Elmae Bierden

Elmae Russell Bierden of Shreveport, Louisiana entered into Eternal Rest at the age of 90 on Friday, January 9, 2015, following a long illness. Born on August 2, 1924 near Ajax, Louisiana, she was the eldest of seven children. She grew up on a farm near Cloutierville, Louisiana, was educated in Ajax, Louisiana, and married Willie Ray Bierden in September 1940. Elmae lived in Natchitoches, Louisiana while her husband served in the U. S. Army during World War II. When he then joined the U. S. Air Force after the war ended, their life together began again. They traveled the world together and lived in Italy, Germany, Colorado, and Montana, before finally returning to their native Louisiana at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana. With a loving marriage that endured for almost 70 years, Elmae and Willie Rae had one daughter, Sheila Ann Bierden Roys, one grandson, Richard Bryant Roys, and an adopted grandson, Darin Sandstrom. They were long-time members of the Haynes Avenue Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana. Elmae was an energetic woman whose love of plants and diligently working in her garden resulted in her residential garden on 70th Street in Shreveport, Louisiana earning a coveted spot on the Master Garden Club's Tour of Gardens. Elmae always seemed to have an on-going business of some type. She owned and operated a hobby ceramics business as well as a tropical fish business. She also worked as a bookkeeper for the Red River Water System. When her only daughter sustained a severe brain injury in an automobile accident, Elmae became a dutiful home health caregiver/nurse for almost a decade, taking care of Sheila. Elmae was preceded in death by her parents, Roy E. Russell and Lillian Russell, two brothers, Jimmy Ray Russell and Jerald Russell, and two sisters, Jean Russell Johnson and Doris Russell Miller, and daughter, Shelia. She is survived by her grandsons Richard Bryant Roys and Darin Sandstrom, sisters Vera Russell Bayles and Bobbie Russell Lee, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Monday, January 12, 2015 at Roseneath Southside Chapel located at 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana 71118, immediately followed by a noon funeral service at the same location conducted by Rev. Mike Anderson. Elmae Russell Bierden will be laid to rest at Centuries Memorial Park located at 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport, Louisiana. Pall bearers are Mike Drysdale, David Miller, Dr. Stephen Arthur Russell, and Alex Roys. Rose-Neath Southside 2500 Southside Drive 318-687-1256