HLS 25RS-1082 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 44
BY REPRESENTATIVE LAFLEUR
CONDOLENCES: Expresses condolences of the House on the death of Roena Isabelle
Wilford
1 A RESOLUTION
2To express the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of Roena
3 Isabelle Wilford.
4 WHEREAS, Roena Isabelle Wilford was the ninth child born to Louis Wendell
5Wilford and Mollie Jean Alexander Wilford; she was baptized at an early age under the
6leadership of Reverend R.L. Burden at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Baton Rouge; and
7 WHEREAS, Roena's life was historically significant to the country and the Baton
8Rouge community; in 1956, she and four of her siblings were selected to be the first African
9American students to integrate the Baton Rouge public school system, and they were listed
10as plaintiffs in the Brown v. Board of Education case; and
11 WHEREAS, Roena attended four different schools by the time she reached fifth
12grade; in eighth grade, she transferred to Southern University Laboratory School with her
13older siblings and joined the cheerleading and track teams; she remained at the school until
14her graduation in 1967, having been the senior class parliamentarian; and
15 WHEREAS, despite receiving an offer to study at Ithaca College in New York,
16Roena chose to enroll at Southern University and A&M College; she majored in secondary
17education and was a member of several organizations, including the Kappa Delta Education
18Honors Society, Alpha Kappa Interdisciplinary Honors Society, and Association of Women
19Students; and
20 WHEREAS, Roena was initiated into the Beta Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha
21Sorority, Inc., in 1969, and she served as the chapter president in 1970; she also served as
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HR NO. 44
1the 2nd National Vice President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., which is the highest
2office held by an undergraduate in the organization; and
3 WHEREAS, Ms. Wilford became Southern University's first-ever female Student
4Government Association president and served for the 1970-1971 school year; during her
5tenure, she introduced the school's first student loan program, and her administration was the
6first to give Miss Southern a $200 stipend; and
7 WHEREAS, Ms. Wilford graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in
8secondary education from Southern University on May 31, 1971; after graduating, she
9began a contract with the East Baton Rouge Public School System; she also enrolled at
10Louisiana State University and completed a master of arts degree in curriculum instruction
11with an education specialty; and
12 WHEREAS, Ms. Wilford was employed at Baton Rouge Magnet High School, where
13she taught physics, math, and a course entitled "Man Made World" from August 1971 until
14May 1972; she then worked for the Louisiana Equal Educational Opportunity Department
15for three-and-a-half years before moving to Boston, Massachusetts, where she served as
16coordinator of the Lena Parks Corporation; and
17 WHEREAS, on February 16, 1980, Roena chartered the Nu Gamma Omega Chapter
18of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., in the Baton Rouge community; and
19 WHEREAS, Roena moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where she worked as a personnel
20supervisor for Capital Holding Corporation of Louisville; she also volunteered with the Girl
21Scouts of Kentucky and attended First Baptist Church of Jeffersontown, where she taught
22preschool Sunday school, served as an assistant chaplain for one of the church choirs, taught
23a youth church doctrine class, and chaired the youth social activity committee; she was also
24selected as the 1981 Outstanding Woman of the Year for her work in both Baton Rouge and
25Louisville; and
26 WHEREAS, Ms. Wilford returned to Baton Rouge in 1983 and began working at
27Southern University, where she served as a physics instructor until her health-required
28retirement in 2004; after retiring, she continued her community service by remaining
29actively involved in Girl Scouts, Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, and the Nu Gamma Chapter
30of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; she also volunteered at Winbourne Elementary School,
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HR NO. 44
1and her dedication as an East Baton Rouge Parish volunteer earned her community-wide
2recognition; and
3 WHEREAS, Roena Isabelle Wilford passed away on Wednesday, April 2, 2025,
4leaving behind a rich legacy of service, love, dedication, and excellence; she leaves to
5cherish her beautiful memory her brother Johnny Wilford (Cookie); goddaughters, Juanita
6Waldron (Basil), Shundale Dennis (Page), and Tiera Armwood (Dennis); dedicated friends,
7Janice Drake, Eleanora Kirkendoll-Harris, Dorothy Gilliam, and Margee Ford; Girl Scout
8Service Unit 120; the Nu Gamma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; the
9Southern University and A&M College family; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins;
10she will be deeply missed, but the legacy of her love and compassion shall live on in
11perpetuity in the hearts and minds of those who were privileged enough to have known her.
12 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
13Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express heartfelt condolences on the death of Roena
14Isabelle Wilford; does hereby recognize her incredible lifelong dedication to community
15service; and does hereby extend sincerest wishes that her family, friends, and loved ones find
16comfort in their shared memories of her beautiful life.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 44 Original 2025 Regular Session LaFleur
Expresses the condolences of the House of Representatives on the death of Roena Isabelle
Wilford.
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