Lucy Staring Pope

Lucy Louise Staring Pope, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on September 16, 2026, at the age of 92.

She was born the second child of Hays and Georgie D. Staring in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on November 18, 1933. She was a graduate of St. Joseph's Academy and Louisiana State University and spent her life devoted to educating others and raising her 5 sons, along with her husband of 47 years, Thomas Everett Pope.

Known for her mental and physical strength, sternness and no-nonsense approach, she touched the lives of many Baton Rouge area students as a Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics teacher at Baton Rouge High and Zachary High in the 1960's, prior to retiring in 1966 to begin a family with Tom, birthing 5 boys in 5 years. She continued substitute teaching at St. Aloysius and Catholic High School during the 80's and 90's while her boys were in school.

She enjoyed cooking, sewing, knitting and crocheting, playing cards and fixing or repairing anything and everything. Her most memorable adult hobby was cultivating numerous varieties of African Violets, a passion she shared with her horticulturalist husband. Baked bread and cream puffs were her culinary specialty and could hardly make it out of the oven!

She is survived by her 5 sons and their families, Christopher Hays Pope, daughter-in-law Katherine Green Pope and grandchildren Cordelia Staring Pope and Edward Benjamin Pope of Little Rock, Arkansas; Darryl Andrew Pope, daughter-in-law Sheryl Pontif Pope and grandchildren, Chase Andrew Pope and Ashton Leigh Pope of Kingwood, Texas; David Matthew Pope, daughter-in-law Tina Baudoin Pope and granddaughter Jordan Pope Menard and her husband Matthew Paul Menard and great granddaughter Maren Mae Menard and granddaughter Haleigh Alise Pope and her husband Jacob Kennedy Reynolds and great granddaughter Cecelia Claire Reynolds of Baton Rouge; Kyle Francis Pope, daughter-in-law Rennie Leigh lgnatowski Pope and grandsons Charles Thomas Pope and Elliot Michael Pope of Boyne City, Michigan; and Adrian Leo Pope and daughter-in-law Torre Brooke Pope of The Woodlands, Texas.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Thomas Everett Pope; parents, Hays Staring and Georgie Delaville Staring; brother George Albert Staring; and sister-in-law Marcelle Hackney Staring.

The family would like to extend a special heartfelt thanks to Sherri Hadskey, Gilda Shropshire, Florence Williams and Jackie Brue for their devoted compassionate care during our mother's last few years.

Visitation will be held at Resthaven Garden Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70816, on Sunday, September 20, 2026, from 1:30 p.m. until Funeral Service at 3:00 p.m. Lucy will be entombed beside her husband at a later date at St. George Catholic Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Joseph's Academy in her honor.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com.