Hilda Grace Houston

Funeral service for Hilda Houston of Mansura will begin at 3:00pm on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Starlight Baptist Church (3538 LA-1, Marksville, LA 71351) with Rev. Van Keith Jones officiating. Burial will follow at Starlight Baptist Cemetery in Hickory Hill.

Hilda Houston, age 83, passed away on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria. Born in Echo, Louisiana, she carried the warmth of her southern roots wherever life took her. She was her parents' only daughter, holding a singularly precious place in her family. She later moved to Minnesota, where she lived & worked (Control Data) for many years and raised her family. In her later years, her journey came full circle as she returned home to Mansura, Louisiana, spending her golden years surrounded by her family's love, care, and laughter. Hilda shared many devoted years of marriage and went on to walk faithfully and independently in her later season.

After her mother's passing, Hilda gracefully rose to become the cherished matriarch of the family— who proudly saw five living generations of women rooted in her enduring legacy of Grace. A woman of quiet strength, she lived the calling of Proverbs 31:20: “She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.”Hilda opened her heart and her doors as a foster parent, offering refuge and care to vulnerable children who needed a safe home. She also worked for many years in the transportation service department for the Marksville Sheriff's Office. Affectionately and reverently known as Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma, Nanny, Sister, Mother-in-law, Aunt, Cousin, Neighbor, and Friend, she was a force of nature. She was headstrong, fiercely protective, and blessed with a spicy personality that let you know exactly where you stood (IYKYK).

Nothing brought her greater joy than being with family, watching her soaps, gaming on her tablet, and catching up on all the town tea. Even as her health challenged her in her later days, she lived with Grace and rarely complained. Today, she is freed from the heavy oxygen tanks and earthly weariness, standing tall and walking upright on streets of gold—for “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.”(Revelation 21:4).

Those left to cherish her memory are her children: Keran Jones, Bonita Leviege (James), Cynthia Houston, Gentry Houston (Tonja), and Ketrich Houston; her brothers, Raymond Jones (Gloria), Marva Jean Jones (Nancy), and Kelly Ray Jones (Mary, deceased); 19 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; 14 nieces; 4 nephews; 1 daughter in-law; 1 son in-law; grandnieces, grandnephews, and a host of cherished cousins, extended family, and lifelong friends.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers: Travis Jacobs, Ke'Jwan Houston, Kai Horton, James Leviege, Jr., Maricell Leviege, & Derrick Roy, Jr. Honorary pallbearers: Kelly Ray Jones, Mava Jones, Raymond Jones, Keran Jones, Gentry Houston, Ketrich Houson, James Leveige, Chavez Jacobs, Vincent Seiss, Derrick Roy, Sr., & Marquese Jones.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence Jones, Sr. & Ethel Jones; brothers, Ferguson Jones and Clarence Jones, Jr.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Escude Funeral Home (318-964-2324) 6608 Porterie St. Mansura, LA 71350.