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Saturday, September 26, 2009

In loving memory



Mr. Grady Hines
08.05.1937 - 09.25.2009

I had known Grady as a theatre regular until I got to know him better while working as Assistant Stage Manager for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at BRLT, March of 2008. He played Big Daddy & did a fantastic job. I remember in one performance he cut his hand & it was bleeding & he didn't even notice! We were worried about his cut, and we had another actor go on with a damp towel, so Grady could use it to take care of the wound while still performing. But he wouldn't take the towel. The other actor [& i feel terrible i don't remember who it was!] kept trying to nonchalantly give Grady the towel (so that the audience wouldn't notice anything odd was happening!) & Grady just wouldn't take it. He just kept speaking his lines & pushing the towel away, so focused was he on his role! Some of us stood off stage, willing him to just "take the towel, grady!!" but he never did. We have laughed (& teased him!) about that moment ever since!

I fondly think of Grady as i write this. He was such a kind individual, always treating everyone with respect. He'd been doing theatre for YEARS & yet, never was disrespectful or arrogant or impatient with younger actors or crew. I can remember having conversations with him about acting & theatre, and i was always amazed that he talked to me as if I had been doing it as long as he had, even though i'd only been involved in theatre for just a few years!

I found out Thursday evening that Grady had taken a fall the night before. I assumed he'd be okay. Friday morning i found out he was in a coma after having a series of strokes that morning. I am not sure if this was related to the fall or just a coincidence. But by 4:42 that afternoon, Grady slipped away. His daughter had been updating his facebook (yes, Grady had a Facebook at 72 years old!). The current facebook status reads: "Update on our beloved Daddy: The final curtain on the 72 year run of the Grady Hines show has fallen. He peacefully slipped away at 4:42 pm. We will let you know when arrangements have been made. Thank you so much for your love & support. -Melanie & Wyatt"

Melanie & Wyatt are his children. Please pray for them & their families as they bury their daddy. He was a widower & i imagine he has had a lovely reunion with his wife. ;)

I have to tell you that i have been so thankful & feel so blessed to have been able to see Grady one last time just a week before his death. We both attended opening night of BRLT's Evita. Brad & I sat on the last row & as we left the theatre for intermission & at the end of the show, we saw Grady as he exited the theatre about the same time. I am so thankful I got to hug his neck & say "good-night" to him, having no idea that it would be the last time.

God bless you, Grady Hines. And thank you.


*photo by Kyle LeMaire

3 comments:

  1. Grady's obituary:
    Horace Grady Hines
    A retired Licensed Clinical Social Worker, he died at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center at 4:42 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, 2009. A beloved teacher and a recognized expert in the family treatment of alcohol and drug addiction, his career in social work practice and education spanned more than 45 years. A descendant of two pioneer Texas families, he was born to Horace Grady Hines Sr. and Irene Gulley Hines in the small border town of Bethany in northwest Louisiana on Aug. 5, 1937. He attended primary school in Texas, a school that was unique in that it followed a Louisiana public school curriculum. He graduated high school at Greenwood and earned his bachelor's degree at Centenary College of Louisiana where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order. He began his career in social work in 1959 as a Welfare Visitor for the Louisiana Department of Social Welfare. After earning the master's of social work degree at LSU in 1963, he returned four years later to the university in Baton Rouge to teach in the graduate school of social work for the next 20 years. Upon retirement from the university in 1987, he entered private practice and additionally served as a consultant to several community programs in family mental health and addictive disorders. During his long professional career, he was a NASW Diplomate in clinical social work and a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers. He was one of the founders of Baton Rouge Youth Inc. and a former board member of Baton Rouge Area Alcoholism Center. He served for a number of years on the Planning Council of Baton Rouge Area United Way and was one of two non-Catholics appointed by the late Bishop Robert Tracey to the first Social Responsibility Board of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. A devoted husband, loving father, and adoring grandfather, he was predeceased by his beloved wife of 47 years, Signa Dell Jones Hines. He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Wyatt Geoffrey Hines and Catherine Puett, of New Orleans; a daughter, Melanie Melaine Turnley and her husband, Jimmy Turnley, of Baton Rouge; and three grandchildren, Ashlyn Elizabeth Hines, Chanler Dell Turnley, and Jett Russell Turnley. Other survivors include sisters, Irene "Elsie" Gulley Reinert, of Macungie, Pa., and Ina Carole Pacheco and Joan Ann Gandy, both of Shreveport; sister-in-law, Jane Jones McCafferty, of Alexandria, Va.; and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Shirley Marie Groome; and a very special aunt and uncle, Lettice and Thomas Sydney Gulley and their daughter, Mittie Emily Horton. A devotee of theater, he was well known to area audiences and played many memorable roles in theatrical productions at Baton Rouge Little Theater, Baker Little Theatre, Artworx and Ascension Community Theatre. An award-winning actor, he was inducted into Baton Rouge Little Theater's Hall of Fame in 2003 in recognition of his many contributions to that organization as an actor, board member and volunteer. He was a member of the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge. Visitation will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., on Monday, Sept. 28, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visitation resumes at the funeral home on Monday from 10 a.m. until a religious service at noon, officiated by the Rev. Jerry Martin of St. Patrick Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, 11817 Jefferson Highway. Pallbearers will be his son and his son-in-law, Charles Richard, D.L. Starns, Louis Stafford and Tal Johnson.

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  2. Hey girl, I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend. He sounded like a wonderful man who lived a fun and fulfilling life that touched many people.
    You are in my thoughts! <3

    PS- Irony: the Word Verification at the bottom of this comment box says "graces" and how appropriate that you were "graced" with the chance to know such a great person!

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  3. haha, that is ironic! anyway, thanks so much:)

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