Centenary Trustee Dr. Alberta E. Broyles Dies at 84; Funeral Services Set for Aug. 26

SHREVEPORT, LA - Services for Alberta Erskine Broyles will be held at 11:30 a.m.Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2003, at Rose-Neath Marshall Street Funeral Home with the Rev. Nick Davis and Dr. Donald A. Webb officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Rose-Neath Marshall Street Funeral Home from 5-7 p.m., Monday, Aug. 25.

Dr. Broyles, a life member of the Centenary College Board of Trustees, was awarded the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Centenary in 1994. The longtime philantrophy of Dr. Broyles and her family has brought the college scholarships, endowed chairs and other bequests for many years. The Harvey and Alberta Broyles Choir Scholarship and two rooms in the Anderson Choral Building are named in honor of the Broyleses.

Dr. Broyles was born Alberta Erskine in Guntersville, Ala., on March 26, 1919, and passed away on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2003, after a lengthy illness. She moved to Shreveport when she was 3 years old and lived here most of her life. She joined Highland Baptist Church and was baptized when she was 12 years old.

In addition to membership on the Centenary Board of Trustees, she was also a member of the Centenary Women's Endowment Quorum, the Shreveport Club, Cambridge Club, Petroleum Club and a charter member of the Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary.

Dr. Broyles was preceded in death by her husband, Allen Harvey Broyles; her parents, Clarence and Katherine Erskine; brother, Gale Erskine, and twin sister, Rae Tillman.

She is survived by son Allen Harvey Broyles and wife Candace of Plano, Texas; son John Erskine Broyles and wife Susan of Shreveport; daughter Joyce Broyles Hawkins and husband Robert Kenneth Hawkins of Shreveport; grandsons Matthew Allen Broyles and wife Denise of Denton, Texas, Mark Anderson Broyles and Joel David Broyles of Plano, Texas; granddaughters Beth Broyles Millard and husband Kory of Wellington, Colo., Melanie Broyles Sims and husband Abe of Oklahoma City, Okla., Rebecca Broyles Juillerat and husband Robert of Houston, Texas, Diana Hawkins Mercik and husband James Michael of Shreveport, and Leslie Mae Hawkins of Shreveport.; and great grandchildren Teddy Burgess, Molly Kate and Emily Millard, Jacob Riley Sims and Noah Lynn Mercik.

Pallbearers will be Jim Miller, Ed Tillman, Buddy Daily, Mike Mercik, Matthew Broyles, Mark Broyles and Joel Broyles. Honorary pallbearers will be the Centenary Board of Trustees.

Memorials may be made to the Centenary College Choir or to the Salvation Army.

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