Mrs. Cecile Catherine Joseph

Sister Cecile Catherine Slaughter Joseph Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at 11 A.M. in Bellevue Street Baptist Church, 326 W. Bellevue Street, Opelousas, Louisiana 70570. Interment will be in the St. Joseph Garden of Bellevue Memorial Park Cemetery. Sis. Cecile Catherine Slaughter Joseph was born on Feb. 28, 1933 to Victoria White and Isaiah Small in Alexandria, LA. As an infant, she was adopted by Martha Slaughter and Atchyn Slaughter who loved and nurtured her through adulthood. She departed this earthly life on Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 7:12 pm at Senior Village Nursing Home in Opelousas, LA. Sis. Cecile Joseph was a graduate of the Public Schools of Rapides Parish in Alexandria. She furthered her education at Leland College in Baker, LA, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. She taught in the St. Landry Public School System for more than two decades before retiring. Sis. Cecile Joseph was baptized during her early teens by the late Rev. C. D. Day at the Union Baptist Church in Alexandria, LA. There she remained a faithful member until she was united in marriage to Bro. John Wilfred Joseph on December 24, 1955 whom she loved and cherished for over 61 years. To this union, eight children were born. After marriage, Cecile Joseph united with the Starlight Baptist Church of Opelousas, LA under the leadership of her father-in-law, the late Rev. Adam Joseph. There, she served as a choir member for numerous years and then as choir director for the youth choir as well as the Senior choir. She was also a faithful Sunday School teacher for the primary class for many years. Her membership at the Starlight Baptist Church allowed her to experience the joy of being an active member of the Southwest Missionary Baptist Association serving as 2nd Vice-President of Mission II Dept., Registrar of the Association’s Sunday School & BTU Congress, member of the association chorus, and Brotherhood Department’s secretary (while her husband served as Brotherhood President). Sis. Cecile was also active in the work of The Louisiana Home and Foreign Missions Baptist State Convention, Inc., where she served in the State Youth Department as a supervisor and a teacher in the State Congress of Christian Education for many years. Later, she and her husband joined Progressive Baptist Church in Lafayette, LA under the leadership of Rev. Lloyd Joiner, Jr. She continued her faithful Christian service as a member of the Sanctuary choir for a few years, until her health began to decline, and as Deaconess, until her earthly demise. One of her most treasured duties was serving as the First Lady of Louisiana’s third oldest city, Opelousas, LA. As the wife of the first African-American Chief Executive of the City of Opelousas, “Mrs. Joseph” represented her husband, the Honorable Mayor John W. Joseph, their city, and herself with excellence, grace, dignity, and honor during his eight years of outstanding service. As the first African-American to serve in that capacity, she, too, was a trailblazer, who created a path for others to emulate. She leaves to cherish her legacy and memories: her husband, John W. Joseph of Opelousas, LA; eight children: Cynthia Bridges (Jesse) of Elk Grove, CA; Brenda Bullard (Jerone) of Shreveport, LA; Shelia Jolivette (Gerard) of Garden Ridge, TX; Rev. John Keith Joseph (Keita) of Fort Worth, TX; Juan Joseph (Janya) of Opelousas, LA; Sonya Helaire (Edmond) of Gilbert, AZ; Justina Lazard (Rev. Darwan) of Ville Platte, LA; and Brent Joseph (Shirley) of Carenco, LA; 24 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren; one brother-in-law, Former U.S. Ambassador (to South Africa), Rev. James A. Joseph (Mary) of Chapel Hill, NC; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends. The family request visiting hours be observed from 9 A. M. - 10:45 A. M. on Saturday, June 24, 2017 in Bellevue Street Baptist Church. Share words of comfort with the Joseph family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.net Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Williams Funeral Home of Opelousas, 337-942-2037.

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Mrs. Cecile Catherine Joseph

February 28, 1933 - June 15, 2017