Elaine DeBuys Hankins

Born in New Orleans in 1938 to Laurence R. and Olive Boughtin DeBuys, Elaine was the middle child between her brother, Laurence R. “Larry” DeBuys III, and her sister, Jeanne DeBuys Eason.

Elaine grew up in the Garden District of New Orleans, attended Alice Fortier Senior High School and Louisiana Tech University. While living on Royal Street in the French Quarter, she met the dashing John Gordon Hankins, a young medical student at Tulane. The two were wed at St. Patrick’s Church in 1962. She remained in New Orleans while John completed medical school and served as a Lieutenant onboard the US destroyer in the Navy.

Elaine and John later moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where John established his medical practice and they raised 3 children: Catherine DeBuys Hankins Freeman, Patrick Gordon Hankins, and Ashley Hankins Cunningham.

Elaine and her longtime friend, Carole Sullivan, began Lagniappe, Inc., a cottage/craft business making decorator baskets which were successfully sold at Junior League markets throughout the South. The company eventually transformed into a decorating business that thrived for many years.

Her community involvement included the Junior Women of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, and she co-founded St. Francis Xavier Flower Guild with friends Weese Connery and Florence Spalding. Elaine often hosted the weekly Mahjong games with friends where she regularly and humorously fleeced her opponents.

Elaine was predeceased by her husband, Dr. John Gordon Hankins (2012); and her daughter, Catherine Hankins Freeman (2012); her father, Laurence DeBuys Jr. (2000); her mother, Olive Boughton Fee (2002); her stepmother, Margueritte White DeBuys (2002); her brother Laurence DeBuys III (1987); her sister, Jeanne Eason (2021).

Survivors include her children: Ashley Hankins Cunningham (Les) and Patrick Gordon Hankins (Autumn); son-in-law, Dr. William “Bill” Freeman; grandchildren: John Crawford Freeman (Andrea), McRae Middleton Freeman, John William Ahrens (Chloe), Leighton “Brand” Ahrens, Lily Bella Golden and Patrick Grey Hankins; great grandchildren: Luna McRae Ahrens, Cecelia Catherine Freeman, William David Freeman and Juliette Calmese Freeman; brothers: Richard “Richie” DeBuys and Pierre “Pete” DeBuys (Barbara); brother and sister-in-law, Donald B. Hankins (Shirley); She also leaves behind Goddaughters Dr. Holly Virginia DeBuys, Holly-Renee Miller, and Kathleen Connery Dawe, and Godsons Laurence R.” Larry” DeBuys IV, William “Billy” Eason.

For lack of space and print ink the friends of Elaine are too many to number or list. She has touched the lives of and loved by many.

Services will be held Monday September 30, 2024, at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church at 2 Xavier Circle, Birmingham, Alabama 35213. The family will receive friends and family at 10:00 am followed by a service at 11:00 am. There is a funeral luncheon following the service at the Parish Hall.

Her ashes will be interred in the columbarium at St Francis Xavier next to her husband John and daughter Catherine.

In lieu of flowers gifts can be given in her name to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.