Joyce (Joicy) Marie Stevens-Broussard was born April 13, 1948, to the late Linton Stevens Sr. and Marie Hazel Slaughter-Stevens in the town of Washington, Louisiana. Joyce was known by many in the Creole community as Jaully (Jaw-ly.)
She was raised and baptized at an early age at True Vine Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, Louisiana a farming district of Washington. As a teen, she sang in the junior choir under the direction of musician and vocalist/soloist Overland Van Wright. Joyce eventually held the office of President of the junior choir at True Vine Baptist Church.
Joyce was educated first at Grand Prairie Negro School, a segregated State facility located near the grounds of True Vine Baptist Church in Grand Prairie under the schoolmaster-principalship of Empress Joubert (older brother of Cephas Joubert.) At the closure of this facility, she transitioned to Plaisance Elementary/High School.
She was an honor top ten graduate of the class of 1968, the green and gold Plaisance Indians. After graduation, she met and married Joseph Leroy Broussard of Bureax Bridge, Louisiana on April 14, 1969, and lived in Lake Charles, La. To this union was born two sons, Jonathan Paul Broussard and Anthony Broussard.
Joyce converted to Catholicism and became a member of Immaculate Heart Catholic Church in 1969. She was also employed in the private school system of the church as teacher’s assistant and tutor for many years. Later, she worked for the Martin de Porres Assistant Living facility monitoring patients. Her final employment was managing La Fashion Dress Shop in Lake Charles.
Joyce had a bigger heart than most people. She tirelessly was involved in helping so many people over the years. But you would never take her kindness as weakness. She could also be firm and stand her grounds. Our father Linton Stevens Sr. always respected her. He always said, “You remind me of my Momma Alicia (A-Lees-Ya.) Some of the older Grand Prairie locals actually called her by our paternal grandmother’s Creole name.
She was always involved in helping younger siblings with homework. We all remembered her studious ways and her love for music. As a teen she would stay up late listening at her burgundy transistor radio to Ernie T. Record Mart to get the info on the latest record release by Black recording artists from labels as Atlantic, Arista, Stax, Motown and the Sound of Philadelphia. Then head on to Floyd’s Record Shop in Ville Platte to buy the record. Her favorite dance was the Skate. Joyce loved to organize, cook, tidy up things, and talk with family and friends.
Joyce Marie Stevens-Broussard is survived by her husband, Joseph Leroy Broussard, two sons Jonathan Paul Broussard and Anthony (Sharonda) Broussard both of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Two grandchildren Sherie Antoinette Broussard and Jalicia Bilbo. One great-grandson Kingston Gerard. Also, five sisters Willie Mae Stevens-Freeman and Mercy Lee Stevens-Guillory both of Ville Platte, La., Melvola (Hamilton) Stevens-Leviege of Lake Charles, La., Jeanella Stevens-Burleigh of Houston, Texas, and Eleanor (Larry) Stevens-Jackson of Ormand Beach, Florida. One brother Benjamin (Charmaine) Stevens of Lake Charles, La. One other sister-in-law Laura Tezeno-Stevens of Ville Platte, La. Her mother-in-law Maxine Poiter-Broussard, three brothers-in-law Russell, Ronald (Sandra,) and Michael (Chenita) Broussard and families of Bureau Bridge/Lafayette, La. A host of cousins, nieces and nephews and friends.
She is preceded in death by her maternal grandparents Aurelien (Dael) Slaughter Jr. (son of Aurelien Slaughter Sr. and Hyacinthe Jacques,) and Marcelite Thibodeaux-Slaughter (daughter of Honoré Thibodeaux and Azelie Bihm.) Her paternal grandparents Joseph Lucius Stevens I (son of Joseph Stevens and Marie Emelie Celestine,) and Alicia Marie Comeaux-Stevens (daughter of François Michel Comeaux and Theodile Josephine Tisonneaux.) Also, her parents Linton and Marie Hazel Slaughter- Stevens Sr. Three brothers Lucius Stevens II, Lawrence Stevens and Linton Stevens Jr. Two sisters, Loretta Stevens and Enola Suzanne Stevens. Four brothers-in-law Lehman Freeman Sr., Rufus Burleigh, Kelly Guillory and Johnny Broussard. Her father-in-law Dary Broussard, and four sisters-in-law Carol Broussard, Juanita Broussard, Leola Freeman-Stevens, and Ora Lee Carter-Stevens.
Joyce passed away on early Sunday morning at 05:00 AM on March 20, 2022, at home in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The family will welcome relatives and friends on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at Hixson Funeral Home of Lake Charles beginning at 8:00 a.m. until the procession leaves for the church at 10:30 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be immediately following at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Lake Charles.
A Special recognition for the care of Joyce goes to her husband Joseph Leroy Broussard and sons Jonathan and Anthony and daughter-in-law Sharonda, her sisters Eleanor Jackson, Melvola Leviege, Jeanella Burleigh, her brother Ben Stevens and her niece Alicia B. Burleigh. Also, the funeral directors and staff at Hixon’s Funeral Home of Lake Charles, Louisiana
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com for the Broussard family.
