Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 10:00 AM at First Baptist Church in Baton Rouge for Phyllis Brodnax Heroy, who passed away on Monday, November 26, 2012. Visitation will be held on Friday Nov. 30 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at Greenoaks Funeral Home. She was born on December 22, 1937 to Clarence Eugene Brodnax and Ethel Smith Brodnax in Bastrop, Louisiana, the fourth of six children. She received her B.A. in English from Louisiana College in Pineville, then a M.S. in Library Science from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Her first job was in the East Baton Rouge Parish library, where she met her future husband. She married Frank Melville Heroy, Jr. on August 10, 1963. They had two sons, Paul Edward and Kenneth Alan. Phyllis began her career in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System (EBRPSS) as librarian at Central High School. In 1985 she became Supervisor of Libraries for EBRPSS, where she led innovations in bringing technology into libraries and schools. She was promoted to Director of Library Services and Instructional Technology for EBRPSS in 2003, where she remained until retiring in 2006. Phyllis' distinguished career was matched by her service to her profession and her community. Her outstanding leadership and organizational skills led her to be chosen for numerous leadership positions in several professional organizations including President, Baton Rouge Area Library Club; President, Gamma Eta Chapter, Delta Kappa Gamma; President, Louisiana Library Association (LLA); Chair, School Library Advisory Council, Board of Elementary and Secondary Education; Chair, Louisiana Department of Education Electronic Database Advisory Committee. She was recognized for her outstanding work and service throughout her career and received many awards: Delegate, Second White House Conference on Libraries and Information Services; LLA Anthony Benoit Mid-Career Award; Louisiana Association of School Librarians Administrator of the Year; Outstanding Alumna of the Year, LSU School of Library & Information Science; Essae M. Culver Distinguished Service Award, LLA. She was a long time member of First Baptist Church where she held numerous positions. She took particular joy in her work establishing a children's library at the church, which has been named in her honor. Following her retirement, she stayed busy with several organizations including Baton Rouge One Book One Community, Baton Rouge Area Retired Teachers Association, Talk About Books book club, Louisiana Book Festival, Philanthropic Educational Organization, and Patrons of the Public Library.
Phyllis is survived by sisters Roma Willis, Nancy Marshman, Jo Ellen Kiser, brothers Ted Brodnax and Jerry Brodnax, sons Paul and Ken, and granddaughters Kenna and Cara.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to Patrons of the Public Library (http://www.ebr.lib.la.us/about/popl.htm), or to First Baptist Church.
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