Born June 17, 1927, she was one of eight children born to Jesse and Pearl Copher. She was the only child to attend and graduate from college earning her Bachelors Degree in Education from Eastern Kentucky University and a Masters Degree plus 30 from McNeese State University. Rebecca began her teaching career at Simon Kenton High School. She worked for the Department of Army in Cincinnati, OH where she met and married Fred Hemphill and moved to Louisiana in 1954. She taught at LaGrange High School for 26 years and retired in 1993. Rebecca served on the board of Calcasieu Parish Teachers Credit Union and was a active member of First Christian Church of Sulphur. To Rebecca, her children and the activities in which they participated were considered her hobbies. She loved volunteering at Care Help of Sulphur, playing cards, and watching McNeese, LSU and the Saints.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Fred Beckett Hemphill; son, Gregory Dean Hemphill; and her seven siblings.
Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Bruce Hemphill and his wife Dr. Susan Drez of Lake Charles and Alan Hemphill and his wife Pam of Humble, TX; grandchildren, Ann Portie and husband Josh, Jennifer Boullion and husband Jeromy, Michelle Hemphill, Kelli Dyer and husband Hollan, Katelyn Hemphill and husband Shayden; James, Hayden and Jack Hemphill; and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be held at 1 pm Wednesday, Oct. 3rd at Hixson -Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home, 2051 E. Napoleon St. (Hwy. 90). Rev. Bobbie Yellott with officiate. Interment will follow in Highland Memory Gardens. Visitation will be 10 am - 1pm Wednesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Christian Church of Sulphur, 1401 Argin Dr., Sulphur, LA 70663. Words of comfort and memories may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.
