A funeral service celebrating the life of Carolyn Hope Broussard Brasell was held on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Minden, Louisiana, with Brother Leland Crawford officiating. A graveside service followed at Fern Park Cemetery in Natchitoches, Louisiana, at 3:00 p.m.
Carolyn Hope Broussard Brasell was born on February 25, 1942, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. On August 20, 2026, surrounded by her family in Shreveport, Louisiana, she peacefully left this earthly life and entered her heavenly home with a joyful heart. She was preceded in death by her husband, Perry Lamar Brasell of Natchitoches, Louisiana, and by her parents, Lee Joseph Broussard and Carrie Louis Francis Broussard of Pineville, Louisiana.
Carolyn is survived by her daughters, Kaila Michelle Brasell Spalding and husband, Mark, of Lake Wylie, South Carolina, Jocelyn Lamara Brasell Watson and husband, Andy, of Frisco, Texas, and her son Jonathan Lee Brasell and wife, Eli, of Hot Springs, Arkansas. She was the eldest of three sisters and is survived by both Zelma Lenora Broussard of Many, Louisiana and Faith Melorie Broussard Wilkes of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Her legacy continues through her grandchildren, Camryn Grace Spalding, Landon James Emory, Cameron Hope Emory, Houston Wade Watson, Andrew Paul Watson, and Motley Elias Brasell. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins who will always cherish their special memories of her.
Carolyn was a lifelong musician, music educator, and devoted lover of music. She excelled at the piano and had a beautiful singing voice. She graduated from Northwestern State College in Natchitoches, Louisiana, with a degree in music performance and music education. She taught private piano lessons for 67 years during her time in Heidelberg, Germany; Hohenfels, Germany; Marshall, Texas; Ruston, Louisiana; Salisbury, North Carolina; and Minden, Louisiana. She also taught elementary school music for 16 years. Students at Harper Elementary School in Minden, LA and Werner Park Elementary School in Shreveport, Louisiana were blessed to have her as their music teacher. She taught every lesson with a joy-filled heart and a genuine love of music.
Carolyn lived in Heidelberg, Germany with her beloved husband, Perry, while he served in the United States Army as a captain in the military police. Their firstborn child, Kaila Michelle, was born in Nuremberg while Perry was stationed in Germany. While in Germany, Carolyn had the rare opportunity to study piano under the guidance of concert pianist Professor Friedrich Schery. He was associated with the Heidelberg-Mannheim music community and served as director of the master piano class at the Heidelberg Municipal Conservatory. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity reflected Carolyn’s exceptional talent and dedication.
Carolyn was a member of many professional and musical organizations, including the Music Teachers National Association, Louisiana Federation of Music Clubs, Louisiana Music Teachers Association, Ruston Area Music Teachers Association, and Greater Shreveport Music Teachers Association. She was also a charter member of the Louisiana Baptist Singing Women and founded the local Potpourri Piano Club.
Carolyn was an active member of First Baptist Church of Minden since 1984. She sang in the church choir and played piano in Sunday school. In 1998, she founded the annual Keyboards at Christmas production, which ran for 27 years through 2025. With a Christlike heart and her musical gifts, Carolyn served her church and community, in many ways. She also shared her gifts with other churches by playing the piano for services whenever a substitute was needed and by playing in nursing homes. She was a faithful witness and servant.
Carolyn loved everyone.
She loved our Lord Jesus Christ passionately. Her favorite verse of Scripture was Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (NIV).
As her time with us drew to a close, Carolyn rejoiced in the Lord. She expressed her gratitude and love for her family and shared a special compliment and memory about each of them. She spoke of her favorite musical works and hymns. She reminisced about the hymn He Touched Me and requested it be sung at the service celebrating her life. Just as she would have wished, Carolyn passed peacefully while listening to her lifelong favorite musical suite, Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, during its final movement, “The Great Gate of Kiev.” Carolyn was comforted knowing she would soon enter the golden gates of Heaven and kneel before Christ’s throne. She was ready to be reunited with Perry, her husband of 52 years, her parents, and the other family members and friends who had gone before her.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Gideons International. Carolyn’s beloved husband, Perry, served as a Gideon, and the organization has long held a special place in the hearts of the Brasell family.