EULOGY BY DAUGHTER SANDY O'QUINN WEST
Christine Allein Lehmann O’Quinn was born in the back bedroom of her parents’ house on August 10, 1933. In fact, she was born in the same bed where her grandmother had passed away just a few months before. Her family had lived on that same stretch of land in Fayette for four generations. She was born into a family with a mother and father, two sisters, and an Aunt Allein, to boot. That was just in her house. She was surrounded with extended family – Uncle Claude, Aunt NeNe, and Miriam, Ber, Uncle John, and well, probably half the town.
Being the youngest during the depression years meant for Mom that when the adults went to work and her sisters went to school, she spent her days with Mammy, and sometimes Mammy’s family, too. I imagine Mom enjoyed some of the same activities that I did when I visited Meme’s house…except the formal, white table cloth, noontime dinner meal was an everyday occurrence for Mom, with an extra place set just in case they had company. She could sit on the front porch and listen for the train whistle, roll down the hill, pick figs in the summer and pecans in the fall, catch fireflies at dusk, and roam the streets of Fayette like all the other children. Mom distinguished herself with her award winning biscuits and calf at the county fair, even though Mammy and Uncle Emmet might have had a something to do with it.
In second grade, she claims she was pestered by a boy in her class pulling her pigtails and putting tacks in her seat. These stories remain unsubstantiated, except my dad has reflected on how irresistible those two blonde pigtails must have been for the little boy sitting behind her.
After graduating to the second floor, otherwise known as high school, Christine Lehmann, out of everyone in her 13 member graduating class, was football queen of Fayette High, Forestry Queen of Jefferson County, and a contestant in the state Miss Hospitality contest. Sweeter than all of those for me, though, is the fact that Mom and Dad were Mr. and Miss Fayette High School together, a foreshadowing of their years to come.
Dad went on to be the bowl-winning quarterback for Hinds Jr. College and then on to Mississippi State, and Mom went on to Mississippi Southern and LSU. Before graduation, they were married at her home, the same house where she was born. Mom started her adult life as a naval airman’s wife, going with him to bases in Pensacola, FL; Huchison, KS; and Brunswick, Maine. She would tell of Dad flying over the house at the end of the day, tipping his wing to her to let her know he’d be home soon for supper. Soon Mom gave birth to Sharon and Chris. She came home to have her babies in Natchez and to bring them home to Fayette. Soon after, Mom and Dad settled down in New Orleans. Six and 7 years later, just when Mom had gotten her kids in school and recover from some very busy years, I appeared as their bonus baby.
I was born into my own little nest, with the Hackes on one side of us and the Walls on the other. In the midst of all the kids and crazy, Mom and Miss Joyce would have coffee every morning at 10, forging a friendship that was like family.
Over the years, Dad worked the oil business in one capacity or another and for Louisiana DEQ, covering Kingsville, TX; Baton Rouge; and New Orleans a few times. Mom earned her master’s degree in Learning Disabilities, and spent most of her career teaching and evaluating kindergarteners at the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation. She taught lots of children to read using this sentence: “If I can read, I can do anything!” She would feed, affirm, and encourage any children who were lucky enough be around her – her own children and grandchildren, neighborhood children, her students…they were all hers. But she might have loved her grandchildren the best! When each one of her seven grandchildren was born, she and PawPaw spent whatever time they could to welcome a new little person into the family.
Mom and Dad – now Meme and PawPaw – retired to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, to Diamondhead, Mississippi, which gave all their children and grandchildren a great vacation spot! My kids called it Camp MeMe-PawPaw...being spoiled by grandparents with days of swimming, crabbing, playing on the beach, crafts, and a trip into the French Quarter, too. New Year’s featured yard-sized Christmas cards in the bay and fireworks over the water, and Mardi Gras came with a golf-cart parade and more.
Mom found her niche quickly in Diamondhead, adopting the people at Woodland Nursing Home. She called Bingo for them every Monday afternoon- with prizes! Her friends at Diamondhead UMC still continue this tradition. She organized worship one Sunday a month, and in between she would bring church members there flowers for their birthday and Upper Room devotional guides. Mom expanded her ministry to become a leader in missions at the church, as well, and faithfully baked and delivered cookies to newcomers for years.
Through the years, Mom and Dad survived and thrived through the great depression of the 30’s, the oil crash of the 80’s, and Hurricane Katrina, too, all the while taking care of their family and friends. They attended every birth, baptism, graduation, and wedding possible, just to show their love and support. And when their two great grandbabies were born, well!
In the past few years, Mom’s mind might not have always been clear, but her heart was in the same place it always had been. She would worry about taking groceries to Mammy, and that Meme and Allein would worry if Mom did not show up by dark. Mom would talk about her sister, Anna, and then pause and ask, “Has she passed away? I thought so.” She told me of a great party she attended with Aunt Camille and Miriam (Byron didn’t want to go), where they saw all kinds of people from their past. She had so much fun! (at this event which never took place.) She might be sure that all her kids and grandkids were coming to visit, and be convinced that she had to go to the store to get food for everyone. At dusk, she would worry that everyone, meaning her children and grandchildren, were where they were supposed to be.
Mom had a picture of Daddy on the mantle in his flight suit from when they were first married. She would look at it while she drank her coffee and try to get oriented to the day. She liked him – I mean really like him - and told me how exciting it was to be married to Daddy. I would tell her, you and Byron have been married for 60 years now. He loves you so much he makes you oatmeal for breakfast every morning, and he eats grits! She was amazed at this. She would say she had to talk to Byron immediately. “Interrupt him and get him here, now. I have to tell him something very important.” Dad would stop what he was doing and come over. Mom would say, “I love you so much. Do you know how much? Very much. And I appreciate you. I appreciate all the ways you take care of me, and have always taken care of me.”
Mom and Dad moved to Redstone Village in Huntsville just a few months ago, and Mom had some very difficult months, with her ending up in skilled nursing. But about 10 days before she died, she told me how happy she was. Daddy was in a good place, and she thought her room was so nice. The people there were happy and treated her very well. She was where she was supposed to be. Everyone was where they were supposed to be. Last week when she passed away, my sister, Sharon, and my children, Debbie and Jeremy were with her. Jeremy told me at the end, it was so peaceful, and how wonderful it was to think that is where we will all end up, at peace.
I believe that day Mom was welcomed to her eternal home by her own mother and father, Aunt Allein, her sister Anna, her best friend Joyce, and many more of the people she loved who have gone on before. And I also believe that when it comes my time to go, she will be there to greet me, too.
OBITUARY
Christine Lehmann O'Quinn was born August 10, 1933, in Fayette, Mississippi, and passed away February 11, 2016. She was 82 years old. Preceding her in death were her mother and father, Ulabelle and Ralph Lehmann, and sister, Anna Noble, all of Fayette, Mississippi.
Left to cherish her memory is husband of 60 years Edgar Byron O'Quinn, daughter Sharon O'Quinn Mazzanti (Gary), son Christopher O'Quinn (Trish), daughter Sandy O'Quinn West (Steve); Grandchildren Damian O'Quinn (Jessica), Amy O'Quinn, Debbie West, Jeremy West, Anne Marie Mazzanti, Matthew Mazzanti, and Daniel Mazzanti; great grandchildren Layton O'Quinn and Baylen O'Quinn; sister, Camille Tedder; and loving nieces and nephews.
Chris married the love of her life, Byron. They met in second grade, and were Mr. and Miss Fayette High School together in 1952. She graduated from LSU, where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority, with a B.A. in education, and later earned her master’s degree in learning disabilities from Texas A&I.
Chris began her adult life as an elementary school teacher and a Naval airman’s wife. Through the years, Chris and Byron were residents of Fayette, Jefferson County, Mississippi; Pensacola, Florida; Hutchison, Kansas; Brunswick, Maine; and Kingsville, Texas. They lived in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for the majority of their marriage before retiring to Diamondhead, Mississippi. Recently, they moved to Huntsville, Alabama, but Chris always called Fayette home.
“Miss Chris” was well loved by the children in her own family, the neighborhood children, and her students. She taught many children to read and shaped their lives with encouragement and affirmation. Most of her career was spent teaching at the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation.
Chris was a life-long Methodist and a leader in local missions. She was accepting, non-judgmental, gentle, kind, and loving, and will be missed by so very many. A memorial service will be held at Fayette United Methodist Church on Saturday, February 20, at 2pm. Her daughter and son-in-law, Revs. Sandy and Steve West will be presiding. Visitation will be at the church at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Fayette Cemetery Association or Diamondhead United Methodist Church.
Information provided by Laughlin Funeral Home
Christine Allein Lehmann O’Quinn was born in the back bedroom of her parents’ house on August 10, 1933. In fact, she was born in the same bed where her grandmother had passed away just a few months before. Her family had lived on that same stretch of land in Fayette for four generations. She was born into a family with a mother and father, two sisters, and an Aunt Allein, to boot. That was just in her house. She was surrounded with extended family – Uncle Claude, Aunt NeNe, and Miriam, Ber, Uncle John, and well, probably half the town.
Being the youngest during the depression years meant for Mom that when the adults went to work and her sisters went to school, she spent her days with Mammy, and sometimes Mammy’s family, too. I imagine Mom enjoyed some of the same activities that I did when I visited Meme’s house…except the formal, white table cloth, noontime dinner meal was an everyday occurrence for Mom, with an extra place set just in case they had company. She could sit on the front porch and listen for the train whistle, roll down the hill, pick figs in the summer and pecans in the fall, catch fireflies at dusk, and roam the streets of Fayette like all the other children. Mom distinguished herself with her award winning biscuits and calf at the county fair, even though Mammy and Uncle Emmet might have had a something to do with it.
In second grade, she claims she was pestered by a boy in her class pulling her pigtails and putting tacks in her seat. These stories remain unsubstantiated, except my dad has reflected on how irresistible those two blonde pigtails must have been for the little boy sitting behind her.
After graduating to the second floor, otherwise known as high school, Christine Lehmann, out of everyone in her 13 member graduating class, was football queen of Fayette High, Forestry Queen of Jefferson County, and a contestant in the state Miss Hospitality contest. Sweeter than all of those for me, though, is the fact that Mom and Dad were Mr. and Miss Fayette High School together, a foreshadowing of their years to come.
Dad went on to be the bowl-winning quarterback for Hinds Jr. College and then on to Mississippi State, and Mom went on to Mississippi Southern and LSU. Before graduation, they were married at her home, the same house where she was born. Mom started her adult life as a naval airman’s wife, going with him to bases in Pensacola, FL; Huchison, KS; and Brunswick, Maine. She would tell of Dad flying over the house at the end of the day, tipping his wing to her to let her know he’d be home soon for supper. Soon Mom gave birth to Sharon and Chris. She came home to have her babies in Natchez and to bring them home to Fayette. Soon after, Mom and Dad settled down in New Orleans. Six and 7 years later, just when Mom had gotten her kids in school and recover from some very busy years, I appeared as their bonus baby.
I was born into my own little nest, with the Hackes on one side of us and the Walls on the other. In the midst of all the kids and crazy, Mom and Miss Joyce would have coffee every morning at 10, forging a friendship that was like family.
Over the years, Dad worked the oil business in one capacity or another and for Louisiana DEQ, covering Kingsville, TX; Baton Rouge; and New Orleans a few times. Mom earned her master’s degree in Learning Disabilities, and spent most of her career teaching and evaluating kindergarteners at the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation. She taught lots of children to read using this sentence: “If I can read, I can do anything!” She would feed, affirm, and encourage any children who were lucky enough be around her – her own children and grandchildren, neighborhood children, her students…they were all hers. But she might have loved her grandchildren the best! When each one of her seven grandchildren was born, she and PawPaw spent whatever time they could to welcome a new little person into the family.
Mom and Dad – now Meme and PawPaw – retired to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, to Diamondhead, Mississippi, which gave all their children and grandchildren a great vacation spot! My kids called it Camp MeMe-PawPaw...being spoiled by grandparents with days of swimming, crabbing, playing on the beach, crafts, and a trip into the French Quarter, too. New Year’s featured yard-sized Christmas cards in the bay and fireworks over the water, and Mardi Gras came with a golf-cart parade and more.
Mom found her niche quickly in Diamondhead, adopting the people at Woodland Nursing Home. She called Bingo for them every Monday afternoon- with prizes! Her friends at Diamondhead UMC still continue this tradition. She organized worship one Sunday a month, and in between she would bring church members there flowers for their birthday and Upper Room devotional guides. Mom expanded her ministry to become a leader in missions at the church, as well, and faithfully baked and delivered cookies to newcomers for years.
Through the years, Mom and Dad survived and thrived through the great depression of the 30’s, the oil crash of the 80’s, and Hurricane Katrina, too, all the while taking care of their family and friends. They attended every birth, baptism, graduation, and wedding possible, just to show their love and support. And when their two great grandbabies were born, well!
In the past few years, Mom’s mind might not have always been clear, but her heart was in the same place it always had been. She would worry about taking groceries to Mammy, and that Meme and Allein would worry if Mom did not show up by dark. Mom would talk about her sister, Anna, and then pause and ask, “Has she passed away? I thought so.” She told me of a great party she attended with Aunt Camille and Miriam (Byron didn’t want to go), where they saw all kinds of people from their past. She had so much fun! (at this event which never took place.) She might be sure that all her kids and grandkids were coming to visit, and be convinced that she had to go to the store to get food for everyone. At dusk, she would worry that everyone, meaning her children and grandchildren, were where they were supposed to be.
Mom had a picture of Daddy on the mantle in his flight suit from when they were first married. She would look at it while she drank her coffee and try to get oriented to the day. She liked him – I mean really like him - and told me how exciting it was to be married to Daddy. I would tell her, you and Byron have been married for 60 years now. He loves you so much he makes you oatmeal for breakfast every morning, and he eats grits! She was amazed at this. She would say she had to talk to Byron immediately. “Interrupt him and get him here, now. I have to tell him something very important.” Dad would stop what he was doing and come over. Mom would say, “I love you so much. Do you know how much? Very much. And I appreciate you. I appreciate all the ways you take care of me, and have always taken care of me.”
Mom and Dad moved to Redstone Village in Huntsville just a few months ago, and Mom had some very difficult months, with her ending up in skilled nursing. But about 10 days before she died, she told me how happy she was. Daddy was in a good place, and she thought her room was so nice. The people there were happy and treated her very well. She was where she was supposed to be. Everyone was where they were supposed to be. Last week when she passed away, my sister, Sharon, and my children, Debbie and Jeremy were with her. Jeremy told me at the end, it was so peaceful, and how wonderful it was to think that is where we will all end up, at peace.
I believe that day Mom was welcomed to her eternal home by her own mother and father, Aunt Allein, her sister Anna, her best friend Joyce, and many more of the people she loved who have gone on before. And I also believe that when it comes my time to go, she will be there to greet me, too.
OBITUARY
Christine Lehmann O'Quinn was born August 10, 1933, in Fayette, Mississippi, and passed away February 11, 2016. She was 82 years old. Preceding her in death were her mother and father, Ulabelle and Ralph Lehmann, and sister, Anna Noble, all of Fayette, Mississippi.
Left to cherish her memory is husband of 60 years Edgar Byron O'Quinn, daughter Sharon O'Quinn Mazzanti (Gary), son Christopher O'Quinn (Trish), daughter Sandy O'Quinn West (Steve); Grandchildren Damian O'Quinn (Jessica), Amy O'Quinn, Debbie West, Jeremy West, Anne Marie Mazzanti, Matthew Mazzanti, and Daniel Mazzanti; great grandchildren Layton O'Quinn and Baylen O'Quinn; sister, Camille Tedder; and loving nieces and nephews.
Chris married the love of her life, Byron. They met in second grade, and were Mr. and Miss Fayette High School together in 1952. She graduated from LSU, where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority, with a B.A. in education, and later earned her master’s degree in learning disabilities from Texas A&I.
Chris began her adult life as an elementary school teacher and a Naval airman’s wife. Through the years, Chris and Byron were residents of Fayette, Jefferson County, Mississippi; Pensacola, Florida; Hutchison, Kansas; Brunswick, Maine; and Kingsville, Texas. They lived in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for the majority of their marriage before retiring to Diamondhead, Mississippi. Recently, they moved to Huntsville, Alabama, but Chris always called Fayette home.
“Miss Chris” was well loved by the children in her own family, the neighborhood children, and her students. She taught many children to read and shaped their lives with encouragement and affirmation. Most of her career was spent teaching at the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation.
Chris was a life-long Methodist and a leader in local missions. She was accepting, non-judgmental, gentle, kind, and loving, and will be missed by so very many. A memorial service will be held at Fayette United Methodist Church on Saturday, February 20, at 2pm. Her daughter and son-in-law, Revs. Sandy and Steve West will be presiding. Visitation will be at the church at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Fayette Cemetery Association or Diamondhead United Methodist Church.
Information provided by Laughlin Funeral Home
EULOGY BY DAUGHTER SANDY O'QUINN WEST
Christine Allein Lehmann O’Quinn was born in the back bedroom of her parents’ house on August 10, 1933. In fact, she was born in the same bed where her grandmother had passed away just a few months before. Her family had lived on that same stretch of land in Fayette for four generations. She was born into a family with a mother and father, two sisters, and an Aunt Allein, to boot. That was just in her house. She was surrounded with extended family – Uncle Claude, Aunt NeNe, and Miriam, Ber, Uncle John, and well, probably half the town.
Being the youngest during the depression years meant for Mom that when the adults went to work and her sisters went to school, she spent her days with Mammy, and sometimes Mammy’s family, too. I imagine Mom enjoyed some of the same activities that I did when I visited Meme’s house…except the formal, white table cloth, noontime dinner meal was an everyday occurrence for Mom, with an extra place set just in case they had company. She could sit on the front porch and listen for the train whistle, roll down the hill, pick figs in the summer and pecans in the fall, catch fireflies at dusk, and roam the streets of Fayette like all the other children. Mom distinguished herself with her award winning biscuits and calf at the county fair, even though Mammy and Uncle Emmet might have had a something to do with it.
In second grade, she claims she was pestered by a boy in her class pulling her pigtails and putting tacks in her seat. These stories remain unsubstantiated, except my dad has reflected on how irresistible those two blonde pigtails must have been for the little boy sitting behind her.
After graduating to the second floor, otherwise known as high school, Christine Lehmann, out of everyone in her 13 member graduating class, was football queen of Fayette High, Forestry Queen of Jefferson County, and a contestant in the state Miss Hospitality contest. Sweeter than all of those for me, though, is the fact that Mom and Dad were Mr. and Miss Fayette High School together, a foreshadowing of their years to come.
Dad went on to be the bowl-winning quarterback for Hinds Jr. College and then on to Mississippi State, and Mom went on to Mississippi Southern and LSU. Before graduation, they were married at her home, the same house where she was born. Mom started her adult life as a naval airman’s wife, going with him to bases in Pensacola, FL; Huchison, KS; and Brunswick, Maine. She would tell of Dad flying over the house at the end of the day, tipping his wing to her to let her know he’d be home soon for supper. Soon Mom gave birth to Sharon and Chris. She came home to have her babies in Natchez and to bring them home to Fayette. Soon after, Mom and Dad settled down in New Orleans. Six and 7 years later, just when Mom had gotten her kids in school and recover from some very busy years, I appeared as their bonus baby.
I was born into my own little nest, with the Hackes on one side of us and the Walls on the other. In the midst of all the kids and crazy, Mom and Miss Joyce would have coffee every morning at 10, forging a friendship that was like family.
Over the years, Dad worked the oil business in one capacity or another and for Louisiana DEQ, covering Kingsville, TX; Baton Rouge; and New Orleans a few times. Mom earned her master’s degree in Learning Disabilities, and spent most of her career teaching and evaluating kindergarteners at the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation. She taught lots of children to read using this sentence: “If I can read, I can do anything!” She would feed, affirm, and encourage any children who were lucky enough be around her – her own children and grandchildren, neighborhood children, her students…they were all hers. But she might have loved her grandchildren the best! When each one of her seven grandchildren was born, she and PawPaw spent whatever time they could to welcome a new little person into the family.
Mom and Dad – now Meme and PawPaw – retired to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, to Diamondhead, Mississippi, which gave all their children and grandchildren a great vacation spot! My kids called it Camp MeMe-PawPaw...being spoiled by grandparents with days of swimming, crabbing, playing on the beach, crafts, and a trip into the French Quarter, too. New Year’s featured yard-sized Christmas cards in the bay and fireworks over the water, and Mardi Gras came with a golf-cart parade and more.
Mom found her niche quickly in Diamondhead, adopting the people at Woodland Nursing Home. She called Bingo for them every Monday afternoon- with prizes! Her friends at Diamondhead UMC still continue this tradition. She organized worship one Sunday a month, and in between she would bring church members there flowers for their birthday and Upper Room devotional guides. Mom expanded her ministry to become a leader in missions at the church, as well, and faithfully baked and delivered cookies to newcomers for years.
Through the years, Mom and Dad survived and thrived through the great depression of the 30’s, the oil crash of the 80’s, and Hurricane Katrina, too, all the while taking care of their family and friends. They attended every birth, baptism, graduation, and wedding possible, just to show their love and support. And when their two great grandbabies were born, well!
In the past few years, Mom’s mind might not have always been clear, but her heart was in the same place it always had been. She would worry about taking groceries to Mammy, and that Meme and Allein would worry if Mom did not show up by dark. Mom would talk about her sister, Anna, and then pause and ask, “Has she passed away? I thought so.” She told me of a great party she attended with Aunt Camille and Miriam (Byron didn’t want to go), where they saw all kinds of people from their past. She had so much fun! (at this event which never took place.) She might be sure that all her kids and grandkids were coming to visit, and be convinced that she had to go to the store to get food for everyone. At dusk, she would worry that everyone, meaning her children and grandchildren, were where they were supposed to be.
Mom had a picture of Daddy on the mantle in his flight suit from when they were first married. She would look at it while she drank her coffee and try to get oriented to the day. She liked him – I mean really like him - and told me how exciting it was to be married to Daddy. I would tell her, you and Byron have been married for 60 years now. He loves you so much he makes you oatmeal for breakfast every morning, and he eats grits! She was amazed at this. She would say she had to talk to Byron immediately. “Interrupt him and get him here, now. I have to tell him something very important.” Dad would stop what he was doing and come over. Mom would say, “I love you so much. Do you know how much? Very much. And I appreciate you. I appreciate all the ways you take care of me, and have always taken care of me.”
Mom and Dad moved to Redstone Village in Huntsville just a few months ago, and Mom had some very difficult months, with her ending up in skilled nursing. But about 10 days before she died, she told me how happy she was. Daddy was in a good place, and she thought her room was so nice. The people there were happy and treated her very well. She was where she was supposed to be. Everyone was where they were supposed to be. Last week when she passed away, my sister, Sharon, and my children, Debbie and Jeremy were with her. Jeremy told me at the end, it was so peaceful, and how wonderful it was to think that is where we will all end up, at peace.
I believe that day Mom was welcomed to her eternal home by her own mother and father, Aunt Allein, her sister Anna, her best friend Joyce, and many more of the people she loved who have gone on before. And I also believe that when it comes my time to go, she will be there to greet me, too.
OBITUARY
Christine Lehmann O'Quinn was born August 10, 1933, in Fayette, Mississippi, and passed away February 11, 2016. She was 82 years old. Preceding her in death were her mother and father, Ulabelle and Ralph Lehmann, and sister, Anna Noble, all of Fayette, Mississippi.
Left to cherish her memory is husband of 60 years Edgar Byron O'Quinn, daughter Sharon O'Quinn Mazzanti (Gary), son Christopher O'Quinn (Trish), daughter Sandy O'Quinn West (Steve); Grandchildren Damian O'Quinn (Jessica), Amy O'Quinn, Debbie West, Jeremy West, Anne Marie Mazzanti, Matthew Mazzanti, and Daniel Mazzanti; great grandchildren Layton O'Quinn and Baylen O'Quinn; sister, Camille Tedder; and loving nieces and nephews.
Chris married the love of her life, Byron. They met in second grade, and were Mr. and Miss Fayette High School together in 1952. She graduated from LSU, where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority, with a B.A. in education, and later earned her master’s degree in learning disabilities from Texas A&I.
Chris began her adult life as an elementary school teacher and a Naval airman’s wife. Through the years, Chris and Byron were residents of Fayette, Jefferson County, Mississippi; Pensacola, Florida; Hutchison, Kansas; Brunswick, Maine; and Kingsville, Texas. They lived in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for the majority of their marriage before retiring to Diamondhead, Mississippi. Recently, they moved to Huntsville, Alabama, but Chris always called Fayette home.
“Miss Chris” was well loved by the children in her own family, the neighborhood children, and her students. She taught many children to read and shaped their lives with encouragement and affirmation. Most of her career was spent teaching at the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation.
Chris was a life-long Methodist and a leader in local missions. She was accepting, non-judgmental, gentle, kind, and loving, and will be missed by so very many. A memorial service will be held at Fayette United Methodist Church on Saturday, February 20, at 2pm. Her daughter and son-in-law, Revs. Sandy and Steve West will be presiding. Visitation will be at the church at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Fayette Cemetery Association or Diamondhead United Methodist Church.
Information provided by Laughlin Funeral Home
Christine Allein Lehmann O’Quinn was born in the back bedroom of her parents’ house on August 10, 1933. In fact, she was born in the same bed where her grandmother had passed away just a few months before. Her family had lived on that same stretch of land in Fayette for four generations. She was born into a family with a mother and father, two sisters, and an Aunt Allein, to boot. That was just in her house. She was surrounded with extended family – Uncle Claude, Aunt NeNe, and Miriam, Ber, Uncle John, and well, probably half the town.
Being the youngest during the depression years meant for Mom that when the adults went to work and her sisters went to school, she spent her days with Mammy, and sometimes Mammy’s family, too. I imagine Mom enjoyed some of the same activities that I did when I visited Meme’s house…except the formal, white table cloth, noontime dinner meal was an everyday occurrence for Mom, with an extra place set just in case they had company. She could sit on the front porch and listen for the train whistle, roll down the hill, pick figs in the summer and pecans in the fall, catch fireflies at dusk, and roam the streets of Fayette like all the other children. Mom distinguished herself with her award winning biscuits and calf at the county fair, even though Mammy and Uncle Emmet might have had a something to do with it.
In second grade, she claims she was pestered by a boy in her class pulling her pigtails and putting tacks in her seat. These stories remain unsubstantiated, except my dad has reflected on how irresistible those two blonde pigtails must have been for the little boy sitting behind her.
After graduating to the second floor, otherwise known as high school, Christine Lehmann, out of everyone in her 13 member graduating class, was football queen of Fayette High, Forestry Queen of Jefferson County, and a contestant in the state Miss Hospitality contest. Sweeter than all of those for me, though, is the fact that Mom and Dad were Mr. and Miss Fayette High School together, a foreshadowing of their years to come.
Dad went on to be the bowl-winning quarterback for Hinds Jr. College and then on to Mississippi State, and Mom went on to Mississippi Southern and LSU. Before graduation, they were married at her home, the same house where she was born. Mom started her adult life as a naval airman’s wife, going with him to bases in Pensacola, FL; Huchison, KS; and Brunswick, Maine. She would tell of Dad flying over the house at the end of the day, tipping his wing to her to let her know he’d be home soon for supper. Soon Mom gave birth to Sharon and Chris. She came home to have her babies in Natchez and to bring them home to Fayette. Soon after, Mom and Dad settled down in New Orleans. Six and 7 years later, just when Mom had gotten her kids in school and recover from some very busy years, I appeared as their bonus baby.
I was born into my own little nest, with the Hackes on one side of us and the Walls on the other. In the midst of all the kids and crazy, Mom and Miss Joyce would have coffee every morning at 10, forging a friendship that was like family.
Over the years, Dad worked the oil business in one capacity or another and for Louisiana DEQ, covering Kingsville, TX; Baton Rouge; and New Orleans a few times. Mom earned her master’s degree in Learning Disabilities, and spent most of her career teaching and evaluating kindergarteners at the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation. She taught lots of children to read using this sentence: “If I can read, I can do anything!” She would feed, affirm, and encourage any children who were lucky enough be around her – her own children and grandchildren, neighborhood children, her students…they were all hers. But she might have loved her grandchildren the best! When each one of her seven grandchildren was born, she and PawPaw spent whatever time they could to welcome a new little person into the family.
Mom and Dad – now Meme and PawPaw – retired to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, to Diamondhead, Mississippi, which gave all their children and grandchildren a great vacation spot! My kids called it Camp MeMe-PawPaw...being spoiled by grandparents with days of swimming, crabbing, playing on the beach, crafts, and a trip into the French Quarter, too. New Year’s featured yard-sized Christmas cards in the bay and fireworks over the water, and Mardi Gras came with a golf-cart parade and more.
Mom found her niche quickly in Diamondhead, adopting the people at Woodland Nursing Home. She called Bingo for them every Monday afternoon- with prizes! Her friends at Diamondhead UMC still continue this tradition. She organized worship one Sunday a month, and in between she would bring church members there flowers for their birthday and Upper Room devotional guides. Mom expanded her ministry to become a leader in missions at the church, as well, and faithfully baked and delivered cookies to newcomers for years.
Through the years, Mom and Dad survived and thrived through the great depression of the 30’s, the oil crash of the 80’s, and Hurricane Katrina, too, all the while taking care of their family and friends. They attended every birth, baptism, graduation, and wedding possible, just to show their love and support. And when their two great grandbabies were born, well!
In the past few years, Mom’s mind might not have always been clear, but her heart was in the same place it always had been. She would worry about taking groceries to Mammy, and that Meme and Allein would worry if Mom did not show up by dark. Mom would talk about her sister, Anna, and then pause and ask, “Has she passed away? I thought so.” She told me of a great party she attended with Aunt Camille and Miriam (Byron didn’t want to go), where they saw all kinds of people from their past. She had so much fun! (at this event which never took place.) She might be sure that all her kids and grandkids were coming to visit, and be convinced that she had to go to the store to get food for everyone. At dusk, she would worry that everyone, meaning her children and grandchildren, were where they were supposed to be.
Mom had a picture of Daddy on the mantle in his flight suit from when they were first married. She would look at it while she drank her coffee and try to get oriented to the day. She liked him – I mean really like him - and told me how exciting it was to be married to Daddy. I would tell her, you and Byron have been married for 60 years now. He loves you so much he makes you oatmeal for breakfast every morning, and he eats grits! She was amazed at this. She would say she had to talk to Byron immediately. “Interrupt him and get him here, now. I have to tell him something very important.” Dad would stop what he was doing and come over. Mom would say, “I love you so much. Do you know how much? Very much. And I appreciate you. I appreciate all the ways you take care of me, and have always taken care of me.”
Mom and Dad moved to Redstone Village in Huntsville just a few months ago, and Mom had some very difficult months, with her ending up in skilled nursing. But about 10 days before she died, she told me how happy she was. Daddy was in a good place, and she thought her room was so nice. The people there were happy and treated her very well. She was where she was supposed to be. Everyone was where they were supposed to be. Last week when she passed away, my sister, Sharon, and my children, Debbie and Jeremy were with her. Jeremy told me at the end, it was so peaceful, and how wonderful it was to think that is where we will all end up, at peace.
I believe that day Mom was welcomed to her eternal home by her own mother and father, Aunt Allein, her sister Anna, her best friend Joyce, and many more of the people she loved who have gone on before. And I also believe that when it comes my time to go, she will be there to greet me, too.
OBITUARY
Christine Lehmann O'Quinn was born August 10, 1933, in Fayette, Mississippi, and passed away February 11, 2016. She was 82 years old. Preceding her in death were her mother and father, Ulabelle and Ralph Lehmann, and sister, Anna Noble, all of Fayette, Mississippi.
Left to cherish her memory is husband of 60 years Edgar Byron O'Quinn, daughter Sharon O'Quinn Mazzanti (Gary), son Christopher O'Quinn (Trish), daughter Sandy O'Quinn West (Steve); Grandchildren Damian O'Quinn (Jessica), Amy O'Quinn, Debbie West, Jeremy West, Anne Marie Mazzanti, Matthew Mazzanti, and Daniel Mazzanti; great grandchildren Layton O'Quinn and Baylen O'Quinn; sister, Camille Tedder; and loving nieces and nephews.
Chris married the love of her life, Byron. They met in second grade, and were Mr. and Miss Fayette High School together in 1952. She graduated from LSU, where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority, with a B.A. in education, and later earned her master’s degree in learning disabilities from Texas A&I.
Chris began her adult life as an elementary school teacher and a Naval airman’s wife. Through the years, Chris and Byron were residents of Fayette, Jefferson County, Mississippi; Pensacola, Florida; Hutchison, Kansas; Brunswick, Maine; and Kingsville, Texas. They lived in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for the majority of their marriage before retiring to Diamondhead, Mississippi. Recently, they moved to Huntsville, Alabama, but Chris always called Fayette home.
“Miss Chris” was well loved by the children in her own family, the neighborhood children, and her students. She taught many children to read and shaped their lives with encouragement and affirmation. Most of her career was spent teaching at the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation.
Chris was a life-long Methodist and a leader in local missions. She was accepting, non-judgmental, gentle, kind, and loving, and will be missed by so very many. A memorial service will be held at Fayette United Methodist Church on Saturday, February 20, at 2pm. Her daughter and son-in-law, Revs. Sandy and Steve West will be presiding. Visitation will be at the church at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Fayette Cemetery Association or Diamondhead United Methodist Church.
Information provided by Laughlin Funeral Home
