Funeral services for Jacqueline Miller Curtis were held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 6, 2024, at Jeane’s Funeral Service in Leesville with Reverend Lyndon Marcotte officiating. The burial followed in Antioch Cemetery in Florien. Serving as pallbearers were Christopher Odell, Kenzie Dayton, Kaleb Odle, Doug Anderson, Ted Odel, and Perry Guy.
Jacqueline was born September 26, 1929, in Esto, Louisiana, and passed away September 30, 2024, in Gulfport, Mississippi at the age of 95. After graduating from Hornbeck High School, she married Willis Ray Curtis Sr. and moved to Shreveport, LA where she worked in a jewelry store. After moving to Spring Hill, Louisiana, Jacqueline worked for various businesses – Sanitary Dairy, Nation Brothers Meat Packing Company, and Spring Hill Bank – before starting her career in education. Her first teaching job was in Webster Parish. Then she moved with her family to Leesville, where she taught at Vernon Elementary for about 15 years. Her next position was as a supervisor for the Vernon Parish School Board, and she retired for the first time in June of 2000. Jacqueline wasn’t finished working, so she returned to work as a classroom supervisor for the State of Louisiana for a few years before going back to the classroom, teaching special education for Leesville High School. She finally retired at the age of 80 after working in role play at Fort Polk. Jacqueline was a member of First Baptist Church of Leesville where she taught Sunday School for 30 years. Her hobbies included fishing, traveling, working in her yard, gardening, and most importantly spending time with her family. They were blessed to enjoy her delicious cooking, and she was an expert at making divinity and chicken and dressing. Her family and friends lovingly called her “Mama J” and will cherish the many wonderful memories made with her.
Jacqueline was preceded in death by her husband, Willis Ray Curtis Sr.; son, Willis Ray Curtis Jr.; grandson, Christian Forancois; parents, Berman and Eva Miller; brothers, Max Miller & James Basil Miller; and sister, Colleen Miller.
Those left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Debbie Curtis Scanlan (Earl) and Tami Curtis Guy (Perry); grandchildren, Tonya Odle (Ted), Jason Curtis (Jackie), Carrie Spurgeon (Vernon), Jessica Anderson (Doug), Christopher Odell (Catlin), Julie Odell, and Stephanie Stablier; great-grandchildren, Kelsey, Kenzie, Soleil, Bruce, Lillou, Kaleb, Penelope, Riley, Serah, Eva, Eleanor, Stephen, Jasper, Sammy, Mackenzie, Mirna, Kaden, and Lillie; Edith Eckenrod, who Mama J lovingly called her special daughter; and a host of extended family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Samaritan’s Purse to support the hurricane victims at https://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/pray-for-those-in-helenes-path/