Charles A. Schexnayder

Charles Adam Schexnayder, professor emeritus of LSU and husband of Claire Brown Schexnayder, passed away at 1 a.m. Wednesday, June 4, 2008, at his home. He was born on April 18, 1926, at Lauderdale Plantation in St. James Parish. He had been ill for almost a year with pulmonary fibrosis. He is survived by his wife, Claire Brown Schexnayder; daughter, Jacqueline Schexnayder MacMurdo Schneider and husband Brian; son, Dr. Michael Schexnayder and wife Charlene Curole Schexnayder; and five grandchildren, Christopher James MacMurdo, Ross Bailey MacMurdo, Laura Elise Schexnayder, Charles Michael Schexnayder and Matthew Steven Walker. Also survived by his brothers, Jean Manfred Schexnayder and wife Sandra, Harold Joseph Schexnayder and wife Mary Janice, and Lawrence Schexnayder and wife Jill. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Joseph Schexnayder Sr. and Lucille Labiche Schexnayder; brother, Edward Joseph Schexnayder Jr.; sister, Catherine Schexnayder Fabre Jones; and daughter, Marie Schexnayder Meeks. He graduated from White Castle High School in 1943, joined the Naval Aviation Program and studied to be a naval aviator in World War II. Following the cessation of hostilities of the war, he enrolled at LSU, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in vocational agriculture in 1948, a master's degree in botany in 1950 and a Ph.D. in plant pathology in 1953. Upon completion of his degree in plant pathology, he worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture at the Houma Federal Field Station with a specialty in sugar cane production. In 1958, he was offered a position working with the South Puerto Rico Sugar Corp. in La Romana, Dominican Republic, where he worked as a plant pathologist and plant breeder with sugar cane in the area of agronomy research. After four years, he moved his family back to the United States and joined LSU with the Department of Plant Pathology and Botany. He served on the LSU faculty in 1962 as professor and chairman of botany for 12 years. He was appointed director of International Programs through the LSU Agriculture Center. Dr. Schexnayder accepted a position in Jamaica in 1988, where he worked to build an agriculture college in Port Antonio on the Caribbean. The project was sponsored by LSU and the Department of State for the benefit of Third World countries. Much of his work with international programs was performed in West African countries as chief of party providing educational programs for helping African natives to cultivate crops for their livelihood. He retired as professor emeritus in 1991 due to developing problems with his health. Pallbearers will be Harold Schexnayder, Manfred Schexnayder, Lawrence Schexnayder, Huey Brown, Walter Morales III, Donald Sicard, Odrie Ortego and Dr. Michael Lala. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Leo Blaize, Dr. Carl Luikart, Dr. William Hines, Dr. Eugene Berry, Lawrence Seymour and James and Banque Friloux. Visitation at St. Joseph Cathedral, 412 North St., on Saturday, June 7, from 10 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Interment in Roselawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of Baton Rouge. The family wishes to thank Hospice of Baton Rouge for the wonderful, loving assistance afforded Dr. Schexnayder in his illness. We especially want to acknowledge the following who gave so much of their time and loving efforts in their work: nurses, Cynthia Holmes and Vicki Bergquist; and home health aide angels who contributed their smiles and responsibilities and loving care each day, Ruby Jarmon, Wanda Hayes and Kim Gilmore. We could never have done it without you. We give you our praise and thanks.