Bertha Lee Pipion Simon Johnwell departed this earth and gave birth to her soul on Jan. 26, 2023, at 3:47 p.m.at home. She was born on March 21, 1935, in Memphis, Tenn., to Curtis and Bessie Coward Pipion. The family moved to Lakes Charles when Bertha was a young child. She attended Sacred Heart School up through high school. A phenomenal basketball player and a feminist before her time, she left Sacred Heart in protest of not allowing the girls’ team to wear basketball shorts. She graduated from W.O. Boston High School in 1953 having been voted Most Beautiful and Most Athletic, despite her short tenure there. She attended McNeese State University, receiving many certificates in professional education. She was employed with Calcasieu Parish Headstart for approximately 35 years, retiring as a teacher. Bertha was known for making homemade BBQ links, boudin, and hot tamales to be sold for Headstart fundraising.
She was known in the community for her good heart, graciousness, expressions of love, and support to her fellow human beings. She opened her heart, love, and home to family and non-family members, anyone without a place to sleep, a meal to eat or needing compassion. Her home was jokingly known as Bertha’s Halfway House.
Bertha is survived by two daughters, Carmelita Payte of Lake Charles, La., and Dr. Cassandra E. Simon (Carl Frank) of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; and son, Carl A, Simon (Jackie Schaffer) of St. Paul, Minn. She is a grandmother to 7 grandchildren, Shavon (Roumay), Shavela (Ronnie, Jr.), Shavarra (Dominique), James, Del’ Briel, LeAndra (Alex) and Fallan; eight great-grandchildren, Aubree, Arlan, Aiyahna, Brayden, Harmony, Paytleigh, Ronnie III and Oliver.. She is also survived by a host of family members, friends and community members, including lifelong friend, Mrs. Vesta Jones and her Headstart Family.
Bertha was preceded in death by her parents, Curtis and Bessie Pipion; three sons, Lloyd Jr., Craig, and Callixtus Simon; three sisters, Theresa (Julius) Derbigny, Corine (Rudolph) Dinvaut, and Katherine Taylor; and son-in-law, James D. Payte; her ex-husband and father of her children, Lloyd Simon, Sr; her husband, Hayward Johnwell; and her forever love, Charles Pryce, with whom she will be interred. Viewing will be at Combre Funeral Home on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, from 8 – 10:45 a.m. Mass will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church at 11 a.m. with internment at Combre Memorial Park.