Edmae LaMotte Delpit Butler

On November 2, 2014 at 12:22 a.m., the life of Edmae LaMotte Delpit Butler, lovingly known as "Mimi," peacefully ebbed to a close. She was surrounded by loved ones who continue to cherish the legacy of her courageous spirit and generous heart, as well as her enduring wit and wisdom. Edmae Celestine LaMotte was born on September 12, 1915 in Lobdell, Louisiana. Edmae was the first of five children of parents Marshall and Bertha Jackson LaMotte. Her sister Beverly and brothers Marshall Jr., Raphur and Norvin followed. The LaMotte family moved to Baton Rouge when Edmae was seven years old. Baptized in the Catholic faith, Edmae began her early education at St. Francis Xavier. She was a bright student who continued to excel academically when she entered McKinley High School, where she graduated in 1932 with high honors. Edmae, a vivacious combination of brains and beauty, dreamed of becoming a teacher. But her plans were postponed when she met Thomas H. "Tommy" Delpit. They were married in December 1934 and welcomed their first child, Billie Wanda, sons Thomas, Jr. and Joseph Albert (Joe), and another daughter, Lisa Denise, which completed the Delpit family. Edmae and Tommy were a dynamic team who became partners in business as well as in life. The young wife and mother helped to launch Suburban Ice Cream Parlor, the forerunner of their signature enterprise, the Chicken Shack. With only 35 cents in capital, Tommy parlayed his unique recipe for fried chicken batter into the legendary restaurant, which became a South Baton Rouge landmark, first at its original location on East Boulevard (now named Thomas H. Delpit Drive in his honor), and then on Lettsworth St., where the family also lived. Edmae was the hands-on financial wizard who even ran the cash register when needed. As the business grew, she and her husband were able to provide employment at the Chicken Shack for generations of families and students. Always civic-minded, she initiated several support organizations during World War II and participated in various efforts through the years to uplift the black community. Edmae enrolled at Southern University in 1949 to fulfill her long-held ambition to become a teacher. Time had not diminished her academic prowess and she proudly graduated from Southern in 1954, with honors – with two year-old daughter Lisa in tow. Edmae subsequently earned a master's degree in Educational Counseling from Louisiana State University in 1957. After completing student teaching at Southern's Laboratory School, Edmae taught mathematics briefly at Capital High School, then joined the faculty of her alma mater, McKinley High School. She frequently encountered former students who credited her with giving them a knowledge of mathematics that proved, much to their surprise, to be very useful in their daily lives. Five years after Tommy's death, Edmae married Dr. Leo S. Butler, a well-known local physician and longtime family friend in 1964. Their union brought four new daughters – Jean, Elayne, Shirley and Hedi – into a blended family that eventually included a grandson, Clifton F. Nelson III, whom she and Dr. Butler raised as a son, a granddaughter, Lynn Smith Whitfield, who lived with them during her high school years, 9 additional grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. Recognized as one of the most proficient educators in the parish, during the early stages of desegregation Edmae was transferred to then predominantly white Glen Oaks High School. Later, she taught at Baton Rouge High. Edmae retired from the school system in 1977 when Dr. Butler's health deteriorated. She was devoted to his care until his death in 1978. For many years, Edmae was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church where she belonged to the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of St. Peter Claver. She later joined St. Agnes Catholic Church. She was also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority for over 50 years. In 1989, she was honored by the Baton Rouge Chapter of The Links, Incorporated as a Community Leader. Edmae will long be remembered for the power of her personality to touch lives with a distinctive mix of intelligence and humor, warmth and no-nonsense pragmatism. She brought love and joy to her family and to people of all ages and from all walks of life. Her presence will always be felt and missed immeasurably. Edmae was preceded in death by her parents, Marshall Sr. and Bertha Jackson LaMotte; a son, Thomas Delpit Jr., her siblings Beverly LaMotte Jackson, Marshall LaMotte Jr., Raphur LaMotte and Norvin LaMotte; husbands Thomas H. Delpit Sr. and Dr. Leo S. Butler; son-in-law Clarence Cunningham; grandson Bret Cunningham. Edmae is survived by her daughters Billie Delpit Cunningham and Lisa Delpit, both of Baton Rouge; son Joseph A. Delpit Sr. (Precious) of Baton Rouge.; Edmae also considered Margaretta Dean one of her daughters; grandchildren Joseph A. Delpit Jr. (Patricia), Thomas H. Delpit, Deirdre D. Delpit, Desiree Delpit and Derrick Delpit (Stacey), all of Baton Rouge; Kevin Cunningham (Helena) of Baton Rouge, Stacey Cunningham of Chapel Hill North Carolina; and Loren Cunningham Brown of Atlanta, Ga.; Maya A. Delpit of Baton Rouge; and Clifton F. Nelson III of Atlanta, Ga., 17 Great-grandchildren, 5 Great-Great-grandchildren, and 7 nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers please send a donation to the Mckinley High School Alumni Association at P.O Box 1386, Baton Rouge, LA 70821. The funeral and viewing will be Friday, November 7, 2014 at St. Agnes Catholic Church on East Boulevard. Viewing will start at 9:30 am and funeral services at 11 am. Arrangements are entrusted to Desselle's Funeral Services.