Obituary

Ila Breaux Pittman

August 10, 1930 - April 22, 2024

Ila Breaux Pittman went to be with her Lord and Savior on April 22, 2024 at her daughter's house in Denham Springs. She was 93 years old and a life-long resident of Bogalusa and a member of the ESM Methodist Church. 

She was born on August 10, 1930 at a logging camp in Galva, LA (Pass Manchac). Her mother was only seven months pregnant and thought the trip with her husband to the logging camp in the Manchac Swamp would be a nice get-away. Ila was born premature at the logging camp weighing only two and a half pounds. With no provisions for newborn infants at the camp, she was wrapped in a handkerchief and placed in a shoebox, everyone thinking she would not survive. Ila not only survived, but thrived. 

At 17 she married the boy next door, Thomas "Tommy" Pittman. They had four daughters - Deanna, Carol, Cathy and Paula. Tommy passed away after a long illness in 1963. Ila raised her four daughters in Bogalusa instilling a strong work ethic, commitment to community and an everlasting faith in the Heavenly Father. Ila was very active in the community and her church, rarely missing Sunday School and church. 

She was employed at Washington Bank/Hancock for over 40 years. She started as a teller and retired as an assistant vice-president. She was active in the Help Center for many years, reluctantly stepping aside when her health declined. Ila loved her life in Bogalusa. She loved her friends, her church, the community and the fellowship small-town Bogalusa offered. Her love of the community was obvious in the passion with which she spoke of her hometown and its people. After visiting with Ila, people who had never been to Bogalusa developed a love and appreciation of the town that Ila spoke so passionately about. 

Ila is survived by her four daughters, Deanna Persons (Bob), Carol Airhart, Cathy Gordon and Paula Garrison (Keith); grandchildren, Tommy Persons, Justin Persons, Terrylee Airhart and Amanda Gordon Needham; and six great grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. 

She is preceded in death by her husband Tommy; father Pierre Oliver Breaux; mother Ola Maxwell Breaux, sister Bertha Potter, brothers Oliver and Jimmy Breaux, sons-in-law David Gordon and Terry Airhart, and grandson Nathan Gordon. She had many special friends in Bogalusa and Denham Springs that were a cherished part of Ila's "family". 

A celebration of her life will take place Saturday, May 4 at 10:00 a.m. with service to follow at 11:00 a.m. at ESM Methodist Church in Bogalusa. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the ESM Methodist Church.

Source: The Advocate at https://obits.theadvocate.com/us/obituaries/theadvocate/name/ila-pittman-obituary?id=54973887.