Obituary of Virginia Eubanks Cruse

Funeral services for Virginia Eubanks Cruse, age 79 of Columbia, Louisiana will be held at 10 AM Friday, January 4, 2019 from the chapel of Riser Funeral Home, Columbia, Louisiana with Bro. Stacey Pitman officiating. Interment will follow at Bratton Family Cemetery, Kelly. The family will receive visitors from 5 PM until 8 PM Thursday, January 3, 2019 at the funeral home.

Mary Virginia Bratton Eubanks Cruse was born August 18, 1939 in Kelly, Louisiana to the union of David Bratton and Minnie Leona Johnson Bratton and she passed from this life January 2, 2019 at the Rapides Regional Medical Center after a short illness. Virginia was known and loved by so many people in the community. She directly contributed to the obesity rate in Caldwell Parish due to the candy, cakes, pies, canned jellies, soups and gumbo she made for friends and family. This love for cooking for others was driven solely by the smiles that she received in return for her goodies. In the fall of the year she would often be seen picking up pecans to use in her candy. She picked up pecans right up to the time she was hospitalized. Many people were also recipients of her crocheted crafts. Virginia had a servant's heart, always helping others in any way she could. She was awarded the Louisiana Advocate of the Year for her tireless work at the Council on Aging in November of 2003. Her plaque reads "in recognition of quality advocacy on behalf of persons with disabilities and senior citizens." She was a special lady, known as "Granny" by many neighbors and friends. She will be truly missed by her family and her friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her two previous husbands: Floyd C. Eubanks of Enterprise and Raymond Cruse of Grayson and fifteen brothers and sisters.

Left to cherish her memory is her son, Sidney F. Eubanks of Columbia; her daughters: Nita Harris and husband, Brad of Colorado Springs, CO and Hattie Eubanks Smith and husband, Michael of Frisco, TX; two beloved grandchildren: Ashleigh Smith of Frisco, TX and Aidan Harris of Colorado Springs, CO; brother, Darrel Bratton of West Monroe; sisters: Clara Rutledge of Morgan City and Ruth Bratton of Pineville; a special niece, DeWanna Pitman of Olla; special nephew, James D. Bratton of Olla and a host of other beloved nieces and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers will be Aubrey Bratton, Ray Bratton, Mitch Bratton, James Bratton, Steve May and Justin Eubanks. Honorary pallbearers are Clay Bennett, Patrick Lucius and Jerry Eubanks.