Winna Wilson Broussard, age 78, died of pancreatic cancer on July 20, 2004.
She was born in Mt. Pleasant, Texas where she spent her elementary school years living with her grandmother on her farm. Her high school years were spent with her mother and stepfather on his plantation in Louisiana. Summers were spent in Dallas with her father. She was descended from early Texans: the Waggoner’s of Vernon, and the Ellis and Allen families of Mt. Pleasant. Winna moved to Shreveport during World War II and attended Norton’s Business School. She married Archie Wilson, a Shreveport native, and moved to Houston. They then moved to New York, back to Houston, and finally to Beaumont in 1963, which she loved and claimed as home. Winna and Archie raised four children, and were happily married for 53 years, until his death in 1999.
Winna’s enthusiasm for life kept her active. As a youth she enjoyed horseback riding. Her later interests included tennis, dancing, bridge, gardening, traveling and entertaining. She contributed years of volunteer work to her community, especially Trinity United Methodist Church. She served on the Altar Guild for 30 years, and was active in grounds beautification. Winna was the first Ways and Means Chairman for the Beaumont Heritage Society and in that role created and chaired the first annual Antique Fair and Auction, an event that continued for 21 years. Active in the Beaumont Symphony League, she served as President and Ball Chairman. While in Houston, she worked at the Blue Bird Circle to support the Pediatric Neurological Clinic.
Winna is survived by her husband Joe E. Broussard II, with whom she enjoyed another happy marriage, and her children; daughter Lee and her husband, Bill Evans, and their daughters Lee-Taylor and Pamela Evans; daughter Penne Stafford and her sons Josh and Wilson Stafford; daughter Pamela and her husband Howard B. Butler; son Steven Wilson and his wife Carol, and their sons Christopher and Tyler Wilson. She is also survived by her brother Bill Allen and his wife Peggy of Slidell, Louisiana as well as by Joe Broussard’s children; Mary Lou Bartley, Regina Winegar, Jeanne Marie Carroll, Martin Broussard, Estelle Houston, their children and spouses.
Winna’s will to live, her faith and spirit demonstrated incredible courage. She was an inspiration to all who witnessed her battle with heart disease and cancer. Winna considered each day a gift to be shared and enjoyed. She felt exceedingly blessed to have lived a long and wonderful life. She leaves her love and gratitude to all who made it wonderful.
A memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 22, at Trinity United Methodist Church under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont. A gathering of family and friends will begin at 9:30 a.m. Thursday morning before the service in the church parlor. Interment will be private.
Winna’s family wishes to extend their special thanks to Drs. Daniel J. Harmon, Robert R. Birdwell, Joe B. Holland, Jr., Randy Lombardo, all of Beaumont; and Dr. Robert A. Wolff and his associates at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center for their professional care and personal attention. The family also wishes to thank Odyssey Health Care of Beaumont for their support and assistance to both Winna and her entire family.
Those wishing to send memorial gifts might consider the Pancreatic Cancer Research Center and the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe, Houston, Texas 77030 or Trinity United Methodist Church, Box 5247, Beaumont, Texas 77726.
