Jane Ann Broome Willis

Jane Ann Broome Willis, born July 25, 1937 and raised in Metairie, LA. She suddenly went to be with the Lord on Monday, October 9, 2006 in Carriere, MS. She was 69. Taking care of stray cats was her passion and she expressed herself through her art. She graduated from St. Catherine of Siena, Metairie High and LSU in 1959 LSU with a B.S. in Education. Taught 6th grade for several years in Brusly, LA. Preceded in death by her mother, Agnes Rella Roberts Broome and father, Vernon Alwyn Broome of Bay St. Louis, MS. She leaves behind her loving husband, John Willis of 46 years; children: Jeffrey wife, Linda and grandchildren: Jonathan, Benjamin and Alyson of Sugar Land, Texas and Matthew wife, Tarfa and grandchildren: Jaclyn and Kathleen of Allen, Texas. Janes devoted time and energy to various philanthropic endeavors: member of National League of American Pen Women; Artwave, a professional alliance of artists in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama; and the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club. Past member of the Operating Committe of the Slidell Cultural Center. Past President, Secretary, Publicity Director and Show Coordinator of the Slidell Art League, Inc. She was a charter member of Colored Pencil Society of America. Other memberships included: New Orleans Art Association, National Art League of American Pen Women, Artwave, the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club and the Slidell Art League, New Orleans Symphony, Picayune Art Association, Cherry Hill Art League, and Den Leader for Pack 252 of Cherry Hill, NJ. In 1974, she began her art career taking classes at Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA, continueing at Camden County and Burlington Colleges in South New Jersey, the University of New Orleans and the New Orleans Academy of Fine Art. Primary media include graphite, colored pencil, pastel and oil. Listed in Who's Who of American Women and Who's Who in American Art. Her workd ""Chromatic Tangle'' is published in the book ""the Best of Colores Pencil 2'' and September 1996 cover art in ""Art Calendar Magazine.'' Awards included: Honorable Mention in All-New England Juried Exhibition, Nellie Evans Memorial Award in Artwave's Seventh Annual Juried Exhibition, The Artist's Magazine Award of Merit in West Bank Art Guild's Third Annual National Exhibition, the Slidell Art League's Holly Hegeman Award (service) and the SAL Artist of the Year. A partitial list of professional exhibits included: Fine Arts Museum of the South's Southeastern Juried Triennial, Cape Cod Art Association's All-New England Juried Exhibition, New Orleans Art Association's National Fine Arts Festivals, Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club's Annual Exhibition, Knickerbocker Artists Annual, the Salon International in conjunction with the International Ballet Competition and Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club's Centennial Traveling Exhibition. Invitational exhibitions: ""Women of St. Tammany'', ""A Shared Element - Artist's Works on Paper'' and ""Take a Seat''. Collections which include her work: Wood Treating Inc., Picayune, MS; Curry & Company, Monroe, LA; World Trade Center, New Orleans, LA; and private collections in Louisiana, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Texas. She leaves behind a legacy of confidence and self reliance that she instilled in her sons. She was a wonderful cook - her dinners will be sorely missed! In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made in her name to the Humane Society of Southern Mississippi, 2615 25th Ave., Gulfport, MS 39501.