Jessea Toussaint Touson

Jessea Touson, a.k.a. Jessie Joseph Charles Toussaint, the third of eight children, was born to the parents of Joseph Toussaint and Ida (Pete) Toussaint on February 21, 1941, in Sweet Lake, Louisiana.  Jessea was baptized and received confirmation at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Jessea joined the Boy Scouts of America at twelve in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. He earned the high rank of Eagle Scout at the age of seventeen. 

Jessea attended schools in Lake Charles, graduating from Sacred Heart High School on May 22, 1960. After graduating from high school, Jessea joined the United States Air Force on May 25, 1960. He was stationed in the Supply Squadron at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, CA, for four years. Jessea then served two years as an Airman Second Class in the United States Air Force Reserves and was honorably discharged on May 24, 1966.

While stationed at Travis Air Force Base, he met Nanearl Florence Williams in Berkeley, CA, in 1963 through a mutual friend. The two became best friends, and on March 6, 1965, Jessea married Nanearl. Their union lasted fifty-eight-plus years, and two children were born, Philip and Stacey.  

Jessea was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and family man. He demonstrated a great essence of integrity and goal setting, along with an exceptional work ethic. Both Jessea and Nanearl worked when their son was an infant. He worked nights, so their son would not have to leave home or be attended to by anyone other than his parents. During that same time, Jessea attended college, earning an associate of science degree in Criminal Justice from Merritt College in Oakland, California, on June 21, 1978.

Jessea then simultaneously held two full-time positions for nearly twenty years, so his wife could be a stay-at-home mom and student. He wholeheartedly supported and encouraged his wife and children’s pursuit of their academic endeavors. He willingly and gladly financially supported their private school and college educations.

On December 2, 2002, Jessea retired after thirty-four years of employment as a Maintenance Engineer with the Peralta District Colleges in the greater Bay Area. On December 31, 2004, he retired after twenty years of employment as a janitor for the County of Alameda in Oakland, CA. 

Jessea was a warm, soft-spoken, artistic, intellectual tinkerer who loved his extended family of siblings, cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, and friends. Jessea always made time to talk with each of them, where he played the role of friend, confidante, guardian, and adviser. He had a quick wit, a keen sense of humor, and loved a good joke. He was a talented, skilled man who could build and fix almost anything. Jessea was known by all family and friends for being able to repair something in their home. He used to spend time in his garage working on architectural sketches. Jessea had every tool to fix every problem and enjoyed teaching his skills to his nieces, nephews, and children.

Jessea's hobbies included drawing, enjoying nature, politics, sports, card playing, coin and stamp collecting, history, and watching movies. His favorite pastimes were playing whisk and going to the cinema and theater with Nanearl. He will be missed by those who loved him.

Jessea was preceded in death by his parents, brother, and sisters: Albert Toussaint (Dolores Jean), Ida Mae Toussaint Biagas (Alvin), Alma Bradley, and Doris Toussaint; in-laws: Nathaniel Bryant, Sherlyn Toussaint, Leona and Milton Eugene Williams, Coralee Williams Willis-Malone, Milton Leon Williams, and precious other relatives.

Jessea is survived in loving memory by his wife Nanearl, son Philip Whitley Toussaint Touson (Kristima), daughter Stacey Elizabeth Toussaint Touson; seven grandchildren: Nanearl, Jessea, and Mario Toussaint Touson, Cynthia and Cecilei Kelley, Ayindai Evans, Leon Cobb; siblings: Michael L. Toussaint (Tracy), Willa Mae Bryant, Nancy Vickers (Melvin); in-laws: Melvia Nancy Gray-Smith, Sanders E. Willis, William Bradley, and a host of loving nephews, nieces, and other relatives and friends.

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