Louie Noland Pipes Jr.

The Rev. Louie Noland Pipes, Jr. died in his home on October 26, 2025. He had defied medical odds for many years with extraordinary strength and dignity. He died as he lived, with confidence in the goodness and provision of his Lord.

Noland was born and reared in Rayville, Louisiana, the son of Noland Pipes, Sr. and Bertha Osborn Pipes. He might credit the best of his rearing to his godmother, Sadie May Abraugh, who taught him to love the Lord as a young boy and kindled in him a lifelong passion for education. Upon graduating from high school in Rayville, he carried his fondness for fishing, Cajun food, and New Orleans jazz across the country to the Virginia Military Institute. Noland graduated with the class of 1959 and was commissioned into the United States Air Force, where he began to explore the world and forged an enduring love of travel. Although urged by his superiors to build his career in the Air Force, Noland resigned to seek ordained ministry within the Episcopal Church. He entered seminary at the University of the South, Sewanee, TN, and graduated as president of the student body in 1965. It was at Sewanee that Noland met the great love of his life, Mary Emma Hoskins Burks, and won her over with his dancing. He was a warm singer and fabulous dancer his whole life long.

Father Pipes followed the Lord faithfully through his sixty-six years of ministry, reflecting God's light into innumerable lives. He was first ordained deacon and then priest in the Diocese of Louisiana, where he served at St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Metairie, Christ Episcopal Church in Covington, and St. James Episcopal Church in Alexandria. In 1973, Noland was called to All Saints Episcopal school in Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he devoted himself to the school as assistant headmaster, dean of students, and later as interim headmaster. He was an avid reader, a deep thinker, and a great believer in the power of education to shape minds and spirits. Beyond his role as an educator and administrator, he loved the All Saints community as a father, mentor, and friend to many. After some twelve years, the Lord guided his family to Memphis, Tennessee, where Father Pipes planted the Church of the Annunciation in Cordova and became its first rector. In 1994, he was called to Saint John's Episcopal Church in Memphis and remained in service as rector there until his retirement in 2002. He was proud to have officiated the weddings of his two children and two of his grandchildren, and to have baptized all of his immediate family in the name of the Lord.

Noland took great pleasure in life. He enjoyed chopping wood and building a fire for his family; making a short story long; donning a good looking coat and tie; reading, writing, and reflecting; shucking oysters and husking tamales; watching LSU football; and celebrating the successes of his children, grandchildren, and the many wonderful people who chose him as family.

Noland is survived by his beloved wife of sixty-one years, Mary Burks Pipes from Bedford, VA. His two daughters, Sarah (Tony) Jordan and Marianna (Jeff) Heimbach, live right around the corner in Memphis, TN. He will be forever remembered by his six dearly loved grandchildren: Matthew Noland (Caroline) Jordan, Emily Margaret Jordan, Hannah Louis Jordan, Marianna Jordan (Joshua) Inman, Jeffrey Joseph Heimbach, Jr., and Mary Winston Heimbach. He was also blessed to celebrate his first great-grandchild, Mary Margaret Jordan.

There will be a funeral at Faith Anglican Church, Walnut Grove Road, Cordova, TN 38018 on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at 2:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that any memorials be made to Faith Anglican Church.