Jessamine “Jess” Honey Musson Babineaux

Published 2:00 pm Monday, March 18, 2013

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, 2013, at the Church of the Epiphany in New Iberia, for Jessamine (Jess) Honey Musson Babineaux, 84, who passed away on Saturday, March 16, 2013, at her residence.

A gathering of family and friends will be held at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia from 11 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Interment will follow at Beau Pré Cemetery in New Iberia.

The Reverend Ann B. Etheredge will officiate at the funeral service.

Jess and her husband, Jack Musson, purchased New Iberia Auto Company in 1955. Along with her family, she was an active partner in Musson-Patout Automotive Group until her death. 

She was actively involved in the Community Service Volunteers, along with Virginia Kyle Hine and Dawn Hebert, coordinating improvements in the downtown district, as well as working with all four Garden Clubs who designed the planting areas along Main Street and in Bouligny Plaza. 

While involved with the volunteers, her efforts were instrumental in locating the Bayou Art Gallery in the downtown area, encouraging a number of merchants to retain the original design of their buildings and assisting in obtaining façade grants for building renovations. This work was the foundation of Main Street’s evolution into a nationally recognized success. Jess had a passion for painting and today many of her watercolor paintings hang in numerous New Iberia homes. 

Jess served on the Shadows Council for nine years and served as the Chairman of the committee that established the East Main Historic District. She was also actively involved in her Fortnightly group and volunteered her time to many worthy causes and endeavors.

Survivors include her daughter Diane Kelly Musson of New Iberia; two stepdaughters Beverly Babineaux Simoneaux and her husband, Jimmy Simoneaux, of New Iberia, and Beryl Babineaux Duck and her husband, Deacon Charles Duck, of Houston, Texas; two grandchildren Kelly Patout-Romero and her husband, Bart Romero, and Brad Patout and his wife, Eleanor Ourso Patout; two great-grandchildren Jack and Audrey Romero; and her first cousin Nell Jane Willan of Winslow, Ariz.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Jack Musson, and her husband of 10 years, Earl Babineaux; her parents, Leo and Grace Butner Honey; her brother Coleman Savage; a stepdaughter Barbara Babineaux Mergist; and a great-nephew Tristan Cross.

Pallbearers will be Brad Patout, Bart Romero, Terry Crochet, Ric Patout, Calvin Johnson and Tim Thibodeaux.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of Fortnightly V.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Epiphany Day School Endowment Fund, 303 East Main Street, New Iberia, LA 70560.

 Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, LA 70560, 365-3331, is in charge of arrangements.

To view online obituary, sign guestbook and view video tribute, go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.com