Novia Threeton McNabb

June 6, 1927 – February 17, 2023

Novia Alberta Threeton McNabb, a resident of Bayou Barbary, passed away peacefully on the night of February 17, 2023 at the age of 95.  She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother during her beautiful 95 years of life.  

She was born in Bayou Barbary, Louisiana, onJune 6, 1927, and was the only child of Herman and Theresa Threeton, who preceded her in death.

She was also preceded in death by her first husband, Floyd Ratcliffe, a paratrooper who died during World War II.  In August of 1946, she married Eldridge “Pete” Lee McNabb, to whom she was happily married to for 58 years.  They built a beautiful life together, and had two sons.  Pete preceded her in death in 2004.  

She is survived by her two sons and their wives;  Randall McNabb and  wife Connie, and  Kerry McNabb and  wife Debbie .

Her grandchildren are: Wendy McNabb Gill (husband Stephen Gill), Jeffrey McNabb (wife Tara Slack McNabb), Joey Olah, and CelenaMcNabb Avila (husband Tony Avila).

Her great-grandchildren are Ashton and Micah Gill, daughter and son of Wendy and Stephen; Noah and Evan McNabb, sons of Jeffrey and Tara McNabb; Claudia Olah, daughter of Joey Olah; and Anthony, Ava, and Abram Avila, sons and daughter of Celena and Tony Avila.

To know her was to love her.  She was a kind and gentle soul who loved God.  Novia was an active member in her church. She loved to sing in the choir and did so until she was unable to climb the steps to get to her seat. She also taught Sunday School, VBS, and served on many church committees including the church’s “Together We Build” program when this present church was built. She was also the church pianist for many years.

She had a life-long desire to be a teacher, but that passion was put off due to World War II.  During that time, she worked in New Orleans as a beautician, but teaching remained her passion.  

After the war, She focused her attention on staying home to raise her two sons. During that time, she used her musical talent and desire to teach piano to young aspiring students at her home.  Once her sons were grown and out of college themselves, she enrolled in Southeastern as a freshmen to complete her desire to become a teacher.  And she did.  

She taught for many years at French Settlement Elementary School until she retired.

Her family has many loving memories of her.  The grandchildren loved how she and Pawpaw would take all the grandkids to Showbiz and then she would stay up with them all night and play hide and seek.

They enjoyed many all day shopping trips, her letting them drive her car across the pasture, dancing to the jukebox in the carport, or just sitting on the back porch talking.  

It was impossible to visit her without her offering a strong cup of coffee or something to eat.  

What all of us will remember most about her is her unconditional love for her family and for God.

Services will be held at Pine Grove Baptist Church on Monday, February 20, 2023. Visitation will be from 1:00-3:00 pm, followed by a service and burial in the church cemetery.Pastor Paul Taylor will be officiating.  

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