Velma La Cuesta

Velma LaCuesta, age 104, passed away peacefully at her home in Gulfport on April 9, 2015, surrounded by family.
Mrs. LaCuesta is preceded in death by her husband, Henry LaCuesta; her parents, Jack and Cora Jane (Newton) Lindsey; her sister, Ouida Leggett; and her grandson, Matthew May.
She is survived by her children, Dr. William (Linda) Whitfield of New Iberia, Louisiana, Brenda (Peter) Verchinski of Commerce, Texas, Charlotte (Donald) May of Mobile, Alabama, Dr. Rick (Della) LaCuesta of Gulfport, Rita (George) Huth of Daphne, Alabama and Stacy Hardy of Diamondhead; her brother, Sam (Sue) Lindsey of Eucutta, Mississippi; her grandchildren, Janet (Kevin) Newcom in Arkansas, Scott Whitfield in California, Gina Sullivan and Lisa (David) McDuff in Texas, Amber LaCuesta in Mississippi, Tony (Tessa) May in Alabama, Josh (Penny) LaCuesta in Maryland, Jonathan (Anna Kathryn) Huth in Virginia, George Huth in South Carolina, and Kristi (Stephen) Wilson in Alabama; her 31 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Mrs. LaCuesta was born in Eucutta, Mississippi, on November 17, 1910, and was raised on a farm. The oldest of three children, she lived through the Great Depression and came to appreciate from an early age tough times and hard work. In the 1940s, she moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and shortly thereafter, married the love of her life, Henry LaCuesta. Mr. LaCuesta passed away in 1956; she never married again and focused on raising 6 children. While not an easy road, she found a way to see that her children were educated, and as a result, presented with opportunities she never had. A true matriarch of the family and loving mother and grandmother, she derived her joy from her family. She was a simple woman and touched many lives, helping raise not only her own children and grandchildren but many other children on the Mississippi Coast, as a babysitter. Lots of fond memories were made playing in her back yard, referred to as the ""garden,"" and she loved to be surrounded by children. Many knew her as the Sweetheart of Courthouse Road; she loved her yard and could often be seen gardening, cutting the grass, or tending flowers while adorning an old fashioned bonnet. She kept her yard up well into her 90's. Her house was always open to family and friends, and she often cooked a ""country dinner"" daily for her son, a local Periodontist, and anybody else that happened to drop by; the vegetables mostly coming from her garden. Most afternoons, she passed the time sitting on her porch and loved to tell stories of her earlier life growing up during the depression, world wars, and going from horse and buggy to automobiles and jet planes. Later in her life, her daughter, Charlotte May, decorated her yard for each season. What the earthly world lost with her passing, the eternal Kingdom gained. She now sits on a golden porch, welcomed by those that have gone before us, and has many stories to tell, particularly to her husband. May your gentle spirit always soar high with the Angels, and when you've been there 10,000 years; bright shining as the sun, you've no less days to sing God's praise than when you first begun.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Humane Society of South MS, 2615 25th Ave., Gulfport, MS 39501
Visitation will be held on Monday, April 13, 2015, at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Rd., Gulfport, where friends my gather from 12:00 - 2:00PM.
The funeral service will follow at 2:00PM in the chapel.
Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery.
Memories may be shared at www.rimannfamily.com.