Former Miss Louisiana Barbara Rivers dies

Greg Hilburn, USA TODAY Network Published 4:10 p.m. CT Nov. 9, 2017 | Updated 4:34 p.m. CT Nov. 9, 2017

Former Miss Louisiana Barbara Rivers died Wednesday after a short illness. She was 83.

Rivers, of Monroe, won the 1952 Miss Louisiana title as Barbara Barker and finished in the Top 10 of the Miss America pageant.

She was a singer, actress and business woman as well as a stay-at-home mom raising five children for much of the time.

The funeral for Rivers, who was also a Miss Monroe, is scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday at Jesus the Good Shepherd Church in Monroe under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home.

"She was incredibly talented, creative and gifted," her youngest daughter Quincie Rivers said. "She was active in the community throughout her life. She was also kind and friendly."

Rivers never left the theater. After she retired as a performer, Rivers remained involved and supportive of the Strauss Theatre Center.

She was also passionate about animal welfare, supporting the River Cities Humane Society for Cats and other similar agencies.

She supported the Meals on Wheels program and was active in Jesus the Good Shepherd Church, her daughter said.

Rivers is survived by five children: Cynthia Perry; Michelle Rivers; Stephanie Randolph; Jay Rivers; and Quincie Rivers.

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