Funeral services for Judge Yada Magee to be held on June 1

Yada T. Magee, an Orleans Pa­rish Civil District Court judge for 22 years before she stepped off the bench in 2008, died Sunday, May 24, after a long cancer-related illness. She was 60.

Magee, who lived on the West Bank, presided over several high-profile cases during her years on the bench.

Perhaps the most famous was a class-action lawsuit against the Dow Chemical Co. over breast implants, with a jury finding that the company was negligent in implant testing and had deceived women about the potential health risks.

JUDGE YADA MAGEE

Friends described Magee as a devout Christian — she held a Master of Divinity degree — who melded her faith with her law career.

She wrote a Christian motivational book called Subpoenaed for Service and produced a seminar titled “The Church and 21st Century Legal Issues.” She also wrote a pair of Christian plays.

Judge Yada Tranace Magee entered into eternal rest on Sunday, May 24, 2015. Loving daughter of the late Harold and Rev. Dr. Myrtle Ruth Landry Magee; granddaughter of the late John and Vander Magee and Louis Landry and Olevia Landry Davis.

Her survivors include: one brother: Zefferieno Magee; two sisters: Quivander Magee Jiminez; Gwiena Magee Patin; two brothers in law: Rev. David M. Patin, Sr. and Dexter Jiminez; a God sent son: Rev. Joseph Jones; two nephews: Corey Turnbull and David M. (Letetia) Patin, Jr.; five nieces: Persefphone (Derrick) Osbey, Emelia Wilfred, Zahn Patin, Brianquilla Fields and Shawnelle Watkins; two uncles: Calvin Washington and Rev. Ulysses D. Landry, Sr.; four aunts: Claudette Landry Green, Emily Landry, Mary Washington and Beverly Mitchell; Sharon Kaye Hunter, Lisa Jones, Rachel Harrison, Melissa Williams and Linda Delone; eight godchildren, a host of great nieces, nephews, cousins, The Way Jesus Christ Christian Church New Orleans and Dallas as well as loving, devoted and caring friends and former staff members Civil District Court Division “F”.

She was preceded in death by one brother, the Rev. Joseph Wilfred; 10 aunts and uncles: Clyde Rhinehart, T.L. and Dorothy Washington, Ruby Mae Boyd, Ethel Mae and Sylvester Scott, L.J. Mitchell, Mateca Butler, Dorothy and Willie Magee.

Professional services were en­trust­ed to Littlejohn Funeral Home.

This article originally published in the June 1, 2015 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.