Entered heaven on June 23, 2013 at 10:50 p.m. She was a 79-year-old resident of Baton Rouge, La. who was born on October 16, 1933 in Burnsville, Mississippi. She was one of 6 children born to Minnie Gladys White and Freeman Joseph Searcy. She graduated with honors from Glenn High School, Glenn, Mississippi, in 1952. Letha Mae later moved with her family to Jackson, Louisiana, where she was a longtime member of Jackson First Baptist Church as an active Sunday school teacher and founder of the Bus Ministry. She retired from employment at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, ranked Sergeant of Corrections, after 20 years of service. Letha was a loving and giving mother, grandmother, wife, gracious hostess and a tremendous cook. She was well known for her Christian kindness and a life of giving to others. Visitation will be at Parkview Baptist Church on June 26, 2013 from 5pm until 9 p.m. and continue June 27 from 9 a.m. until service at 10 a.m. to be conducted by Pastors Ron Tyndall and Merlin Liverman. Graveside service will be at Jackson Cemetery, Jackson and will be conducted by Dr. Joe Nesom, pastor of First Baptist Church, Jackson. She is preceded in death by husbands John F. Crum and James Everett Croswell, a son Roger Dale Crum, grandsons Nathaniel Ryan and Daniel Ray Sturgeon, parents, sister Minnie Grace Brown, and brother Joseph Franklin Searcy. She is survived by her husband Dewayne Nugent, Baton Rouge, and twelve children; 6 biological, Judy Marie Fox, Baton Rouge; John Michael "Mike" Crum and wife, Mary, Denham Springs; Wilbur "Keith" Crum and wife Cindy, Watson; Letha Diann Brown, Baker; Cynthia Crum Sturgeon and husband, Vandy, Prairieville; and Linda Crum Mason, Baton Rouge; 4 adopted, Patricia Watson and husband, James, Jr.; Christina Talley, and husband, Jimmy; Melissa Henry and husband, Aaron and Tonya Croswell; and 2 step-daughters, Dorene Lee and fiancée, Larry Giles, and Lydora Shuff and longtime companion, Michael E. Chauff. Two sisters, Myrtle Ruth Duncan, Pride, and Mary Joe Farris, Glenn, MS; brother, John Edwin Searcy, Sr., Letha is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Pallbearers will be John Michael Crum, Jr., Christopher Wayne Crum, Frankie Lee Brown, McClenton Keith Crum, Benjamine Joseph Crum Sturgeon, Nathan Douglas Newman, James W. Watson, Jr. and Justin Tyler Watson. Honorary pallbearers will be Jimmy Darren Talley and Michael Wayne Lee. Special thanks to her husband, Dewayne, for being a loving caregiver, Dr. David Hanson, St. Joseph Hospice, The Carpenter House, Mary Bird Perkins, her Sunday School Class at Parkview Baptist, and Charlet Funeral Home. The family is also grateful for the cancer fundraising efforts of Firehouse BBQ, the entire Watson Community and Journey Church. Thank you to all our family and friends for your love, prayers and support. Memorial donations may be made to Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge, 550 Lobdell. Baton Rouge, LA 70806.

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