Joseph Arlington Kennerson

On the evening of Saturday, September 10, 2016 at 6:45 pm, God sent an angel to the room of Joseph A. Kennerson and whispered softly, “Come Home”. He quietly accepted his call and departed this life to enter his Heavenly Home. Joseph was born on September 22, 1934 in Lawtell, Louisiana. He is the third child born from the union of Telesmar and Wilda Kennerson. He was preceded in death by his lovely wife, Lucy Katherine Kennerson, his parents; two brothers, Wilfred (Bay) Kennerson and Telesmar Kennerson Jr., and two sisters, Dorothy Kennerson Simien and Loritha Bellard. On December 31, 1955, Joseph entered into Holy Matrimony with his childhood sweetheart, Lucy Katherine Auzenne. Joseph was in the navy and eventually settled in Long Beach, California with Lucy. To this blessed union, there were three children: Jacqueline Katherine, Kim Denelle, and Mark Elliot. Joseph completed his High School education in Opelousas, Louisiana and received an Associate of Arts degree from Long Beach City College where he was on the Dean’s List. He later received a Real Estate Salesperson’s license in 1967 and a Real Estate Broker’s license in 1973. Joseph and Lucy started Kennerson Realty in 1973. He was a member of the Long Beach District Board of Realtors, California Real Estate Association of Realtors and the Real Estate Certificate Institute. He also worked for the City of Long Beach for seventeen years as a service representative. Besides making a career in Real Estate, Joseph became very active in the community. He believed in justice and fairness for all. He became the president of the Long Beach NAACP Branch in 1986. Joseph was a lifetime member of the NAACP. He worked tireless to help as many people as he could. In 1980, Joseph was voted Father of the Year by the NAACP. In April 1987, he was appointed to the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency. In 1988, Joseph was chosen as a delegate for the Democratic National Convention. On January 11, 1998, Joseph was named a Knight of Saint Gregory the Great by Pope John Paul II. He was a devout Christian and a firm believer in the Catholic Faith. Joseph was a member of the St Joseph Catholic Church Usher Board and a member of the Executive Boards of Holy Innocents and Saint Anthony Catholic Schools. He was also a member of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, Optimist Club, and the Long Beach Development Community Advisory Board. Joseph also volunteered his time as an assistant coach for Pop Warner teams. Joseph was a hardworking, funny and caring individual who enjoyed and valued life, family, and friends to the fullest. He was always ready and willing to lend a helping hand for school, church, community, family and friend events. He was very proud of his Louisiana heritage and was well known for loving to eat, especially sweets, like Lucy’s Coconut Pineapple cake and her Gumbo. Joseph leaves to cherish loving memories, his devoted daughters, Jacqueline K. Kennerson-Smith, and Kim D. Monconduit; a beloved son, Mark E. Kennerson; dutiful sons-in-law, Marc H. Smith, and Michel S. Monconduit; five grandchildren, Markayla, Amber, Kaitlyn Kennerson all of Bogalusa, Louisiana, Ashley and Rachel Monconduit; four great grandchildren, Javion, Willoe, Kaliyah and Que’ all of Bogalusa, Louisiana; three sisters, Elva and Theresa of Lake Charles, Louisiana, Alma of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; two brothers, Willis of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and A.B. of Lake Charles, Louisiana; and a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.