Ida Belle Hayden

Ida Belle Higginbotham Hayden passed away in her sleep Monday, October 17, 2022, in Houston, Texas, at the age of 99. She joins her husband Dr. Harold Brock Hayden who passed away May 7, 2009. Ida and Harold lived most of their lives in Shreveport, LA and were both graduates of C. E. Byrd High School, where they met. They were married for almost 70 years. Her love of family, friends, roses, civic activities and church family was evident her entire life. She was a beautiful lady that loved beautiful things. She was always accepting new challenges and doing for others. Through her tenacity and the generosity of close friends, she was solely responsible for getting the land donated for the American Rose Center when it relocated from Tyler, TX to west Shreveport. She was a founding member of the Shreveport Garden Study Club which partnered with the City of Shreveport to restore the Greenwood Cemetery located on Stoner Ave. which has resulted in the restoration of monuments and the Gatehouse, the creation of pathways and the addition of gardens memorial benches and the planting of over one hundred native trees and thousands of flowering plants.

A very good friend of Ida’s, Larry Milford, authored a book entitled, “Touched by His Divine Appointments” that includes a Dedication to Ida. The following is an excerpt from the Dedication that perfectly describes her:

“She’s always in a hurry to get all of her things done,

Never seems to worry, she makes it seem so fun.

She’s always had a love for life that keeps her heart a pumpin’,

You don’t know when you see her, if she’s a comin’ or a goin’.

She’s not afraid to work, especially when it’s roses,

Spreading cow manure, and dragging water hoses.

Diamonds on her fingers, rose spray up her nose,

She’d stay out working in her finest clothes.

Crystal in her living room, like Queen Victoria’s palace,

Sparkling from their finest cuts, reflecting how her heart is.

Her filing system is quite unique piled on the bedroom floor,

Mixed among her Lalique and antiques,

She knows what’s there and more.

An amazing ball of energy, certainly that, for sure,

She’s chairman of this, juror of that, and volunteers galore.”

She and her husband, Harold, had a love of boating, and they went on numerous trips with their friends in the Shreveport Power Squadron including the Upper Bahamas, and many Louisiana streams and rivers.

Ida is survived by her loving son David Lee Hayden and wife, Merle of Houston, TX; grandchildren Ashley Nicole Graham of Palm Springs, CA and Aaron Graham of Alexandria, LA; great grandsons Cozy Winham Graham and Jaxon Rayne Graham; and a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Lola Belle (Stephenson) Higginbotham and David Howard Higginbotham and brothers, Walter B. Mann and Henry R. Mann of West Monroe, LA and Jack E. Rutledge of Monroe, LA.

Ida will be missed by her family and the many friends who knew and loved her.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, October 29, 2022, from 10-11 a.m. at Osborn Funeral Home, 3631 Southern Ave., Shreveport, Louisiana with services to follow.

Pallbearers will be Aaron Graham, Cozy Graham, Bill McSween, Jr. and John Pickens.

In lieu of flowers, for those desiring, a memorial contribution may be made to the American Rose Society, P. O. Box 30000, Shreveport, LA 71130 or the charity of your choice.