Genevieve Munson Trimble

Genevieve Munson Trimble “Gen”, a passionate gardener, nationally recognized author and speaker on gardening, and a community visionary, died at her New Orleans home Sept. 8, 2023, surrounded by her family.

Born July 6, 1921, in Baton Rouge, to Joseph Jones Munson and Emma Lea Harvey Munson, she grew up in Houma, LA, graduating from Lorton Preparatory School there. A member of Pi Beta Phi sorority, Gen graduated from LSU in 1941, earning a degree in journalism and mass communications. She and a fellow journalism student, Morrell Feltus Trimble, from Natchez, MS, shared a love for journalism and each other. They married in 1942. Her husband was in the Navy during World War II, and after the war the couple moved to New Orleans.

Gen enjoyed telling others later in her life about the stories she wrote for Seventeen magazine, a nationally popular magazine for teen-age girls. She also was a copywriter for Marshall Field department store in Chicago and other organizations.

In New Orleans, her husband, “Bud,” became Vice President of Merrill Lynch and Manager of the New Orleans office, while Gen devoted herself to gardening, writing, and the city she so loved. Beyond her many civic commitments, Gen was well known for her books on gardening, especially “Afton Villa: The Birth and Rebirth of a 19th-century Louisiana Garden” in 2016. The main house at the St Francisville, LA, estate burned in 1963. Gen and her husband bought Afton Villa in 1972 and spent decades restoring the gardens. For more than 40 years, she kept garden journals of Afton Villa and monthly reports on the garden by Neil Odenwald, who directed LSU’s School of Landscape Architecture. They are archived at the New Orleans Town Gardeners Garden Library housed at Tulane University; the Smithsonian Gardens of America; the Garden Club of America Headquarters; and Louisiana State University, said Ruthie Frierson, a close friend of Gen’s for over 50 years. Working closely with the Trimbles was Ivy Jones who thought he had signed up for a two-week job at Afton Villa but stayed there and with Gen more than 50 years, until her death. “They rejoiced in their successes and grieved together in their disappointments,” said her daughter.

Gen dedicated her life to a commitment to the community and excelled in her extraordinary empathy for friends, family, and those in need. It is they who benefited from her spirit of generosity, thoughtfulness, and care. She was president of the New Orleans Botanical Garden Foundation for 25 years, spearheading a multi-million fund raising campaign for the re-development of the New Orleans Botanical Garden and the building of the Pavilion of the Two Sisters and the Conservatory of the Two Sisters in City Park. For her efforts, in 1994 she was given New Orleans City Park's President's Award in recognition of gifts of time, talent and resources which significantly enhanced City Park. She wrote “Gardeners’ Guide”, Garden Study Club, 1986; “Longue Vue House and Gardens, a Guide”, 1988; and Gardens, a Guide”, 1988. In 1997, Gen received the Garden Club of America’s National Achievement Medal. She also co-authored “History of Le Petit Salon,” 1974, about a French Quarter building owned by a women’s club.

Over her life of community service Gen has received numerous awards and honors. Among them are National Preservation Award from the Daughters of the American Revolution, 2010; The Foundation for Historical Louisiana's Award for Historic Preservation, 2003; National Achievement Medal, Garden Club of America, 1997; Preservationist of the Year 1990 in the State of Louisiana, given by the Louisiana Preservation Alliance for meritorious service in the preservation of the public Gardens at City Park and Afton Villa Gardens, 1990; American Society of Landscape Architects, Patron Award in the State of Louisiana, 1989; Garden Club of America Club Awards given for service in writing “The Gardener's Guide” and for the preservation of the 19th Century Gardens at Afton Villa, 1989; In 1963, she reigned as queen of the Mystic Club Carnival Organization. Her husband was Rex, King of Carnival, in 1980. She was a member of the St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church where she taught Bible study for many years.

She is survived by her daughter Morrell Trimble Corle of New Orleans (Frederic) and two step-grandchildren, Alison Corle South (Stephen), of Boston, MA, and Dr. Louise Corle May, MD (Scott), of Olympia, WA and two step-greatgrandchildren, Corle Caroline South and Woodland Lawrence May. Mrs. Trimble was preceded in death by her parents, and by her husband, who died in 2004. The family wishes to express its sincere appreciation to her devoted caregivers: Patrice Adams, Bernadine Campbell, Susan King, and Michele Paterson. A funeral service will be held at St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1545 State St, at 2 pm Tuesday Sept. 19, preceded by visitation starting at 12:30pm. Internment immediately after the ceremony is private. In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church; the New Orleans Botanical Garden, 1 Palm Drive, New Orleans, 70124; Le Petit Salon, 620 St Peter St, New Orleans 70116; and Ochsner Health, 1514 Jefferson Hwy., Suite 1E617, New Orleans 70121.