Richard Charles Hebert

Richard Charles Hebert lost his fight to pancreatic cancer on Thursday, February 23, 2023, with his family by his side. His mantra, from diagnosis through treatment, was “I’ve got a lot to live for.” And live, he did! Dad, Rick, Papa did not pass on a single opportunity presented to him to be with those he loved these last seven months.

Rick was the third and youngest son of Calvin Raymond “Blue” Hebert and Velma Matherne Hebert, born on March 26, 1947, in Houma, Louisiana. He grew up in and around the bayous of Houma, graduating from Terrebonne High School, where he, as lore has it, ran that school! Likely the best fact checker of that information is his lifelong best friend, Arthur Hyde, and he’s not one to disagree with holding Rick in high regard. If you’ve met Rick, he’s likely shared how very proud he was of his roots. He would tell you of his childhood when he was surrounded by loving parents, friends, relatives, his church group, and fellow Scouts and ballplayers.

Rick attended Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport where he met Marilyn Grimes, whom he later married. At Centenary he continued to lead. He served as Chief Justice of the Honor Court and continued honing his communication skills and sharing opinions as editor of the campus newspaper. During this time, his oldest brother, Calvin, was killed in a helicopter crash in the Vietnam War. This tragic loss played a large role in shaping Rick’s world view and how he would live his life.

After graduation from Centenary, Rick attended Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University where he earned a master’s degree in theology. Appointments to Louisiana Annual Conference churches up and down the Louisiana I-10 corridor followed. He began his ministry as Associate Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Lafayette, and during that time he became an Ordained Deacon. In 1973 he was then appointed to his “very own” church serving as pastor at Metairie UMC and St. John’s UMC in Lutcher as well as serving as pastor at St. Mark’s UMC in New Orleans. He was Ordained an Elder in 1974 and he and Marilyn welcomed their first and only child, Kristin, that same year. During the years in the New Orleans District, he also spent time serving as Chaplain at Charity Hospital. Other appointments included the two-point charge Wesley UMC, Sulphur/Hackberry, Lasseigne UMC (now First UMC) in Laplace, First UMC of Jennings, and his last appointment in the Lake Charles District was First United Methodist in DeRidder.

As a minister, Rick delivered eloquent, thoughtful, humorous, relevant sermons each Sunday. When asked, he would say that he had no specific preaching style, which was intentional, as that was his style. He loved the pulpit, but his ministry reached far beyond preaching. He grew every congregation by embracing the community of which he became a part. He rarely missed an opportunity to attend a good potluck, or to deliver the invocation or benediction of a meeting, ball game or benefit. He sat with countless families at births and burials, in hospital beds and at civic events. He did a lot of good, helped a lot of people, and sincerely believed that he could and should make a difference.

Beyond his career in the parish ministry, he continued to serve as officiant at wedding ceremonies. He loved bringing people together, and he was really very good at it; sincere, heart-felt, funny. He felt great honor and joy in officiating at all matrimonial ceremonies, his inclusivity bringing together people of any race, religion, or sexual orientation, so long as the common goal was to live in love.

Rick officially retired from the United Methodist Church and moved to Houston to begin another chapter in his life. He didn’t abandon “his call,” rather he shifted his passion and compassion, continuing his teachings in a more traditional role…in the classroom. During this chapter he married Sharon Sewell and was able to be closer to his aging mother and his middle brother, Jimmy and his wife, Martha. Rick considered himself fortunate to teach a range of students with varying needs and abilities in a varying curriculum. His teaching positions were held in Aldine, in Alief at Hastings High and Hastings Ninth Grade Center, and at Westside in HISD. He taught, co-taught, formed relationships and even coached girls’ basketball! It was no surprise to those who knew him when he was awarded Teacher of the Year; after all, Rick did tend to give his all and knew how to “wow” a crowd.

Rick was a wordsmith with a quick wit and a clever sense of humor. He also had a huge heart. He was openly friendly, accepting, patient, kind and generous. He crafted sermons with his mind; he crafted friendships with his heart. He was a craftsman of spirit and inspiration to his family. Rick was a huge fan of the New Orleans Saints, LSU Tigers, and Houston Astros. He was a fan of good food, good coffee, good writing, good company, good puns and just joy. He loved to read and to travel. He loved to meet new people, experience different cultures, watch sunsets in varying vistas. He was also a fan of and advocate for equality, kindness, and generosity.

As chemotherapy took its toll and he began walking with the assistance of a walker, it was important to keep one eye on him in the hallways, as he frequently veered out of his lane to give a kind word, a friendly wave, and a smile to all those along the way, with little regard to the potential disaster of the comings and goings of others whizzing around about him! People and relationships were important to him; that pause of acknowledgement was important to him. He had an amazing gift for remembering people’s names after just one meeting, a testament to the value he placed on people as individuals. He taught his grandsons about chivalry and the impact that is made when others are considered first, showing simple acts of kindness that include holding the door for someone or removing a baseball cap when sitting down to dinner or listening to the National Anthem.

Rick lived the final seven months of his life with his daughter Kristin and her family, which allowed them to keep a watchful eye on his care. That’s what they told him. He would tell everyone who would listen how much he appreciated the care and concern, as well as the community of family and friends. He felt that he was the fortunate one. He slipped quietly into the house as all their worlds continued to turn. In and out were teenagers and friends and occupational therapists and parties and tests and doctor visits and baseball games and chemotherapy treatments and concerts and tutoring and work and physical therapists and radiation therapy treatments and brass band rehearsals, and dogs…so many poorly behaved dogs…and he was in the mix of it all. He was present, attentive, gracious, kind and SMILING. He ALWAYS thanked those around him for helping him, no matter how bad he was feeling and no matter how small the kindness shown him. Through it all, he continued to teach about inclusivity, patience, humor, and grace.

His family would like to thank the doctors and caregiving teams at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Covington and Pulse Home Health, as well as the team at St. Tammany Hospital for the kindness, care, and respect they showed Rick and his family. They also wish to thank the village of family and friends that has pulled in tightly over the last seven months; what an amazing group. Grey and Eli, you two were the light of his life, and you made every single day brighter. The shared smiles and hugs and fist bumps, the endless joy and pride that you gave him were just the things he meant when he said, “I’ve got a lot to live for.”

Rick is survived by his daughter, Kristin, his son-in-law Lorenzo Fisher and their two boys, Grey and Eli Fisher. He was also a loving stepfather to Charli Scarbrough Honas. Rick leaves behind many cousins, friends and a steadfast companion, Charlie (his dog).

He is preceded in death by his parents, Velma and Blue Hebert; beloved brothers, Calvin and Jimmy Hebert; stepsons, Scott and Rob Scarbrough.

Rick’s hope for all of us is a world without bigotry, divisiveness, judgement, or hatred, but rather one of love and grace; one in which we prioritize one another as well as our world around us. He supported multiple charitable organizations that he felt exemplify those hopes including UMCOR, The Wounded Warrior Project, The Nature Conservancy and Oxfam. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of these organizations in his memory.

A celebration of Rick’s life will be held on Saturday, April 1, 5-8pm, at the home of Kristin Hebert-Fisher in Mandeville. This was his request…a party in his memory for all those who loved him. So please come with your favorite “Rick story,” and be ready to participate in Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World,” with the benediction being, ‘Oh yehhhhh…’ “Because,” Rick said, “after all, God gets the last smile. “