Harold S. Broussard, Sr

Harold Broussard, Sr., age 87, a native and a resident of Franklin, La., died, Friday, December 7, 2012 at his residence at 1:22 AM. Visitation will be Thursday, December 13, 2012 at Asbury United Methodist Church in Franklin, La., from 9:00 AM until funeral service at 11:00 AM. Burial will be in the St. Jules Cemetery. Rev. Briggs, Officiating. Harold S. Broussard, Sr. was born in Franklin, Louisiana on November 25, 1925 and passed on December 7, 2012. His parents were Etienne S. Broussard and Martha Woods Broussard, both natives of Franklin. As a young man, Harold attended the St. Mary Parish Negro Training School. During World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp in January 1944, completed boot camp at Montford Point in North Carolina, served in the Pacific Rim, and was honorably discharged in June of 1946. Through the years, he was an active member of the American Legion Joseph Brown Post, 532, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Marine Corp League. In July 2012, he joined a distinguished group of honored World War II Veterans when he received the Congressional Gold Medal as a Montford Point Marine. After military service he married Edwina Verdun and completed his training at Trades Incorporated in Franklin, a vocational school established for Black veterans where he learned carpentry. He became a master carpenter and was highly sought after for his meticulous and skilled hands. Although he worked in many fine homes around the Franklin area over the years, one of his greatest technical accomplishments was serving as lead carpenter for the construction of the St. Jules Catholic Church, completed in 1965. He was most proud of using his crafts at Southern Mutual Help Association where he assisted many community members to build their first homes. As opportunities arose, he contracted for the U.S. Postal Service as a mail carrier, and was a St. Mary Parish school bus driver, in order to provide for his family. Like his Father, Etienne, Harold grew a garden, and loved to share the fruits of his labor with family and friends. He wore jumpsuits most of time, and had one for almost every occasion. He also loved to wear his ""Sunday's Best"" for weekly service at Asbury. He loved to dance, and never missed the opportunity. He always had a wonderful smile. He was a lifelong and devoted member of Asbury United Methodist Church of Franklin, which was established in 1863 by former slaves. Throughout the years, he has lovingly assisted with the maintenance, upkeep, and preservation of this significant historic monument; and he served as Treasurer. During his final years, he remained an active and beloved church elder at Asbury, always sitting in the front pew at Sunday morning services. Harold will be missed by his loving wife Edwina, as they would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on December 18th. He leaves to cherish his memory six children: Cheryl A. Elmore (James), Harold S. Broussard, Jr. (Cheryl), Michael E. Broussard, Patrick E. Broussard, Marsha Broussard (David Williams) and Carla B. Pellerin (Brian). His family legacy includes 12 grandchildren, and many beautiful great grandchildren. Vera Lily Crockett is the sole survivor of his five siblings that included Wilbur, Gertrude, Elizabeth, and Everett. Harold was a family man, and he cherished his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren; his nieces and nephews: Nathan, Rodney, Martha, Clietta, Clifton, Verlin and Denise; and his cousins, their wives and their children. Harold was a cornerstone of the Broussard legacy, as he took personal interest and responsibility in maintaining family assets and properties, ensuring their upkeep. After the death of his Cousin Lorenzo, he was the remaining patriarch and the treasure of the Broussard Clan. He will be missed by all of us, and his love will maintained in all of our hearts.