Joycelyn and Lawrence--St Bernard Project -- Help Rebuild New Orleans

Joycelyn and Lawrence

Homeowner Bio

August 29, 2005 was an unlucky day for many along the Gulf Coast. Joycelyn Stokes was no exception.

Joycelyn and her husband, Lawrence, spent 34 years building their family and home in St. Bernard Parish. With one small turn of the sea, it was all washed away in a matter of hours. Katrina destroyed the home where they raised their two sons (Mark, 42 and Troy, 37) and watched their granddaughter, Beth, become a mother.

Their unlucky streak continued. Joycelyn, Lawrence, and their 4 Chihuahuas (Bandit, Simba, Callie, Ashley) bounced from place to place for the next three years. They moved from friend’s houses, to church shelters, and eventually ended up in a trailer park in Slidell, where they spent a majority of the past three years.

After their three-year absence from the parish, the couple decided it was time to go home. They were able to find affordable rental housing and have resided there for the past year. Although the family has returned to their community, they have not been able to go home. Four years after the storm, Joycelyn’s home sits neglected. The family hasn’t had much luck in their fight to return home.

Upon returning to the parish, their clan of Chihuahuas expanded. Ashley became pregnant and soon Joycelyn had four more Chihuahuas in her charge. However, one of them became very ill. One day, he just laid there on the ground, not breathing.

“I just rubbed his chest like you see on T.V.” she said. “So you gave your Chihuahua CPR?” we asked astonishingly. She jests, “Well, I didn’t know how much air you were supposed to put in a Chihuahuas lungs… but I had God with me.” Joycelyn saved the puppies’ life.

When asked what the puppy's name is, she laughs, “Well… it’s Lucky.”

Joycelyn is now one of the lucky ones herself. Her house is on its way to being rebuilt and she wants all the volunteers to know she thinks, “these people are the coolest people in the world. They make it their concern to help others. I can’t believe it’s four years down the road and these people are still helping.”

Home Updates

11/29/09



North Shore High School Students from Illinois volunteered at the Stokes home last week. The volunteers were able to finish installing flooring.

Welcome Home!

SBP recently welcomed home:

Amelia Elzey, Gentilly, LA
Lisa Heberling, Arabi, LA
Royce & Veron Treaudo, New Orleans, LA
Shelita Harrell, New Orleans East, LA

Read more about our other completed homes.

Under Construction

Some of our homes currently under Construction

Barbara Williams, New Orleans, LA
Brenda Dupre-Williams, Lower 9th
Chana King, Violet, LA
Clarence and Diane Victorian, New Orleans East, LA
Cologero Caillouet, Chalmette, LA
Darren Anderson, Violet, LA
Darryn Carreras, Chalmette, LA
Darrell Betha, Mereaux, LA
David Lagrange, Arabi, LA
David Melerine, St Bernard, LA
Deborah Vita, Violet, LA
Debra Brown, Gentilly, LA
Delia Doty, Chalmette, LA
Donald & Tonya Topey, Violet, LA
Donnell Barthelemy, Violet, LA
Donnie Panarello, Chalmette, LA
Evelyn Solis, Chalmette, LA
Gerry Bierria, New Orleans, LA
Glenda Ceaser, Violet, LA
Jennifer Lanier, Violet, LA
Joycelyn and Lawrence Stokes, St. Bernard, LA
Joyce Guient, New Orleans, LA
Juan Toledo, Arabi, LA
Keith Florane, Chalmette, LA
Kenneth Burrell, Arabi, LA
Kenneth Dorsey, Lower 9th
Kwame & Dominique Adansi-Bona, Gentilly, LA
Mathilda & August Miller, Chalmette, LA
Mona Lisa Payne, New Orleans, LA
Ralph Dipadova, Chalmette, LA
Rebecca Holmes, St. Bernard, LA
Regina Beal, Violet, LA
Rhonda Krantz, St. Bernard, LA
Ricky Diecidue, Meraux, LA
Robert & Amy Barlow, Meraux, LA
Roosevelt Houston, Lower 9th
Sabrina Pacaccio, Violet, LA
Shane & Tina Meshell, Meraux, LA
Sharen Williams, Arabi, LA
Theresa McLuckey, Chalmette, LA
Vanessa Havers, St. Bernard, LA
Velma Lewis, New Orleans, LA
Willie Major, Violet, LA