LILLIAN ODEN JONES BREARD
06/28/1935 - 03/12/2023
Lillian “Nonnie” Breard passed away on March 12, 2023 after a brave five-year battle with lung cancer. She was married for 33 years to Syl Breard, who preceded her in death in 2018. A visitation will be held for family and friends at The Village of Tanglewood on Saturday, March 25th from 4:30-6:00. A private graveside service will be held in Monroe, Louisiana, at a later date.
Lillian was also preceded in death by her parents, Weyman Haddon Oden, and Alice Hortman Oden; her first husband, Bryson Davis Jones; her brother, Weyman H. Oden, Jr.; her sister Anne Oden Hall; her niece, Brevard Hall Knight; and her niece, Kathryn Ellen Oden.
Lillian, or “Nonnie” as she was lovingly called by her family, was born on June 28, 1935. She was the third and youngest child of Weyman and Alice Hortman Oden of Shreveport, Louisiana. Her brother was Weyman Oden Jr., and her sister was Anne Oden Hall. She grew up in Shreveport and graduated from Byrd High School in 1953. She then attended Newcomb Institute of Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana where she obtained a B.A. degree in elementary education. Lillian was a member of Chi Omega sorority at Tulane, where she made lifelong friends. After graduation, Lil returned to Shreveport and taught school. Later that year, she married Bryson Davis Jones and had two children, Alice Marie (Amie) Jones Springmeyer and Bryson Davis Jones, Jr. Following brief moves to New Orleans, Denver, and Augsburg Germany, Lil and Bryson settled in Shreveport. While raising the children, Lil participated in the Junior League - volunteering for puppets and children’s theater while they took shows to elementary schools in the area. During this time, she was also active in Chi Omega alumnae, The Cotillion Club, and The Shreveport Demoiselle Club.
Lil met and married Syl Breard of Monroe, Louisiana, where she moved in 1985. It was there that she renewed friendships with college and sorority friends living in Monroe. She became active in the Colonial Dames of America, the PEO chapter AK, The Monroe Symphony League and the Garden Club. She and Syl were very active in their church, Jesus The Good Sheppard. She treasured her time in Monroe, which the grandchildren preferred to call “Fun-roe”.
In 2018, Lil made the move to Houston, Texas to be closer to family. In Houston, she lived at The Village of Tanglewood Retirement Community and made many new friends. She loved being able to spend time at ball games and events with some of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Nonnie was deeply loved by all her family and was famous among her grandchildren and great-grandchildren for her amazing homemade “Nonnie Bread.”
Special thanks to her friend, Bette Fryar, for introducing her to St. Clare’s Needlepoint Guild at St. Martins Episcopal Church, where she made many happy memories.
The family is grateful to Lil’s sweet caregivers: Natalie, Melva, Maria, Latoya, and Brittney.
Lil is survived by her two children, Amie Springmeyer (Jeff ), Bryson Jones Jr. (Wendy); her seven grandchildren Reid Springmeyer (Lyndsy Beth), Ryan Springmeyer (Courtnay), Ashley Jones (Stephen), Robby Springmeyer (Amber), Quinn Jones (Milena), Fletcher Jones, Ivy Cate Jones; her ten greatgrandchildren, Oden Springmeyer, Riley Ruth Springmeyer, Lawson Jones, Davis Springmeyer, Amie Jones, Stella Springmeyer, Everett Jones, Walter Springmeyer, Rowan Jones, and Bates Springmeyer (all devoted Nonnie Bread enthusiasts); her sister-in-law, Margaret Leary Oden; Syl´s loving family, Mark Breard (Dorinda), David Breard (Sherri), Patricia Breard, Mark “Alex” Breard, Sean Breard, Bonnie “Katie” Breard, Arin DeGroff, and her brother-in-law, Dr. Buddy Jones (Anne).
Memorials may be made to the PAN Foundation (supporting Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) or charity of your choice. https://donate.panfoundation.org