John Murray Winn Jr.

John Murray Winn, Jr. was born in Mobile, Alabama on January 22, 1930 and died peacefully in his sleep in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on December 27, 2023. In less than a month, he would have celebrated his 94th birthday. To the very end of his life, his mind remained sharp, his sense of humor undiminished, and his spirit unquenchable.

John grew up in historic Algiers Point in New Orleans, the city where his deepest roots were planted. He learned to walk at eight months old, but contracted polio at 2 ½ and spent a total of nearly two years in and out of Shriner’s Hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana, undergoing fifteen surgeries and physical therapy. Although the immense loss and pain he confronted as a small child with polio certainly was the anvil upon which was forged a strong character of depth, resilience, courage, and compassion, he never let polio define him.

From Behrman High School on Algiers Point, where he was the student body president, John went on to Tulane University where in 1950 he received his B.A. in Journalism. His life’s calling led him to Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas where, in 1954, he received his Master of Divinity degree. In 1992, Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana awarded him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree.

John was married for most of his life, first to Audrey Mary Sutton, his high school sweetheart, from 1950 until her death in 1972, and then, in 1974, he married Carole Lee Cotton, one of the first ordained clergywomen in Louisiana Methodism. He and Carole were one of the first clergy couples in the conference, and their dynamic team leadership was an exciting model for those who followed.

Over the span of fifty years of fruitful ministry in Louisiana, John served local United Methodist churches in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Monroe, Houma, and Shreveport, where he also served as an adjunct instructor at Centenary College. In 1990 he became the Founding Director of the Louisiana Conference Center for Pastoral Excellence, mentoring clergy of all ages and in all stages of ministry. This cutting-edge ministry has been replicated in other conferences across the United Methodist connection.

John served on numerous boards and agencies of The United Methodist Church and was elected to represent Louisiana United Methodists at both the jurisdictional and general conference levels. In every context, whether teaching, consulting, preaching, administering, or mentoring, John offered visionary and imaginative insight, opening hearts, minds, and doors. Through his trailblazing ministry, churches have been renewed, and countless lives of both lay and clergy have been inspired, challenged, and transformed.

Liberal-minded, large-hearted, quick-witted, and articulate, John was an eloquent and prophetic preacher, an extraordinarily gifted leader, and a courageous champion of women’s equality, the civil rights of minorities, and the LGBTQIA+ community. At times standing alone, he was not deterred from speaking and acting boldly with unflinching integrity for social justice on behalf of those whose rights were at risk, both within and beyond the church. And yet, he did so without ever falling into bitterness or despair, always maintaining a joyful and hopeful attitude toward life.

John is the author of two books, For All Seasons and Selections. His unfinished manuscript, The Last Surviving Polio Patient: A Spiritual and Theological Memoir, will be completed by family and shared soon with the public.

Without a doubt, though John lived and served in many places, his home was New Orleans. A lover of jazz, Creole/Cajun cuisine, oyster poboys, beignets, bread pudding, banana pudding, all things Tulane, and Hubig’s Pies, he never missed a chance to spend time with family and friends in the French Quarter.

He is survived by his wife of almost fifty years, Carole Cotton Winn; his sister, Rosalie Winn Short and her daughter Natalie and son Rob (Suzanne); his daughter, Callie Winn Crawford (Billy) of New Orleans; two sons, John A. Winn (Con Christeson) in St. Louis, Missouri, and Mark Winn-Ritzenberg (Katy) of Washington D.C.; and a daughter, Lane Cotton Winn (Ben Hartman) of Baton Rouge. He has seven grandchildren: Luke, Sarah, Olin, Noah, Julian, Erin, and Zach; and eleven great-grandchildren, Omri, Asa, Ella, Nile, Camden, Ava, Dean, Autumn, Zoë, Bailee and Dylan; as well as numerous beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless others who knew him as “Papa John.”

He is preceded in death by his parents, John Murray Winn, Sr. and Lilly Rosalie Sinatra Winn; his first wife, Audrey Mary Sutton Winn; and his son, Daniel Luther Winn.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, January 26, at 1 p.m., at Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church, 3900 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Journey Towards Excellence Endowment, established to encourage missional excellence, spiritual deepening, and leadership in honor of John and Carole.

Gifts may be given online at: umf.org/winn-memorial

Or mailed to: Louisiana United Methodist Foundation, Journey Towards Excellence, 8337 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Clergy are invited to participate in an opening processional. Please bring vestments and meet at 12:30 p.m. in the Rayne Chapel. If participating, please RSVP by January 24 to [email protected]