Willie "Marie" Whitehead Wickham

Willie “Marie” Whitehead Wickham, age 76, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at The Carpenter House in Baton Rouge. She was born on September 30, 1949 to Lola and Willie “Toad” Whitehead. 

Marie lived her entire life on Whitehead Road in Holden, LA. She graduated from Holden High School in 1968 and was a Holden Rocket through and through. One of her greatest pleasures was attending basketball games where she cheered on her beloved Rockets. While her parents were still alive, Marie spent most of her time helping farm and raise cattle. After their passing, she became the third- generation of Whitehead bus drivers for Holden High School and drove for nearly 30 years before her retirement. Marie was also a lifelong member of Magnolia Baptist Church, where she faithfully attended and taught Sunday School until her health began to prevent her from going as often.

She is survived by her husband of 36 years, Robert Wickham; niece, Angela Edwards (Earl); nephew, Tom Pankey (Lisa); great-niece Courtney E. Tureaud (Ashton); great-nephews Hunter Edwards (Kacie), Will (fiancée Maddison) and Caleb Pankey; great-great niece Ava Claire Edwards; brothers-in-law Phil Pankey (Lorraine), Keith Wickham (Stephanie); sisters-in-law Beth Delaughter, Jane and Kathryn Wickham; step daughter Mary Elizabeth Wickham Ricourd (Brad); step-grandchildren Brooke and Joseph Ricourd. 

Marie was preceded in death by her parents Lola G. and Willie C (Toad) Whitehead; sister, Mary Ann Pankey; mother-in-law Virginia B. Wickham; father-in-law Harold J. Wickham; brother-in-law David Wickham and numerous Whitehead and Garner aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 from 6pm-9pm at Magnolia Baptist Church, and will resume Thursday, July 2, 2025 from 9 am until the funeral services at 11am conducted by Rev. Alton Foster. Interment will immediately follow at Stafford Cemetery #1.

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ochsner Hospital and The Carpenter House in Baton Rouge for the compassionate care they provided for Marie in her final days. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Marie’s name to The Carpenter House.