Cover photo for Dr. Franklin Earl Minyard Jr.'s Obituary
Dr. Franklin Earl Minyard Jr. Profile Photo
1929 Dr. 2020

Dr. Franklin Earl Minyard Jr.

August 20, 1929 — September 15, 2020

Dr. Franklin Earl Minyard Jr passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on September 15, 2020. He was 91. He was born August 20, 1929 in New Orleans, LA to the late Franklin Earl Minyard and Norma Dugas Minyard. He is preceded in death by his brother Norman Minyard. A graduate of Holy Cross High School in 1947, he lettered in track, basketball and football. He graduated from LSU Medical School in 1955. Working his way through college and medical school, he worked at Pontchartrain Beach as a life guard and in his family grocery business in Dallas, Tx. He served two-years active duty in the U.S. Navy 1957-1959 Captain, USNR and in 1970-1974 served under Adm. Elmo Zumwalt (CNO) as a consultant for the Navy anti-drug campaign. He began his life of public service in the early 1970’s after meeting a Dominican nun, Sr. Mary David when he was asked to help raise money for the Bethlehem House of Bread which was the first drug rehab program for women in New Orleans in Treme. He was elected Coroner of Orleans Parish in 1974, a position he held for 40 years. During his tenure, Dr. Minyard spearheaded several public health campaigns such as protecting children through the “Children Should be Seen and Not Hurt”, numerous anti-drug campaigns, and he petitioned to have a new bridge built to avoid the numerous collisions on the Greater New Orleans Bridge. He proclaimed gun violence as a public health threat when New Orleans reached almost 400 murders in 1994. He loved his music above all and played the trumpet for anyone who would listen including the Pope. He was arrested in 1974 for disturbing the peace in protest for a moratorium on live music in the French Quarter where it was said his music would wake the dead. His arrest lead to his most treasured role which was the creation of the Jazz Roots Foundation in 1975 with support from the Olympia Brass Band. The Jazz Roots raised nearly $1 million for local charities through the annual concert which featured friends such as Rickie Monie of Preservation Hall, The Olympia Brass Band, Chris Owens, Ronnie Kole, Al Hirt, Harry Connick Sr. and Harry Connick Jr. as a young performer. The event was held for close to 29 years but the star of the show was his Rag Time piano playing mother, Norma Minyard. He has served in several capacities for numerous local civic organizations, churches and national associations such as Odyssey House, National Kidney Foundation, Council on Aging, Lighthouse for the Blind, Christian Unity Baptist Church, WRBH Radio, and the Musical Legends Park. A Mardi Gras aficionado, he marched with the Olympia Brass Band and the Pete Fountain Half Fast Marching Club for many years. He served as the First Grand Marshal of the New Orleans Downtown Irish Club in 1977, Tucks in 1991 and Shangri-la in 2006. He is survived by his wife Dr. Nancy Morris Minyard, his three children Michelle Minyard of New Orleans, Marc Minyard (Tammy)of Covington and Dr. Mynette Minyard of Fruita, CO: two step children, Johnny (Michele) Wood of Praireville, LA, Summer (Mark) Patterson of Fairfax Station, VA; nine grandchildren, Matthew Minyard, Alcide Serapin Breaux né Emelie Oppman, JC Wood, Alexa Wood, Barent Foley, Adele Foley, Evelyn Foley, Bryce Patterson, Zoe Patterson; three great grandchildren, Nathanael Minyard, Macee Minyard, Alexandra Richard; two great-great grandchildren, Kambrie Richard, Cash Richard; Godmother Sr. Sylvia Thibodeaux. Following Katrina in 2005, Dr. Minyard worked on site in St. Gabriel, LA for several months with the Federal Disaster Mortuary team in identifying and classifying victims. He served on the committee for the creation of the Katrina Memorial in New Orleans. After retirement in 2014, he volunteered with Notre Dame Hospice in St. Tammany parish. He is a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Folsom, LA. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Sisters of the Holy Family at 6901 Chef Mentur Hwy New Orleans, LA 70126 for the canonization of Mother Henriette Delille. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church, 400 Verret St, Algiers, LA on Monday, September 21, 2020 at 12noon. Visitation will be held at the church from 10am until 12noon. Masks are required. Interment, McDonogh Cemetery. Family and friends are encouraged to view and share memories at www.mothefunerals.com .
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Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Monday, September 21, 2020

10:00am - 12:00 pm (Eastern time)

Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church

400 Verret St, New Orleans, LA 70114

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Burial

McDonoghville Cemetery

520 Hancock St, Gretna, LA 70053

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