Edwina Verdun Broussard

A Mass of Christian Burial for Edwina V Broussard will be held on Saturday, November 10, 2018, 11:00 AM at St. Jules Catholic Church, 601 Magnolia Street, Franklin, LA. Fr. Peter Emusa will celebrate the mass.

A Wake will be held Friday, November 9, 2018, from 5:00 PM - 7:30PM at MK Dixon Funeral Home.

Visitation will be held Saturday, November 10, 2018, from 10:00 AM until the commencement of the funeral mass at St. Jules Catholic Church.

Edwina Virginia Verdun Broussard was born to the late Annie Vappie Verdun and Edward Patrick Verdun on August 20, 1925 in Baldwin, Louisiana.  She was baptized and confirmed at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baldwin.  As a toddler her mother dressed her up and allowed her to spend time in her father's general store in Franklin, at his insistence. He must have known that he would not have much time to enjoy his little girl, as he soonpassed away.

She was an only child that grew up around a host of cousins including Ruby, Fred, Winifred, Madge, Beverly and many others.  She loved her family dearly and many uncles and cousins moved away from Uncle John Vappie's homestead in Baldwin, but Edwina's Mother Annie remained therewith her sisters.

Edwina was an active youth, attending Sager Brown Elementary School in Baldwin, which was founded by the United Methodist Church in 1867 as a refuge for the formerly enslaved and their children.  Mom loved to tell stories from her youth and she often shared that her Cousin Hattie Vappie was her teacher at Sager Brown. One of her favorite stories from her childhood was the Sunday afternoon sing-alongs. Her Uncle Boots, who had a beautiful voice, and her Cousin Madge led the chorus!

She attended high school at the St. Mary Parish Negro Training School in Franklin, and later moved to New Orleans where she lived with Cousin Sarah and her family.  She found her first job helping with the World War II effort, working as a "Rosie the Riveter" making airplane parts. She later worked as an elevator operator in one of theDepartment Stores on Canal Street in New Orleans.

After a couple of years in New Orleans, Edwina returned to Franklin and stayed with her favorite Aunt and Uncle, Louise and Lawrence Johnson (aka "Uncle Brother").  She worked on Main St. at Cusimano's Dry Cleaners where she met Harold and they soon began dating. On December 17, 1947, Edwina married Harold Sostand Broussard, Sr. in Franklin.  Together they had six children, Cheryl Elmore(James "Skip"), Harold S. Broussard, Jr. (Cheryl Ann), Michael E. Broussard, Patrick E. Broussard, Marsha M. Broussard (David Williams) and Carla Broussard Pellerin (Brian).  She leaves twelve loving grand children: Kathy, Zedrick, Chiquita, Kendyl, Marcus, Mindy, Jessica, Michael, Adrienne, Amy, Everett, Tyreek, and ten great grandchildren. She enjoyed a great relationship with her father in law, Etienne Broussard and loved to reflect on the many stories he shared. "Auntie Edwina and Uncle H.S."were loved and cherished by H.S.'s brothers and sisters, their nieces, nephews, cousins and the entire Broussard family.

Edwina was in the first generation of employees of the St. Mary Parish Head Start program, which started in the late 60's. She taught and nurtured many preschoolers at the Bambi Head Start center located in Sorrel, Glencoe and finally Baldwin.  Because of her leadership, she became the Center Coordinator.  During that time, she and her fellow Head Start colleagues worked toward attaining theirAssociate Degrees in Child Development at the University of Southwestern Louisiana (presently ULL).

Edwina was an avid reader and always assisted her children with their homework and school projects.  She loved teaching and taught Catechism for many years at St. Jules Church and she later taught literacy.  Edwina raised all six children in the Catholic faith and was a faithful member of St. Jules Catholic Church where she was  a member of the Ladies Auxiliary and always volunteered for the church fairs.  She and Harold were civically active and they volunteered together as poll watchers for many years.

During the 80s, Edwina and 11 distinguished Franklin ladies formed the Lovely Ladies Pokeno Club and enjoyed years of social camaraderie.  Edwina was agreat cook and always prepared perfect and delicious meals for her familyand friends.  We will always reminisce about how she and her husband worked as a team to accomplish their goals.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to St. Jules Catholic Church in Mrs. Edwina Broussard's name by clicking on the tab to the left titled, "Donate Funeral Funds."