Oakdale-Homegoing services honoring Arsiley M. Spence, 91, will be held at 11 o'clock a.m. on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at Gospel Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church in Oakdale. Revs. James Vandegriff, Rick Pavlu, and Jared Pavlu will officiate.  Arsiley will be laid to rest at Oak Hill Cemetery in Oakdale immediately following her services.

Arsiley's family will receive friends and visitors at Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home of Oakdale on Monday evening, May 20, 2024, from 6-8 o'clock p.m. Arsiley's visitation will resume at Gospel Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church in Oakdale on Tuesday morning, May 21, 2024, from 10 o'clock a.m. until time of service. All of Arsliey's arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home of Oakdale.

Born on October 6, 1932, to Wilburn and Mae Coker, Arsiley, or "Sil," as she is often called by her siblings, was the oldest of 12 children. And as the oldest, she functioned as the "assistant-mama," and helped raise several of her brothers. One of the boys has even mentioned that he was pretty old before he figured out that she was not his mama. In her later years, she loved to tell the stories of taking care of the babies (her brothers), she even said that she thought her mom would never stop having babies! She enjoyed talking about how she learned to take up for herself as a child in school. Being small for her age, she was often bullied - until her dad outlined the consequences he would doll out unless she defended herself. The next day, when exiting the school bus, the perpetrator put her hands on Arsiley for the last time. Now, the fear of the punishment outweighed the fear of the bully, and she demonstrated that being small does not have to equal being weak. That day she got the upper hand and would never be bullied again. Her new-found resolve would carry into adulthood, and she would reach deep down to find the strength for each challenge of life. When facing hardships, she found ways to hold together her family and give her children the best life possible. As adults, her children have looked back said that they never realized they were poor. Her life was transformed in 1980, when she came to the Lord, and was filled with His Spirit. From that time forward, she not only loved her family - she also loved the Lord and her church family. She loved the Word of God and determined to read her Bible from cover to cover each year, instead of those romance novels she had read before. Throughout her day, she could be found singing. It was a bit out of tune, the timing was a bit off, and the words were a little different with each verse - it was one of the most beautiful sounds in the world! In 1997, she entered a new era, when her husband Jessie, the love of her life, passed away. For over 40 years, her life had revolved around him, and she found herself lost for a purpose in life, with her children grown and her husband gone. She soon found that purpose, as a volunteer, or "Pink Lady" at the hospital in Oakdale, where she would bring cheer to the patients and their families. When she was no longer able to serve, or even live alone, Arsiley went to live with her daughter, Shirley. For the next six years, the two of them were inseparable, and where you saw one, you saw the other. Then, in 2019, dementia took away Arsiley's ability to be left unsupervised, and she went to live in the Acadia St. Landry Nursing Home in Church Point. At the facility, she became known as a social butterfly and brought joy to both the residents and staff... and she enjoyed her near daily visits from family! After suffering a stroke, her final 18 months tell a story of decline and debilitation, yet she always kept a good attitude and always warmed the room with a big smile. Even with the loss of speech in her last two weeks, she was quick to mouth the words "I love you." Arsiley will always live in our hearts as a joyful memory and an empty place left by her absence.

Those left to cherish Arsiley's memory include, one son, LeRoy Spence, and wife Melody, one daughter, Shirley Williams, and husband Dana; eight brothers, A.C., Emmit, Larry, William Earl, L.C., Wilbern Jr., Shirley Joe, and Bryant Coker, one sister Wanda Sue Miller; six grandchildren, six great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Arsiley is preceded in death by her parents, Wilbur, and Mae Odom Coker; her husband, Jessie Spence; one brother, A.V. Coker, and one sister, Jessie Mae Buxton.

Arsiley's family would like to extend a very special thank you to to the staff of Acadiana St. Landry Nursing Home and Hope Hospice for all their love, care, and compassion.

Condolences and words of comfort may be shared with Arsiley's family at www.ardoinfuneralhome.com or on Facebook at Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home.