Orelia Marie Richard-Augustus, 76, a native of Lake Charles, LA, and resident of Baton Rouge, LA, passed away peacefully on Friday. May 28, 2021, at Flannery Oaks Guest House in Baton Rouge, LA.  She was born on February 19, 1945, to Joseph Berchman Richard and Mathilda Victorian Richard.  Marie was baptized at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Lake Charles, LA. She was a 1962 graduate of the historic Washington High School in Lake Charles, LA.  Upon completing high school, Marie went on to earn her Bachelor of Science Degree and taught Mathematics and Science in the Calcasieu Parish School System.  She enrolled in McNeese State University, earning a Master's of Education Degree in 1972 and a Master's of Education Specialist in 1979.  Marie later enrolled in the Southern University Law School and graduated Cum Laude, earning a Juris Doctorate Degree in 1982.  Marie was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.  She was an Avid Genealogist and was the family Historian.  Marie married the love of her life, Gary Eugene Augustus.  Upon completing Law School, Marie worked in Recruitment at the Southern University Law Center and later worked as a Private Practice Attorney At Law.

Marie is survived by her brother, Wayne Harmon (Donna) of Sugar Land, TX; her sister, Nancy Batiste of Winnie, TX; her nieces, Allegra M. Richard of Baton Rouge, LA, Tracey Batiste Hodges (Chris) of Little Rock, AR, Meghan Harmon Wilkerson (Zack), and Issabella Gobert of Houston, TX; her nephews, Daniel Richard (Rita) of Lake Charles, LA, Jarrell Perkins Richard (Diante) of Lake Charles, LA, Christopher Daniel Richard of Dallas, TX; her great-nieces, Maddy'son Ceasar, Bailey Richard, and Jru Richard all of Lake Charles, LA, and Zipporah Bilbo of Atlanta, GA; her great-nephews, Charles T. Fletcher and Chandler J. James, both of Baton Rouge, LA, Deonte D. Laws, Ian I. Richard, and Carlos Gobert, all of Lake Charles, LA; her brother-in-law, William Augustus, Sr. and sister-in-law, Virginia Augustus Watley (Michael) of Lake Charles, LA.

Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Gary Eugene Augustus; her parents, Joseph Berchman Richard and Mathilda Victorian Richard; her father-in-law Eugene Augustus; her mother-in-law, Irma J. Augustus; two brothers-in-law, Merrill Augustus and Melvin Augustus; her brothers, Leonard C. Richard and Daniel Lee Richard, Sr; two sisters-in-law, Margaret Richard and Barbara A. Richard; her niece, Jeralyn Batiste and great-niece, Keturah A. Williams.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 5, 2021 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 2031 E. Opelousas Street, Lake Charles, LA.  Reverend Father V. Wayne LeBleu will officiate.  Visiting is from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Saturday, in the Church
Chapel at Semien-Lewis Mortuary, 819 N. State Street, Jennings, LA.  A Rosary will be recited at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel.  Burial will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Lake Charles, LA under the direction of Semien-Lewis Mortuary of Jennings, LA.