Funeral services for Mrs. Grace Thomas Baptiste age 78 of Natchitoches will be held on Saturday November 7, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at First B.C. Amulet. Interment will follow in Jackson Square Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday November 6 from 6-9 p.m. at the church. Eyes hath not seen, nor ears heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that loved him. (1 Corinthian 2:9) Grace Virginia Thomas Baptiste was born April 21, 1931 to the late Bennie Thomas, Sr. and Sarah Polk Thomas. Grace was the youngest child of five children born to this union. All of her siblings, Florence (Polly) Jackson, Doretha Quinn, Bennie (BT) Thomas, and Charles Ray Thomas preceded her in death. She received Christ at an early age in 1945 and became a member of the First Baptist Church Natchitoches, Louisiana, Rev. Brown, Pastor. She served for many years as church clerk, choir member and chairperson of the decoration committee and wherever her services could help others. She was married to the late Hydria John Baptiste and was blessed with two children, Roderick Blane Baptiste, and Ramona Collette Baptiste. After attending Natchitoches Parish Training School she attended and completed her undergraduate education at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She taught Home Economics in the Natchitoches Parish school system until she retired in 1976. Grace continued to work with Teacher Corp, Head Start and throughout the Campti and Natchitoches communities. After retirement, Grace occasionally served as a Consultant Nutritionist which allowed her to continue her work throughout the Campti, Natchitoches and Mansfield communities. Grace was affiliated with the Golden Link Retired Teachers Association, Women of Faith, Natchitoches Parish Voters & Civic League, Inc., Hibiscus Garden Club and Southern University Alumni Association. She leaves to celebrate her life, her devoted son and daughter-in-law, Roderick Blane and Ronita Baptiste; her devoted daughter, Ramona Collette Baptiste; three grandchildren, Shanita Baptiste Mitchell, Sharonda Collette Baptiste, and Brianna Collette Baptiste; one great granddaughter, Ia JNai Marie Allen; a host of nieces, nephews, friends and family. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Grace Thomas Baptiste, please visit our floral store.