Rev. Hausey, Civil Rights And Religious Leader, Dies Times Picayune 01-4-1996 ************************************************* Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ The Rev. Willie Earl Hausey, a Baptist minister and veteran of the civil rights movement, died Dec. 28 at his home. He was 86. The Rev. Hausey was pastor of St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church from 1950 until his death. He also was president of the Louisiana Freedmen Missionary Baptist General Association, a group of more than 70 churches, from 1985 until his death. In 1976, he was named by Gov. Edwards to the Louisiana State University board of supervisors, becoming the first black member of the board. He served on the board from 1976 to 1982 and from 1986 to 1990. The Rev. Hausey was born in New Orleans and attended Thomy Lafon Elementary School, Gilbert Academy, Moody Bible Institute and Union Baptist Theological Seminary, where he received a doctor of divinity degree. He was pastor of New Salem Baptist Church in South Bend, Ind., from 1943 to 1950. He was one of the founders of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and helped the civil rights struggle in New Orleans in the 1950s and 1960s by opening his church for strategy sessions by activists. The Rev. Hausey was appointed by former Mayor Moon Landrieu to the Housing Authority of New Orleans and the Audubon Park Commission. Former Mayor Dutch Morial later asked him to help determine the effectiveness of the city's Office of Municipal Investigation. He also was executive director of the Democratic Voters for Action League and helped lead many humanitarian and hunger relief drives. Survivors include a son, Reginald Hausey; a grandchild; and two stepgrandchildren. A wake will be held Friday at 7 p.m. at St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church, 2538 Jackson Ave. Visitation will begin at noon. A funeral will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in Providence Memorial Park. Calvin J. Young Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.