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LUMBERTON — A longtime esthetician known for her skills and caring nature died following a vehicular crash Friday in Lumberton.

Sheila Faye Ingham, 69, of Silsbee lived a majority of her life in Vidor and worked in Greater Port Arthur.

“First and foremost she was a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her faith was everything to her,” son Jeff Berg said. “What has given us solace at this time is to know there is no question where she is now, in Heaven. It doesn’t help or change the fact of what happened. It gives us peace and a little solace.”

The mourning is fresh and will take time to heal.

“Day by day,” Berg said of how the family deals with the loss of someone so integral to their lives. “But more truly, minute by minute it gets a little bit easier and you have a thought or a question and different things pop up in your mind that changes your mood and mindset and (there is) another good memory.”

Ingham was raised in Vidor and was a 1972 graduate of Vidor High School. All of her children still reside in Vidor, with the exception on one who lives in Nederland.

Ingham got into the skin care business years ago at the Neiman Marcus makeup area, honed her skills from there and approximately a year ago had the opportunity to do the makeup for a lady on the cover of Brides Magazine, Berg said.

From 2000 to 2018 she owned a skin salon and spa on Nederland Avenue, then went to work with a doctor.

News of her death reverberated across social media. On Skin by Sheila Facebook page, her family thanked all of her clients “who have loved her like your own family the past 25 years. She has treasured the friendships she has made and bonds she has formed so much.”

Lumberton Police Chief Danny Sullins said Ingham was returning from a graduation in a 2019 sedan northbound on Highway 69 in Lumberton at West Chance approaching a red light and was struck from behind by a 2008 Dodge pickup truck.

Ingham and the driver of the truck, Chase Kellar, 36, were taken to a local hospital. Ingham died from her injuries, and Kellar was treated and released.

No arrests were made as of Tuesday.

Sullins said the case is under investigation and there are subpoenas issued in the matter.

Berg said Ingham put herself at the end of the line to make sure everyone else was taken care of before she would take care of herself.

“She has helped just about anybody she could. She always made a donation to the Hope Center,” he said. “She had a big interest in helping people better their lives. She was never judgmental of others. Many people called he mom. She affected a lot of people. I am honored to be part of her life and her son.”

On social media, Sabrina Wolfe said, “my heart is breaking. I just saw her last night at 4:15 p.m. before she went to the graduation. I still cannot believe this. We talked about our faith, the power of prayer and extending grace. Our last words were “love you.” She is resting with our Heavenly father now.”

A funeral is planned June 3 at Memorial Funeral Home of Vidor.

— Reported by Mary Meaux