It’s awesome.”

“Girl, you may not believe this (most people don’t) but my new home was completely paid for in advance for me by my Master Builder. It is all a gift from Him. It all belongs to Him. I just had to accept it, which I did many years ago as a young person. No taxes. No maintenance. No secrets. It is absolutely all mine as a gift because of Someone else. The Master Builder did all the work. I couldn’t have done any of it anyway. I just needed to trust Him and depend on what He did for me when He died for me on a cross outside the walls of Jerusalem. I have now seen Him face-to-face. He is absolutely awesome!”

Vestal wants all of her family and friends to know that she doesn’t have a worry in this world anymore. “There is absolutely no fear, stress, or anxiety here. There is no darkness, pain, sorrow, or sadness. My fingernails have grown and are beautiful for the first time in decades. There are no politics here. I never have to open all those endless campaign contribution requests mailed to me or listen to all those TV ads. In fact, I just realized that not only do I not have a TV, I don’t even have a mailbox anymore! We don’t need them. And I don’t need a cassette tape or CD player. The live music in my new home is angelic and absolutely out of this world. I can hear it perfectly without any hearing aids. I add my strong alto voice when the choir sings. It is awesome, like I never had throat cancer. Our grateful hearts are turned always to the Master Builder, our Redeemer and Savior, the Lamb that was slain for our sin and the Lion that conquered death as our enemy, the King and Lord – Jesus. Some of you heard me talk about how great and loving and powerful and awesome He is, but now I know that my words fell far short of the reality. He is amazing!”

Vestal is 100% confident that this is her last move. Her new home is a mansion with plenty of room for all her family and friends who will prepare now to join her. She is thrilled to have made this final move without having to purge any closets of ill-fitted, outdated clothes, transfer her newspaper subscription, forward her mail, lug her over-sized purse, and keep a stash of Kleenex nearby.

Two sons survive Vestal in this life: Dr. Dwight Phelps of Ft. Myers, FL, and Dr. Dennis Phelps of New Orleans, LA and his wife, Robbin; 3 grandchildren: Amanda Phelps of Ft. Myers, FL, Kristen Williams of Conway, AR and her husband, Jarod, David Phelps of Chicago, IL and his wife, Emily; 6 great-grandchildren: Logan DeLisle of Ft. Myers, FL, Zoey, A.J., Rory, David, and Addy Williams of Conway, AR.

Vestal invites each of her surviving family members to join her and quickly get on the waiting list as soon as possible because “you just never know when your next and final move is. Why wait? Sometimes you have only one day to secure your place, sometimes a few years. But the time really flies by so don’t be late accepting this absolutely amazing and awesome gift because you don’t want to miss out! Dwight, Dennis, and Robbin, always remain hopeful. I am eternally grateful for all you did to help me. Thank you for your kindnesses, dedication, hard work, sacrifice, protection, provision, care, and love, even during difficult days, until you are better paid. I will be watching for you to walk through the Door someday. There is only one Door into this awesome place. Please don’t miss it. I love you. I always have and always will.”

Finally, with a lump in his throat, this reporter happily attests that Vestal is indeed living large. Rumor has it that she is on her way to a Gaither Southern gospel sing-along with her mom, both dads, her mother-in-law, husband, and a whole slew of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

From those of us left here to miss her smile, encouragement, and laughter, we say “Well done, Violet Vestal Humphreys Phelps. You were an awesome, faithful servant to Jesus, indeed. It was our privilege to call you Sis, Grandmother, MeMa, great MeMa, and Mother. Thank you for loving us so well, until you are better paid.”

The family expresses our gratitude to Christus St Joseph Assisted Living, St Joseph Continuing Care Center, and Elara Caring Hospice for the sensitive and compassionate support they offered to our mother and grandmother.

In sensitivity to Covid concerns, the family will observe a brief, mask-wearing, socially-distanced, graveside committal on Friday afternoon, February 5, at 2pm at Zion Hill Cemetery outside of Farmerville, LA. A public memorial service will be offered at a time more safe for extended family and friends to gather and celebrate our relationships with Vestal.

Financial memorials can be given to the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries (P.O. Box 4196; Monroe, LA; 71211; 318-343-2244; www.LBCH.org) in celebration of Vestal’s life.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.