Monica Helene Hill

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” – Romans 8:18

Monica “BB” Helene LaSalle Hill was born July 27, 1964, to the late Phillip Leo LaSalle and the late Rebecca Jones LaSalle in Creole, Louisiana. Monica was a lifelong resident of Cameron and Lake Charles, Louisiana. She graduated from South Cameron High School with the class of 1982 where she played sports and was a member of the pep squad.

Monica loved to cook and was excellent at it. Cooking was a skill she inherited from her mother and grandmothers. Whether for work, family, or holidays, you would often find her in the kitchen. She held many jobs as a cook and is remembered most as the cook for Cameron Food Mart Deli and the Cameron Tabacco Shop. Monica was also known for her wit. She made everyone laugh with crazy word mispronunciations, silly dances, or using different foods to describe what someone looked like. “You know who I’m talking about. That girl and her momma, they look like honeybuns.”

Monica loved her family. She often recalled fond memories of her childhood growing up with all her aunts, uncle, and cousins living next door to each other. She also often spoke of her childhood memories with her grandparents. She worked hard to support and raise her three children. She taught them life skills and lessons on respecting each other and others, things that they will carry throughout life. When her children moved out of state, the first question was always, “when ya coming,” even if they had just left the day before. She put her life on hold for almost two years to become a full-time caregiver for her mother. She grieved deeply after the loss of her mother and two older siblings. She stayed connected with her youngest sister, Tiffany, daily. She loved spending time with Aunt Bea, Aunt Mary, Uncle Shelton, and cousin Shelley, and she was always riding shotgun with Aunt Pete. Her nieces and nephews were often at her house as kids. She adored her grandson, Uriah, who could do no wrong in her eyes. She often came up with new nicknames for him like, “brown boy,” “Mr. Fig,” and her favorite, “Mimi’s boy.” She would make big breakfasts for him while her kids had to fend for themselves. Her favorite snacks with him were orangins-n-jelly (oranges and Jello). She also called him her professional backscratcher as she often had him scratch her back.

Monica was a woman of faith. She believed in praying and dialoguing with God. Her children often recall and laugh at how she would close the door to the kitchen and play the same two Gospel albums by The Florida Mass Choir and Tramaine Hawkins repeatedly at full volume. Singing to the top of her lungs and often crying with the lyrics. “You who need mending stop by the Potter’s House… He’ll heal the fragments of your broken life, my friend… because the Potter wants to put you back together again…” These were her prayers set to music. Her favorite church hymn was The Old Rugged Cross. When those two albums weren’t playing, you best believe Earth, Wind, and Fire was blasting and shaking the walls. Her YouTube search history was full of EWF. She loved their harmonies.

Almost a month after her 59th birthday, Monica passed away on August 24, 2023, surrounded by her children and Aunt Bea. She is preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, and siblings Cedric S. LaSalle, Sr., Phyllis Ann LaSalle-Spriggs, and Geroyd LaSalle. She is survived by her children, Edmon Hill, Jr., Jade Hill, and Erin Hill; grandson, Uriah Cobb; sister Tiffany (Tracey) LaSalle-Bailey; aunts, Allie “Pete” Carter, Jeanette Bell, Carol “Bea” LeBlanc, Shirley Jones, and Lillie Faye Jones; uncle, Shelton (Mary) LeBlanc; grandaunt Eula Mae Bartie; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Monica Hill will be held on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at 3 PM at Preparing the Way Ministries located at 3454 Heard Rd., Lake Charles, LA 70605. A repast will be held following the celebration of life at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church 4020 Hodges Street Lake Charles, LA 70605, at 5 pm