Marie Elayne Stroud

Marie “Elayne” Prados Stroud of Atlanta, Georgia passed away peacefully on November 9, 2018 surrounded by her family.
Elayne was born July 5, 1935 in Opelousas, Louisiana to James & Esther (Binford) Prados. She attended Louisiana State University, where she earned a B.A. in Music. While at LSU, Elayne was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority and was one of the LSU Beauties.
After graduation, Elayne worked at ESSO, where she met her future husband. Elayne married William Royce Stroud on December 16, 1960. Together they had three children, William Randall Stroud, Holly Elizabeth Stroud and Cynthia Stroud Harris. The couple lived in Houston, Texas, which is where they raised their children, and then traveled the world living in New Jersey, St. Croix, Raleigh, Romania, London, Antigua, Antwerp and Atlanta. She loved learning new cultures and would learn some of the language in the international cities where she lived.
Elayne was a very loving and dedicated wife and mother. She volunteered extensively at her children’s schools to show her support of her children. While living in Houston, she helped establish the Kappa Delta sorority chapter at the University of Texas, volunteered with the Junior League of Houston and Christ Church Cathedral and enjoyed playing tennis with her friends at the Forest Club. In Atlanta, she was active at The Cathedral of St. Philip, volunteering with St. Veronica’s Guild and working in the Bookshop.
As one friend said, “Music filled her soul and, in turn, she used it to touch ours.” Elayne was an accomplished musician, playing both piano and organ, and a beautiful singer. One of her happiest childhood memories was accompanying Miss America on the piano when Miss America came to Opelousas for the Yambilee Festival. In Houston, Elayne taught piano and sang with the Houston Symphony Chorale. Her family loved hearing the sound of Elayne’s voice practicing her musical scales when they would come home from work or school.
Elayne was a beautiful and elegant woman. And she made life-long friendships with people she met. Even at her passing, some of her closest friends were women she had known since first grade in Opelousas.
Elayne is survived by her husband, Royce, and her three children, Randall (and his wife, Jorgelina Araneda), Holly (and her husband, Robert Sinos) & Cynthia (and her husband, Greg Harris). She is also survived by her three grandchildren, Rachel Corvin (and her husband, Alex Corvin), William Harris and McIver Harris, as well as her sister, Juanita Bahlinger, and brother, James L. Prados (and his wife, Marie Prados) and many nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service for Elayne will be held at the Chapel at Canterbury Court in Atlanta on Saturday, November 17.
Elayne was very much loved and will be greatly missed.