Nancy Jane Beale Guin
Published 4:30 pm Tuesday, March 20, 2018
SHREVEPORT, La. — Nancy Jane Beale Guin passed peacefully from this life on Jan. 19, 2018, at her home in Shreveport, Louisiana, at the age of 90.
Nancy was born on March 31, 1927, in Franklin. She was the youngest of six children. She was a graduate of Katharine Gibbs College in New York City, and attended Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.
Nancy married the love of her life, Billy James Guin Sr., on Oct. 2, 1950. After moving to Shreveport, she was a devoted member of First Baptist Church for 65 years, where she served as a Sunday school teacher for three-year-olds, and as a member of the Women’s Missionary Union, the choir and the Singing Seniors Club.
Nancy held many offices in Zonta International, and actively promoted their vision of empowering women through service and advocacy.
As an owner and manager of The Anticipation Shop, Nancy assisted expecting mothers and children in choosing the perfect clothing.
Nancy was also an officer of The Women’s Civil Engineering Society of Shreveport Auxiliary; a member of The Women’s Republican Club of Shreveport; The Women’s Department Club; The National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century; Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae Association; and The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Nancy was lovingly referred to by her family as “Nanny.” She loved having all of her family “together,” annual family vacations to the beach, cooking, and making her loved ones laugh. Nanny made a friend of anyone she met and had a way of making everyone feel special. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister and friend.
She is preceded in death by her parents, James Chesley Beale Sr. and Alice Lewis Beale; siblings, James Chesley Beale Jr., Robert Irving Beale, Cyrus Lewis Beale, Warren Steele Beale and Alice Leora Beale Prange.
Nancy is survived by her beloved husband of 67 years, Billy James Guin Sr.; five children, Billy James Guin Jr. and wife, Patti; Alice Guin Lind; and Mary Guin Reynolds and husband, Manson, all of Shreveport; Nancy Guin Austin and husband, Jim, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Elizabeth Guin Leonard and husband, John, of Metairie, Louisiana; 10 grandchildren: Lynn Lalka and husband, Robert; and John Leonard Jr. and wife, Kristen, all of New Orleans, Louisiana; Elizabeth McLean and husband, Alex, of Walnut Creek, California; Grace Heeralal and husband, Manasseh, of West Palm Beach, Florida; William Leonard of Fairfax, Virginia; Alice Malone and husband, Kyle, of Alexandria, Louisiana; Gabrielle Duke and husband, Buddy, of Honolulu, Hawaii; Joseph Reynolds, Katherine Lind and Mervedy Reynolds, all of Shreveport; three great-grandchildren: Theodore Malone of Alexandria; and Lally Leonard and Tice Lalka, both of New Orleans; nephew, James C. Beale III; nieces, Mary Alice Beale and Dorothy B. Panissidi, all of Franklin; and a wealth of other family and friends left to cherish her memory.
The memorial to celebrate Nancy’s life is scheduled for Saturday, March 24, at 11 a.m., in the Frost Chapel of First Baptist Church of Shreveport, reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Nancy to First Baptist Church, 543 Ockley Drive, Shreveport, LA 71106, or Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, 7200 Desiard St., Monroe, LA 71203.