Church Point—A Mass of Christian Burial for Ben Joseph Higginbotham, Sr., 89, of Church Point will be celebrated on Friday, July 5, 2013 at 11:00 A.M. in Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Church Point. Father Mitchell Guidry will serve as celebrant. Entombment with military honors will follow in Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery #2 Mausoleum, Church Point.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 4, 2013 from 5:00 P.M. until 10:00 P.M. in Duhon Funeral Home of Church Point, with a rosary being recited at 7:00 P.M. Visitation will continue on Friday from 8:00 A.M. until 10:30 A.M. in the funeral home.

Mr. Higginbotham passed away on Monday, July 1, 2013 in his Church Point residence.

A native and lifelong resident of Church Point, Mr. Higginbotham served his country in the U. S. Army during World War II. His service included campaigns in Europe (Northern France, Ardennes, and Rhineland), as well as in Asia (Asiatic-Pacific and Philippine Liberation).

Mr. Higginbotham retired as a driver for Church Point Wholesale after many years of service. He was a member of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Mr. Higginbotham was an excellent cook, and he loved cooking for his family and friends. His greatest joy in life was caring for and spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, May Lilly Doucet Higginbotham of Church Point; daughter, Mary Ann Guidry and husband, Richard of Zachary; sons, Ben Joseph Higginbotham, Jr. of Church Point, Russell James Higginbotham and wife, Diane of Church Point, Kenneth Higginbotham and wife, Ellen of Auburn, NE, and Jude Higginbotham and wife, Patty of Branch; grandchildren, Beth Allison Hembree and husband, Daniel of Zachary, Mary Ann Higginbotham of Zachary, Catherine Ann Travis and husband, Gavin of Ethel, Roger Guidry and wife, Tina of Warrington, PA, Jaret Michelle Guidry of Baton Rouge, Peyton Wyatt Higginbotham of Branch, and Braedon Trace Higginbotham of Branch; great-grandchildren, Mason Lane Rojas, Eli James Hembree, Asher Luke Hembree, Emerald Michelle Guidry, and Ethan McKenzie Guidry; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Preceding Mr. Higginbotham in death were his parents, Robert and Marie Briscoe Higginbotham; granddaughter, Lilly Janell Higginbotham; sisters, Agathe Guidry, May Ashford, Mary Dula Arabie, Mary Belle Olivier, Marie Ella Thibodeaux, Marie Alita Hebert, and Dewilda Richard; and brothers, Elridge Higginbotham, Joseph Horace Higginbotham, Joseph Asa Higginbotham, Joseph Abraham Higginbotham, and Joseph Harry Higginbotham.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.duhonfuneralhome.com

Duhon Funeral Home, LLC of Church Point has been entrusted with arrangements.