Mary Angie Hiter Longman

Jennings: Mary Angie Hiter Longman passed away at her home in Jennings on November 2, 2016. She was born June 7, 1921, in New Orleans at Hotel Dieu. Mary graduated from Vinton High School at age 16 as Valedictorian of her class, a fact she was proud of until her death. She graduated from Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now University of Louisiana at Lafayette) with a double major in English and music. During her senior year, she was elected president of the Panhellenic Council. Before continuing her music education at the University of Southern California where she was a candidate for a Master of Arts with majors in journalism and music, Mary was employed briefly as a public school teacher and a music director in Vinton, LA, and as an expediter in the purchasing department of Consolidated Steel in Orange, Texas. While attending USC, she commercialized her early training and became a professional dancer and later met and married Reginald “Sonny” Longman of Jennings. Upon her return to Louisiana with Sonny and their first child in the late 1950s, she became a correspondent, editorial writer and columnist for Jeff Davis Revue and the Jeff Davis Advertiser and correspondent for the Associated Press, New Orleans Bureau; the United Press International; the Beaumont Enterprise; the New Orleans Times Picayune; and the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate. She was the managing editor of the Jennings Daily News and the Jennings Herald. Mary worked as a correspondent for Channel KPLC-TV, Lake Charles, and wrote and directed documentary films. Mary’s stories also appeared in True Detective, Front Page Detective, Inside Detective as well as Time and US News and World Report. She was the recipient of numerous first place awards among Louisiana Press Women and won top honors in the National Federation of Press Women’s writing contests. After spending the ‘70s and ‘80s setting records selling World Book Encyclopedias, Mary founded, owned and operated Camelot Properties, a real estate company in Jennings. She managed rental properties, sold new and existing houses, and developed a subdivision in Jeff Davis Parish. She closed the business and retired at the turn of the new century. Mary was a vivacious red head who always wanted to be, and with Clairol’s help became, a blonde--maybe because her personality most matched a stereotypical blonde. An intelligent woman who enjoyed reading and games like Bridge and Solitare, she sometimes lacked what Sonny called “a lick of common sense.” She was perfectly delightful and never met a stranger. Occasionally too distracted to drive on green or pause on yellow, the traffic court judge in Jennings was on a first name basis with Mary. She enjoyed making plants grow—she had the proverbial green thumb. Even as age overtook her, Mary’s gentle nature and good humor never failed, although she sometimes remarked that “Getting old is not worth a damn.” Mary was preceded in death by her parents, W. Y. and Angie Hiter; her loving husband, Sonny; and her sons Bill and Dirk. She leaves behind her daughter, Mary Ann and her husband John McCoppin of Jennings, LA; her son Richard, his wife Debbie, and their sons Jacob and Christopher of Ponchatoula, LA; her grandson Scott, his wife DaNita, and great -grandsons Alyster and Christian of Jacksonville, FL; and her granddaughter Brandi, her husband Greg Robertson, and great-grandsons Bryce and Nathaniel of Pass Christian, Mississippi. Visitation with the family will be on Sunday, November 6, 2016 from 2-3 o’clock in the afternoon in the south chapel of Matthews & Son Funeral Home in Jennings with Rev. Chuck Norwood conducting the burial service immediately afterward. To extend online condolences, please visit our website at www.matthewsandsonfuneralhome.net Arrangements have been entrusted to Matthews & Son Funeral Home.

Mary Angie Hiter Longman

June 7, 1921 - November 2, 2016

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Mary Angie Hiter Longman

June 7, 1921 - November 2, 2016

Obituary Notification

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Grief & Healing

Obituaries

Resources

Contact Information