Obituary: Willanna Edwards (Curley) James – Red Jacket 1942-46 & Super Cajuns Fan – Feb. 11, 2021

Willanna Edwards (Curley) James

LAFAYETTE – A celebration of life/memorial service will be planned for a safer time for our beautiful, vibrant mother, Willanna Edwards (Curley) James, 95, who passed away on February 11, 2021. Willanna was a devoted member of First United Methodist Church, an avid sports fan of the ULL Ragin Cajun Athletics, a Volunteer Extraordinaire (Lourdes), and a retired secretary and music teacher.

Willanna was also a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her greatest pride was her legacy of nine grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren, to date.

She is survived by her four daughters, Diana Curley Trahan, and Karen Curley (David) Daniel, both of Lafayette, LA; Janet Curley Mottinger of Palm Beach Shores, FL, and Connie Curley (Charles) Golson, of Austin, Texas. She had a host of very special nieces and nephews, including Sister Carmelita (Virginia Louise) Latiolais, and Martin Latiolais, both of Lafayette, LA. She is also survived by her stepmother, Vonnie Edwards.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William Kavanaugh Edwards and Anna Mary Gumm Edwards; Her first husband, Sidney Curley; and her second husband, Jesse (Jay) James; Her three sisters: Virginia Hilburn, Martha Ogden, and Finnetta Ferguson; her nephew, Charles Robert Latiolais; and her son-in-law, Ralph W. Mottinger. They will all welcome her to heaven with open arms!

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to her beloved First United Methodist Church at fumc-Lafayette.org or The University of Louisiana Lafayette Foundation.

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Athletic Network Footnote by Ed Dugas.
Click here for the Photo Gallery of the  2004 Red Jackets Reunion.
Willanna wrote about it in her Athletic Network profile.
Click here for her profile.
Lead information of her passing submitted to the AN by Betty Lowry and Corinne Randazzo. Thank you.
The AN extends condolences to Willanna’s family.