With great love and reverence, we remember the life of our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Jean Sentell Mendenhall, who passed away peacefully on February 21, 2026. A lifelong member of the Presbyterian faith, Jean grew up in the Presbyterian Church of Minden, Louisiana, and spent the remainder of her adult life as a very active member of First Presbyterian Church of Shreveport, Louisiana. Jean was a quietly faithful Presbyterian who found deep joy and purpose in serving her church and helping her community.
Jean was born in Minden, Louisiana, on May 31, 1936, the eldest daughter of Dr. Charles Sherburne Sentell and Sallie Hutton Sentell. Jean was the bedrock of her family throughout her life. She was a devoted daughter to her parents and a protective and loving sister to her siblings. As a mother and grandmother, she was a source of endless love, wisdom, and grace. Her kind and determined spirit shaped our family, and her constant wisdom and support created a foundation of strength for everyone who knew her.
Jean grew up a Minden girl to her core. Beginning with Mrs Nelson’s Kindergarten in the late 1930’s, Jean spent her childhood in school and church activities and her teenage years at Hunters Playhouse. She formed friendships that would be maintained and treasured throughout her life. Jean spent many summers during her youth at her beloved Montreat, in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Years later, she would take all of her children and grandchildren back to Montreat, so they could enjoy the natural beauty of the area and share the memories of her time there.
Jean graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas in 1957, and that same year married Shannon Mendenhall, of Dallas, her husband of 68 years. Jean and Shannon moved back to Minden in 1960, where they built their home in front of her mother’s home on Pennsylvania Avenue and directly behind that of her grandmother, on Broadway. Raising her family in Minden, Jean was actively involved in the Minden Junior League, numerous school committees, and other organizations and activities. During those years she cultivated her love of art, creating beautiful oil and watercolor paintings, as well as murals and painted objects for school fundraisers. She became a very talented artist, and her paintings are treasured by her family.
Jean decided in her 40’s to expand her education and build a career for herself, first in real estate and then as a financial planner and investment advisor. She became well respected throughout North Louisiana for her capacity to guide clients wisely through the process building a secure future.
Jean, or “Gemma,” was completely devoted to her five grandchildren, all of whom lived significant distances from Shreveport. Throughout their infancy and childhood, Jean traveled constantly to spend time with each grandchild. She never missed a birthday or significant event of any of her grandchildren. Her continuous and meaningful involvement in their lives created a bond that is cherished by each grandchild.
In her later years, her dedication to First Presbyterian Church Shreveport became increasingly significant. Jean helped initiate and was a member of the handbell choir. She also ran the “Book Nook,” which became a gathering spot for church members. Jean was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Women, and in 2013 was awarded honorary life membership as a result of her years of leadership, dedication and faithful service.
Jean was the heart of our family, a constant source of wisdom, encouragement, and inspiration. Her compassion for others led to the creation of a permanent legacy for people in need that will continue to live on in the world. Her legacy is also indelible in each of us. We will carry her memory in our hearts forever. We are grateful for the years she gave us, for the lessons she taught us, and for the example of love and faith she set for all who knew her.
Jean is preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Charles Sherburne Sentell and Sallie Hutton Sentell, and her sister, Sally Sentell Roberts. Jean is survived by her husband, Shannon Mendenhall, of Bossier City; her children, Bill Mendenhall, of Shreveport, and Julie Mendenhall Marshall and husband Joe Marshall, of Dallas, Texas; her grandchildren, Hutton Marshall, of New York, New York, Ann Sentell Mendenhall, of Burbank, California, Kelly Marshall Iacobucci and husband Mike, of Dallas, Texas, Meg Mendenhall Pilkenton and husband Nathan, of Nashville, Tennessee, and Ben Marshall, of Denver, Colorado; her great granddaughter, Claire Sentell Pilkenton; and her siblings, Charles Sherburne Sentell Jr. and wife Diane, of Minden, Louisiana, and Dr. Samuel Webb Sentell, and wife Beth, of Shreveport, Louisiana.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Providence House and the Presbyterian Children’s Home, in Shreveport. A celebration of life service for Jean will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Shreveport at a date and time to be announced.
