Jennie Billeaudeau

"You shall seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart." - Jeremiah 29:13. Jennie Gayle Simpson Billeaudeau wrote this verse on her kitchen whiteboard as a reminder of God's promise that we will return to Him. On Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 5:21 PM, God fulfilled that promise when He called Jennie home after her courageous battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Jennie Gayle Simpson Billeaudeau was born on March 24, 1953, to Lena (Fontenot) and Douglas Atwood Simpson in Baker, Louisiana. She was the youngest of their three children. Jennie attended Baker High School, graduating in 1971. After graduation, she began working as a secretary for Entergy in the early 1970s. On September 20, 1975, she married Otis James "Jimmy" Billeaudeau, the love of her life. Jennie then became a stay-at-home mom to her two sons, Joshua and Lucas Billeaudeau, who were born on September 15, two years apart. September holds a special place in the Billeaudeau family.

After her sons finished school, Jennie worked at Billeann's Flowers and Gifts for over 10 years while taking care of her husband, who was a welder-pipefitter in the chemical plants for over 30 years. Jennie often traveled with Jimmy when his work took him out of state, living in both Texas and Colorado for some time in the early 2000s. Jennie loved to travel with Jimmy as they got to see much of the country and spend time with one another.

The other love of Jennie's life was the Lord, God, our savior. Jennie and her family were active members of Northside Baptist Church / Bethesda Baptist Church for over 20 years. In 2010, Jennie and her family transitioned to Greenwell Springs Baptist Church, where she was very active in their Sunday School program as well as bible studies up until she could not attend due to her cancer treatments. She enjoyed studying the bible and learning more about the word of God, often taking classes on books of the bible, such as a year-long study of the Book of Revelations. Jennie was a true child of God and had a gift of ministering to people, touching their lives, and helping them find their way to Jesus. She was also a wonderful cook and baker, whose Hummingbird Cake was a "slice of heaven"! Jennie also enjoyed gardening, especially okra. She kept the seeds from an 1889 Texas Longhorn Okra regenerating for 3 generations, up until the mid-2010s, when the okra had run its course.

Jennie is survived by her husband of 49 years, Otis James "Jimmy" Billeaudeau, Jr., of Baker, Louisiana, her sons Joshua (Rosalie Caspe) of Bellevue, Washington and Lucas Billeaudeau of Baker, brother Douglas (Rose) Simpson of St. Amant, mother-in-law Myrtle W. Billeaudeau of Central, sisters-in-law Linda (Robert) Luneau, Jr., Peggy (Melvin) Bueche and Cynthia (Dominic) Cali, along with several nieces and nephews from both the Simpson and Billeaudeau families.

Jennie is proceeded in death by her parents, Lena and Atwood Simpson, father-in-law, Otis James Billeaudeau, Sr., sister, Glenna Sue Simpson May, sister-in-law, Susan Bourgeois Simpson, brother-in-law Jerry K. May, nieces Dana Simpson Manning and Christy Simpson Laiche and nephews Timothy Wayne May and Dr. John W. Wright.

The family would like to thank Jennie's cancer care team of Dr. Gerald Miletello and Dr. McCanless for their tireless effort in helping Jennie fight this aggressive cancer, as well as the nurses at the Baton Rouge General Hospital on Bluebonnet for their care and dedication.

Relatives and friends are invited to join the family for the visitation at Baker Funeral Home, 6401 Groom Road, Baker, LA, on Monday, October 07, 2024, from 9:00 AM until the Funeral Service 11:00 AM. The graveside service and burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, in Baker, Louisiana.