Sibley, LA
Funeral services for Vallie Anne Mercer Hammett will be held on Friday, Dec. 28 at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church Minden. Interment will follow at Forest Park West Cemetery in Shreveport. Visitation will be held Thursday, Dec. 27 from 5-8 p.m. at Rose Neath in Minden. Officiating will be Reverends Leland Crawford and James Wallace.
Vallie was born February 14, 1957 in Metairie, Louisiana to Bobby and Ottamiese Mercer. She went home in victory to be with her lord Jesus Christ on Dec. 22 after a four-year brave and feisty fight with Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma, a form of ovarian cancer.
Vallie and her beloved husband Terry met at Woodlawn High School and were married on September 11, 1976 in Shreveport. For the next 42 years, Vallie gave her heart to serving her family as a military wife and homemaker. During that time she raised three adoring children, but served as a "bonus mom" to hundreds, if not thousands of teenagers, college students, military spouses and anyone who needed an extra dose of love. To know her was to feel loved, known and at home.
She faced her last days as she lived her entire life: with great love, dignity, hospitality, strength and assurance. Though our grief is indescribable, our souls are settled because hers was.
To honor her memory, please learn the signs of ovarian cancer and share those with the women you love. If you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, please have yourself tested for the BRCA genetic mutation.
Vallie was preceded in death by her father, Bobby (Bob) Mercer. Left to cherish her memory are her mother, Ottamiese Hazlewood Mercer Franklin and husband Billy; husband, Col. Terry Glynn Hammett; sons, Ryan Andrew Hammett and wife Tara; Brent Steven Hammett and wife Cassie; daughter, Tara Hammett Brown and husband Emmett; grandchildren Owen Andrew Hammett, Jude Thomas Hammett, Liv Nima Hammett, Esther Fei Hammett and Levi Mercer Brown; brothers Ferrell Mercer and wife Debby; Larry Mercer and wife Laura; sisters Robbi Mercer Hammett and Bobbi Hill; and numerous nephews and nieces.
In lieu of flowers and in honor of her giving spirit, donations can be made to the HUB Urban Ministries or to the MD Anderson Cancer Center in her name.
The family would especially like to thank Doctors Anil Veluvolu, Destin Black and their staffs at Willis Knighton Cancer Center; Doctor Chris Earnhardt and staff; Dr. Pamela Soliman and staff at MD Anderson; and the Aime Hospice nurses for providing outstanding care and advocacy in her long battle against cancer. We are forever grateful.