Wilona Manuel Henry

Wilona Fontenot Manuel Henry, 87, of Lake Charles, passed away Thursday, March 04, 2021 in the comfort of her daughters’ home in Carlyss.

Mrs. Henry, affectionately known as: Mom, Momo, Granny and “Miss Will”, was born August 10, 1933 in Kinder, LA to Milton and Lena Fontenot.  She was raised in the Community of Kings Farm and Langley Settlement, made up mostly of Manuels, both near Kinder.  In 1977, she moved her children to Fenton where they were raised and in the early eighties, they made Lake Charles their home.   She was a talented seamstress, having learned very early, as she sewed for her brothers and sisters, then her children and grandchildren and also the many years of alterations at the White House, where she established a clientele that came to love her.  She leaves beautiful embroidered and smocked, christening gowns, hand sewn, for each of her grandchildren.  She was an avid collector of angels and dolls.  Mrs. Henry always loved to dance, dancing five days a week when she was younger and every Saturday at Club 90 with her husband, their friends, her older daughter’s and their husbands.  She danced her heart away as long as she was able.  Her favorite times were spent surrounded by her family, especially for monthly Sunday dinners, when everyone came home up until around a month ago.  Pork rice and gravy and gumbo being everyone’s favorite.  She will be remembered for her candies, pies and cakes, having made countless of each for the holidays, A Daisy A Day’s open house and each child their favorite for their birthdays.   Mrs. Henry will be most remembered for her love and devotion to her family and her Christmas Eve gatherings. 

She leaves to honor her memory, two sons, Jeffery Allen Manuel (Bobby) of Lake Charles and Curtis Manuel of Cypress, TX; five daughters, Linda Jones of Carlyss, Rita Davenport of Lake Charles, Sue Cary of Lacassine, Patricia Billingsley of Kirbyville, TX and Danita LeLeux (Myron) of Lake Charles; one sister, Sharon Fontenot Miller (Roosevelt) of Kinder; sixteen grandchildren; thirty-two great grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren and her buddy, Boots the cat.

She was preceded in death by two husbands, Elwin Ray Manuel, Sr. and Bill Henry; an infant son, Elwin Ray Manuel, Jr.; daughter, Eugenia Carol Manuel; her parents; three brothers and five sisters.

Funeral services will be at 11:00AM Wednesday March 10, 2021 at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.  Monsignor Jace Eskind will officiate.  Interment will follow in Consolata Cemetery.  Visitation Tuesday will be from 4:30 PM until 8:00 PM with a memorial tribute service at 6:00 PM at University Baptist Church.  Reverend Jerry Snider will officiate.  Visitation Wednesday will be from 9:30 AM until the time of service at St. Martin de Porres. 

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org/donate.