"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want" ~ Psalm 23:1

Josephine Mary Duplessis was born on February 4, 1931, in New Orleans, Louisiana to Louis and Leona Duplessis. Josephine was baptized at Corpus Christi-Epiphany Catholic Church on March 1, 1931. Eighteen months later, Josephine's only sibling, Lee Pearl, joined the family.

Josephine began her course of life learning the importance of Jesus, family, education, and hard work. Attending Mass, visiting the neighborhood Protestant church, conversing in Creole with her mother, meticulously copying her mother's poetry for final drafts, reading classics like Jane Eyre , working in her early teens, and graduating from Booker T. Washington High School kept Josephine focused on important matters. Later in life, Josephine worked at Charity Hospital, completed several college courses, married, and became a devoted mother to Janise, her only child.

Moving to Los Angeles, California in1962 began the pathway to Josephine seeking some of her personal dreams: career advancement, home ownership, and welcoming her mother to reside with her and the family in Los Angeles.

In the early eighties, Josephine moved to Paso Robles, California to be closer to her daughter, son-in-law (Darlin), and grandchildren. Working at Twin Cities Hospital, taking care of Leona, her mother, purchasing a home, being a member of Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church, and enjoying family road trips were some of Josephine's fondest memories.

Daria, Blair, and Micah will always remember Nana's presence at their sporting events, after school pickups and stops for treats, weekend sleepovers, and eating New Orleans cuisine—red beans and rice, gumbo with potato salad on the side specialty sandwiches, and more.

In 2007, in need of medical assistance, Josephine joined Janise and Darlin in Flagstaff, Arizona, where she enjoyed church services, road trips, family gatherings, and visits with Linnie, Darlin's mother.

As Josephine sits in the presence of God, she leaves her legacy in many hearts: daughter: Janise (Darlin); grandchildren: Daria, Blair (Courtney), and Micah; great grandchildren: Jonah and Jaden Riley, Jordan and Cameron Peoples; nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Josephine was preceded in death by her parents and sister.