Harriot Massey

On Dec 13, 2022, Harriot Massey (nee Haynes) passed away peacefully at the age of 89 in Covington, LA. Born in New Orleans, Harriot was the daughter of Stewart Haynes, Sr. and Hattie Middlebrook Coffin Haynes, and the sister of the late Stewart Haynes, Jr., all deceased. The Haynes family moved to Port Arthur, TX during her early childhood, where she lived until completing high school. Harriot enrolled at the University of Texas at Austen and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1954 with a degree in microbiology. She married Sam Delone Massey of Killeen, TX, a World War II veteran and fellow alumnus of the University of Texas, on December 21, 1958. The couple settled in Metairie, LA, where they bought one of the first houses built in the Bissonet Plaza neighborhood. Harriot and Sam raised two sons, Donald Cole Massey, an attorney based in New Orleans, and Anthony Guy Massey, a psychiatrist who lives in Baltimore, MD. Harriot enjoyed home life and gardening at her home on Wilty Street for approximately 55 years. After her physical mobility became impaired, she decided to transition to Christwood Independent Living in Covington, LA. Harriot was one of the first women in her neighborhood to work at a career outside the home. Despite her qualifications, she faced obstacles when she applied for chemist positions. Yet she persisted and had a long health care focused career in the New Orleans area. Among her most rewarding career experiences was her time working as a laboratory technician at the Louisiana State University School of Medicine, and later Tulane University, where she was involved with the Bogalusa Heart Study. Harriot continued full-time work through her seventies, and after retirement, she became an auditing student at the University of New Orleans. During Harriot's 55 years on Wilty Street in Metairie, she was an avid gardener, bicyclist, swimmer, and participated in fitness classes. Harriot belonged to St. Matthews United Methodist Church of Metairie (UMC) from the early 1960s onward, and she participated in many committees including the Sunday School, the Care Team, and its chapter of United Methodist Women. She was an active member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority. After her 75th birthday, she took several firearms familiarity and marksmanship courses to better elucidate her support of gun safety. In retirement years, Harriot enjoyed traveling with her children and grandchildren, throughout the United States, as well as in Japan, Hong Kong, Europe and the Mediterranean. She was known by family for her quiet strength, strong opinions, and robust sense of humor. Harriot was deeply loved and missed by her survivors: sons Donald Cole Massey, Esq (Amanda Massey, Esq) and Anthony Guy Massey, M.D. (Sujata Massey); by her grandchildren, Alexandra Massey Verdin (Derrick Verdin), Mary Carlisle Christabella Massey, and Neel Ritik DeLone Massey; and two great-granddaughters, Kylie Rose Verdin and Victoria Elizabeth Verdin, as well as her two nieces, Sondra Haynes Appel (Pat Appel) and Colleen Haynes McLane (Mark McLane). Funeral services will take place at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, New Orleans, LA on Wednesday, December 28, 2022, with a visitation at 9:30 AM, followed by a service at 11:00 AM. To view and sign the family guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.