Susybelle Lyons
Encyclopedia
Susybelle Wilkinson Lyons (October 5, 1923 - July 31, 2007) was a socialite and philanthropist
in Shreveport, Louisiana
, who was particularly active in the Young Women's Christian Association
Family Violence Program. "When she saw films of what those women had to endure, it was very moving. She didn't cry easily. But when she talked about them, she would cry," recalled one of her children, Shreveport attorney
Laurie W. Lyons. In 1996, she served as co-chairwoman with Marilyn Joiner of the YWCA's $1.1 million capital campaign drive.
Lyons was the daughter-in-law of Charlton Havard Lyons, Sr.
, considered the "father of the Republican Party
in Louisiana" and Marjorie Hall Lyons (1895-1971), for whom the theater at Methodist-affiliated Centenary College
in Shreveport is named. Divorce
d from Charlton H. Lyons, Jr. (born 1921) of Shreveport, she was a former sister-in-law of Hall McCord Lyons (1923-1998), a Republican congressional candidate in Lafayette
in 1966, who later carried the American Party banner for the United States Senate
in 1972. Lyons herself was a generous contributor to numerous Republican candidates, including U.S. President George W. Bush
. She was a delegate to the 1960 Republican National Convention
in Chicago
which affirmed the Nixon-Lodge
ticket.
She was born in Shreveport to William Scott Wilkinson
(1895-1985), a Democratic
member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from 1920-1924, and the former Margaret West (1898-1995). She was educated in Shreveport public schools and then attended Stephens College
in Columbia
, Missouri
, and the University of Texas at Austin
, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi
. In addition to the YMCA, Mrs. Lyons, nicknamed "Duke", actively supported the Shreveport Symphony, the Shreveport Opera, and Shreveport Little Theater. She was a founding member of the Pierremont Oaks Tennis
Club. Her artistic talent was reflected in her role as a seamstress, gardner, a cook, and a world traveler. She was also a patron of the arts. She was a board member of the foundation of the Medical Center of Louisiana State University at Shreveport.
Laurie Lyons told the journalist
Margaret Martin of the Shreveport Times that her mother opened her home and heart to the needy: "It was not unusual for us to come home and there would be somebody we didn't know. Mama would be consoling them, and they would spend the night, people going through a difficult time in their lives."
Mrs. Lyons died at her home at 7130 Gilbert Drive in Shreveport. After a private burial at Forest Park Cemetery, a memorial service was held on August 4, 2007, at All Souls Unitarian
Universalist Church in Shreveport.
In addition to Laurie Lyons (husband Henry C. Walker), she was survived by five other children and their spouses: Susybelle L. Gosslee, Stafford Lyons (Henry Offermann), Charlton H. Lyons, III (Dianne Lewis Lyons), Sally L. Wood, and Marian L. McGoldrick (Bruce McGoldrick). Also surviving were thirteen grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and a sister, Margaret Wilkinson Wilson.
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
in Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
, who was particularly active in the Young Women's Christian Association
Young Women's Christian Association
Young Women's Christian Association or YWCA or YWCA Building or Old YWCA Building or variations may refer to:*World YWCA, the organization formerly known as Young Women's Christian Associationor it may refer to:...
Family Violence Program. "When she saw films of what those women had to endure, it was very moving. She didn't cry easily. But when she talked about them, she would cry," recalled one of her children, Shreveport attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
Laurie W. Lyons. In 1996, she served as co-chairwoman with Marilyn Joiner of the YWCA's $1.1 million capital campaign drive.
Lyons was the daughter-in-law of Charlton Havard Lyons, Sr.
Charlton Lyons
Charlton Havard Lyons, Sr., also known as Big Papa Lyons , was a Shreveport oilman who in 1964 waged the first determined Republican bid for the Louisiana governorship since Reconstruction. Lyons also made a strong but losing bid for the United States House of Representatives in a special election...
, considered the "father of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in Louisiana" and Marjorie Hall Lyons (1895-1971), for whom the theater at Methodist-affiliated Centenary College
Centenary College of Louisiana
Centenary College of Louisiana is a primarily undergraduate, liberal arts and sciences college in Shreveport, Louisiana. The college is one of the founding members of the Associated Colleges of the South, a pedagogical organization consisting of sixteen Southern liberal arts colleges...
in Shreveport is named. Divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
d from Charlton H. Lyons, Jr. (born 1921) of Shreveport, she was a former sister-in-law of Hall McCord Lyons (1923-1998), a Republican congressional candidate in Lafayette
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
in 1966, who later carried the American Party banner for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1972. Lyons herself was a generous contributor to numerous Republican candidates, including U.S. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. She was a delegate to the 1960 Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
which affirmed the Nixon-Lodge
Henry Cabot Lodge
Henry Cabot "Slim" Lodge was an American Republican Senator and historian from Massachusetts. He had the role of Senate Majority leader. He is best known for his positions on Meek policy, especially his battle with President Woodrow Wilson in 1919 over the Treaty of Versailles...
ticket.
She was born in Shreveport to William Scott Wilkinson
W. Scott Wilkinson
William Scott Wilkinson was an attorney from Shreveport, Louisiana, who served a single term as a Democrat from Caddo Parish in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1920–1924....
(1895-1985), a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
from 1920-1924, and the former Margaret West (1898-1995). She was educated in Shreveport public schools and then attended Stephens College
Stephens College
Stephens College is a women's college located in Columbia, Missouri. It is the second oldest female educational establishment that is still a women's college in the United States. It was founded on August 24, 1833 as the Columbia Female Academy. In 1856, David H. Hickman turned it into a college,...
in Columbia
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, and the University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi
Pi Beta Phi
Pi Beta Phi is an international fraternity for women founded as I.C. Sorosis on April 28, 1867, at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. Its headquarters are located in Town and Country, Missouri, and there are 134 active chapters and over 330 alumnae organizations across the United States and...
. In addition to the YMCA, Mrs. Lyons, nicknamed "Duke", actively supported the Shreveport Symphony, the Shreveport Opera, and Shreveport Little Theater. She was a founding member of the Pierremont Oaks Tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
Club. Her artistic talent was reflected in her role as a seamstress, gardner, a cook, and a world traveler. She was also a patron of the arts. She was a board member of the foundation of the Medical Center of Louisiana State University at Shreveport.
Laurie Lyons told the journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
Margaret Martin of the Shreveport Times that her mother opened her home and heart to the needy: "It was not unusual for us to come home and there would be somebody we didn't know. Mama would be consoling them, and they would spend the night, people going through a difficult time in their lives."
Mrs. Lyons died at her home at 7130 Gilbert Drive in Shreveport. After a private burial at Forest Park Cemetery, a memorial service was held on August 4, 2007, at All Souls Unitarian
Unitarian Universalism
Unitarian Universalism is a religion characterized by support for a "free and responsible search for truth and meaning". Unitarian Universalists do not share a creed; rather, they are unified by their shared search for spiritual growth and by the understanding that an individual's theology is a...
Universalist Church in Shreveport.
In addition to Laurie Lyons (husband Henry C. Walker), she was survived by five other children and their spouses: Susybelle L. Gosslee, Stafford Lyons (Henry Offermann), Charlton H. Lyons, III (Dianne Lewis Lyons), Sally L. Wood, and Marian L. McGoldrick (Bruce McGoldrick). Also surviving were thirteen grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and a sister, Margaret Wilkinson Wilson.