Leila Breaux “Tut” Sam
Mrs. Liela Breaux Sam (Tut) was born Sept. 26, 1926, in Crowley to the late Louis and Mattie Breaux.
Mrs. Sam accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savor at an early age at St. Theresa Catholic Church. She attended St. Theresa Catholic school and Crowley Industrial High.
Liela met and married John Curtis Sam and to that union, two children were born. She was a devoted member of St. Theresa Church until her health failed.
Leila worked for Petry’s. She was their child’s caregiver, housekeeper, and she also worked in their jewelry store. She also worked at Ross Head Start Learning Center as a cook for 18 years. She was a really good cook.
Liela was loved by many people. She was always lending a helping hand to anyone that needed her assistance. She was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, Godmother, and friend.
Liela allowed her daughter, Johnetta, to share her mother’s boudin recipe with the St.Theresa Parish ladies for fundraisers. She was just a giving person throughout her life. A book could be written about how Leila shared her life helping people, feeding people, giving people a place to live in her home until they got on their own, and getting in her car going from house to house passing out bread to families.
Liela is survived by one daughter, Johnetta Sam, and one son, Gregory Sam, both of Crowley; a sister, Ms. Beatrice Spencer of Atlanta, Georgia; three grandchildren, Bridgette Bernard, Alexor Sam and Shamosha Sam; four great-grandchildren, Daylon Minix, Laila Minix, Skylar Bernard and Dylan Robinson; five godchildren, Karen Copeland, Gerald Dugar, Lois Cormier Melancon and Terrance Copeland; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
Leila was preceded in death by her parents,, Louis and Mattie Breaux; sisters, Alzina (TB) Mayfield, Mary Lucy Goudeau, Mary Leatha Mitchell and Mary Ann Morgan; brothers, Erwin Joseph Breaux, David (Black) Breaux, Joseph (Wilridge) Breaux and Edward (Cole’) Breaux; and two godsons, Andrus Mayfield and Timothy Goudeau.
Visitation was from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. in St. Theresa Catholic Church on Saturday, Jan. 18. The funeral followed at 10 a.m.
Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery under the direction of Mortuary Center of SWLA.
