January 26, 1934 ~ June 25, 2016
KAPLAN — Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 30, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the Kaplan Baptist Church celebrating the life of Reverend John Noah Langley, 82, who passed away at his residence in Kaplan. Officiating for the service will be Rev. Luther Burney. A memorial prayer service will be held on Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at Vincent Funeral Home in Kaplan. The family requests that visitation be observed on Wednesday, June 29, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.; Thursday, June 30, 10:00 a.m. until services. He will be laid to rest in the Memorial Mausoleum at St. Paul’s Cemetery in Abbeville.
After fighting a courageous four-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease and a recent blood disorder, Rev. Langley, surrounded by his loving family and friends, went to meet his Lord and Savior on Saturday, June 25, 2016. He was a devoted and faithful servant of the Lord, beloved husband, loving father, proud grandfather and dear friend to so many.
On January 26, 1934, he and his twin brother, Dore, were born in Basile to Columbus Langley and the former Marceline Ledoux. In 1954 he graduated from Basile High School, was licensed by the First Baptist Church there in 1956 and was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1957. He attended SLI in Lafayette and graduated from Nichols State University in May of 1964.
He was a loving and faithful pastor as he served these Louisiana churches: Gray Baptist Mission, Gibson Baptist Church, Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Ferriday, First Baptist Church in Breaux Bridge, Kaplan Baptist Church, Trinity Baptist Church in New Iberia, and Associate Pastor of First Baptist Church in Abbeville. He also served as Clerk and Treasurer of the Evangeline Baptist Association in Lafayette for many years. He retired from serving as a full time pastor in 2001, but he continued to conduct weddings, funerals and ministered to the sick and shut-ins.
As a pastor, he had the opportunity and privilege to share in all of those sacred and tender experiences of one’s life-birth, sickness, marriage, salvation, joy and happiness, trials, disappointments and death. Through these journeys, many long lasting and cherished relationships were established between Rev. Langley and his family and those he served.
Perhaps his greatest role, as a servant of the Lord to others, was his ministry as a Chaplain for Hospice of Acadiana. While there he spent many hours traveling across Acadiana ministering to the patients, families, caregivers and staff. Always giving encouragement as they faced each day, he gave them a chance to have peace with their loved ones, peace with God and peace with themselves. In 2006 he was recognized for his outstanding service by being presented the Dr. Jerome Romagosa award in memory of the founding director.
Rev. Langley is survived by his beloved daughter, Christie Hargrave and her loving husband, David Hargrave of Kaplan; two grandchildren whom he adored, Taylor Hargrave and his wife, Lauren of Lafayette and Kasey Hargrave of Lake Charles; his twin brother, Rev. John Dore Langley and his wife, Eleanor of Iowa; his sister-in-law, Bonnie Langley of Jennings and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Katherine Ernestine Chandler Langley, his parents Columbus Langley and Marceline Ledoux Langley, his step-mother, Nora Dukes Langley, two brothers, Harold and L.B. Langley, and one sister, Nora Langley.
Serving as pallbearers will be Taylor Hargrave, Woody Hoover, Stan Hardee, Tim Burdette, Harry Mire, Robert Harvison, David Langley and James Foreman. His faithful son-in-law, David Hargrave, will serve as honorary pallbearer.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the following: Dr. Randall Faulk and his nurse, Heather Theall, for their love and compassion during the past four years; the entire staff of Hospice of Acadiana; the Directors, Officers and Staff of Vermilion Bank for the love and support shown to Christie during the length of her father’s illness; the many friends, family and community members of Kaplan who, during the last years, stood by us as we faced the challenges of Alzheimer’s together as a family; his wonderful, compassionate, and devoted caregivers, Karen Gaspard and Carolyn Gary, and their families who enabled us to fulfill his wishes to be in his home throughout this illness.
The family requests that memorial donations be made to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston Street, Suite 200, Lafayette, LA 70503.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan, (337) 643-7276 [Service Information 225-5276]. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
