Beloved Community Spotlight

Andréa Pitre Butler brings warmth, intellect, and a deep sense of faith to her life at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church and to the broader Baton Rouge community. A longtime resident of the area, Andréa first came to Baton Rouge to attend LSU after growing up in Ville Platte, and she has made this area her home ever since.

With proud French heritage, she spells her name Andréa — accent included whenever the keyboard cooperates — so that it’s pronounced like the boy’s name “Andre,” but with an “a” at the end. It’s a small but meaningful detail that reflects her roots and her appreciation for tradition and identity.

Professionally, Andréa serves as an academic advisor and professor in the Honors Program at Southeastern Louisiana University. A lifelong learner, she thrives in the energy of a college campus and finds great joy in mentoring students as they discern their paths and pursue their goals. Service and guidance are central to who she is, both in her vocation and in her faith life.

Andréa and her husband, Brady, live in Prairieville and have been married for nearly five years. They were married in New Orleans during the height of the pandemic in a small and intimate ceremony — just the two of them, the minister, and two witnesses. Though simple, the day was deeply meaningful and focused on the covenant they were making.

Brady, a Gonzales native and the only non-LSU Tiger in their household (he earned his degree from Oklahoma State), works in business development for a pipeline services company. His role takes him to places around the world, including Kuala Lumpur, Doha, and Banff.

Together, Andréa and Brady share four adult children, with the youngest preparing to graduate from LSU this May. At home, Andréa’s longtime companion, Larry — a 10-pound terrier mix — keeps everyone in line. Larry had been her dog for several years before she met Brady and was initially unsure about another “guy” in the house. Fortunately, Brady has passed inspection and is now Larry’s undisputed favorite person.

In 2022, after searching for a smaller and more welcoming church community, Andréa and Brady began attending St. Margaret’s. As a cradle Catholic, Andréa appreciated the familiar liturgical and sacramental traditions of the Episcopal Church while also feeling drawn to its openness and inclusivity. In 2023, she was received into the Episcopal Church in a ceremony led by Bishop Shannon. Since then, she has been active in the Pastoral Care ministry and recently joined the Vestry, embracing opportunities to serve and lead within the parish.

Travel is one of Andréa’s great joys (Brady’s too!). A recent trip with Brady to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia allowed her to explore her Acadian ancestry and visit places where her forebears lived before settling in Louisiana. Closer to home, Pensacola Beach remains a favorite retreat. Wherever she travels, Andréa enjoys discovering local bookstores and record shops — she and Brady share a love of reading and collecting vinyl records.

Through her time at St. Margaret’s, Andréa feels her spiritual life has deepened, particularly in the call to serve others. If she hopes to be remembered in any way, it would simply be this: as a faithful follower of Christ.

If you don’t already know Andréa, say hello the next time you see her at church (or anywhere). She’s warm and welcoming, and would love to get to know you.