Rodney Geyen is the third son of the late Adam and Mildred Geyen. He attended Second Ward Colored Elementary School, W. O. Boston High School, and Grambling State University, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. He also attended McNeese State University earning a Masters plus 30 in Administration and Supervision.
Geyen served in the field of education of 41 years. He taught Civics and Science at W. O. Boxton for two years, taught Physical Education and coached for three years at Reynaud Middle School, coached and taught Physical Education at Pearl Watson Junior High School for 13 years and at Lake Charles Boston for three years. He served as Assistant Principal at Reynaud Middle School for three years, served as Principal at T. H Watson for 15 years. He also served as Assistant Principal for four years, Principal for one year at Lake Charles Boston High School and is now Principal of J. F. Kennedy Elementary School.
He was elected to the Lake Charles City Council in 1997 and was elected to serve as Vice President of the Council in 1998 and President in 1999. Geyen served as Mayor for 4 ½ months becoming the first African American to serve as Mayor and the 27th Mayor of the City of Lake Charles. He was again elected in 2004 to serve as City Council Vice President and President in 2005.
He is the Pastor of Mount Nebo - Saint Paul Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Westlake, LA, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Reeves Temple C.M.E. Church. He is a Sunday School teacher, the Past District Director of Social Concerns, Crowley District Ministerial Alliance Director and Director of Christian Education on the Annual Conference level.
Geyen is a member of the National Education Association, Louisiana Association of Educators, Calcasieu Education Association, Black Men’s Association.
Geyen is a committed servant to the people of District C and the City of Lake Charles. He was responsible for securing over 22 million dollars for the reconstruction of approximately 33 streets, sidewalks and drainages. He was responsible for the construction of the new Columbus Circle Community Recreation Center and the new General Moore playground. He was instrumental in renovating the Purple Recreation Center which is now equipped with new exercise equipment. He was also responsible for the new playground equipment at Greinwich Terrace and Bellard Recreation Centers. He is involved with plans for an aquatic facility to be located at the newly built multi sports complex which also involve a new Gym that is presently being built and the newly completed Adventure Cove play area. He is responsible for the installation of lighting throughout the district to help deter crime and participated in various Safe Community programs.
He was responsible for initiating the new but stop shelters throughout the city; repairing the sewer and drainage systems in the Oak Park, Greinwich Terrace and Greinwich Village areas. He also initiated the newly constructed connector road connecting Highway 14 to 5th Avenue to eliminate traffic congestion. He supported and recommended the construction of the new Epps Library that will benefit many school children in the north section of Lake Charles. He was also instrumental in the removal of the median to make Highway 14 five lanes from I-210 to Highway 90 in order to improve traffic congestion.
Geyen was the recipient of the NAACP Trail Blazer Award, listed as Who’s Who in the Grambling State University Alumni News Magazine and selected Principal of the Year in 1999, and was the winner of the district and regional levels and a state finalist.
He recommended and promoted a one million dollar commitment towards Vocation and Technical Education assistance that was passed in the 90 million dollar bond issue to provide additional training facilities that will expand the Vocational Education curriculum. It will also provide additional job training that will have a positive impact upon the Workforce Development Program which will help the city and parish economically.
He is married to the former Margaret Marie Guillory and they are the proud parents of four children, Dana, Gerard, Teri and Kelly, and have six grandchildren.
The Reverend Barbara Hayes Tousand
Assistant Pastor
Reverend Barbara H. Tousand was the second of seven children born to the late Arthur James and Almyrtle Hayes. Her parents brought her as an infant to Reeves Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Lake Charles, Louisiana to be baptized.
Reverend Tousand developed a love for Bible study and Christian Education early in life and has taken advantage of every opportunity to increase her knowledge. She plans workshops, facilitates study sessions, writes and produces programs and worship services, teaches youth and adult Bible classes, and paraphrases Scripture into skits for youth comprehension.
Reverend Tousand has faithfully attended Sunday school, Bible Study, Sunday School Conventions, District and Regional Conferences, Leadership Training Schools, Missionary Institutes, one Missionary Quadrennial Assembly, two Executive Boards, and workshops on all levels. She was blessed to be alternate delegate to the 28th General Conference which met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1974; delegate to the 31st General Conference which met in Birmingham, Alabama in 1986; and alternate delegate to the 32nd General Conference which met in Arlington, Texas. She also attended the first, fifth, seventh, ninth, thirteenth, and seventeenth Annual Convocations.
Reverend Tousand's ministries began at the age of twelve when she became Sunday school secretary and assistant teacher to the Nursery class. Through the years, she has served in many capacities. Her present and previous service areas include the following:
Regional , & Local President of Christian Education
Regional & District & Local Director of Christian Education
Regional, District & Local Chairperson of Youth Ministries
District Missionary President
District & Local Missionary Vice President
Regional & District Missionary Secretary of Spiritual Life and Message
Regional, District & Local Secretary of Missionary Education
Regional & District Parliamentarian
Regional Missionary Treasurer
Sunday School Teacher
Sunday School Secretary
Bible Study Teacher for Senior Ministry
Class Leader
Stewardess Treasurer and Secretary
Reverend Tousand received a License to Exhort on October 27, 2003, preached her First Sermon on January 25, 2004, and received a Local Preacher's License on May 17, 2004. She was set apart and ordained for the office of Deacon in the South Louisiana Conference of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church on June 15, 2006 by the Right Reverend Thomas L. Hoyt, Junior at Reeves Temple CME Church in Lake Charles, Louisiana under the pastorate of the Reverend Dr. H. Leon Williams, Senior.
The Right Reverend Thomas L. Brown, Senior assigned her Pastor of Cross Memorial CME Church in Oakdale, Louisiana on August 19, 2006 and served until June 20, 2007. At this time, she was appointed Patron Minister for the South Louisiana Missionary Society.On March 6, 2008, she was reassigned co-Pastor of Cross Memorial CME Church in Oakdale, Louisiana and Curry Chapel CME Church in Sulphur, Louisiana along with the Reverend Rodney Geyen.
Reverend Tousand has been called upon to deliver sermons and present topics at Women's Conferences on several occasions at sister churches and at several non-CME churches.
Reverend Tousand attended Southern University and received a BA Degree in English Education from McNeese State University. Her work experiences include English and French teacher for the Calcasieu Parish School System and Eight Grade teacher at Sacred Heart School; Crew Leader for Census 1980 and Field Supervisor Census 1990 and 2000; and Field Interviewer for HUD.
She is a life member of Delta Sigma Theta, a Public Service Sorority, serving the Lake Charles Alumnae Chapter as President (two terms), Vice President (two terms), Treasurer (three terms), and Advisor to the Senior Delsprites for over 10 years.
After the death of her husband and only child, she had truly learned to "Trust in the Lord with all her heart, and lean not unto her own understanding, in all ways to acknowledge Him, and let Him direct her path."
Brother Ronald Bennett - President of Steward
Sister Barbara Bennett - President of Stewardess
Brother Darrel Lewis - Trustee
Sister Carolyn Martin - Treasurer
Sister Annette Jones - Secretary
Sister Anola Moss - Missionary President
Sister Connie Parker - Sunday School Superintendent
Bro. Dexter Jones - Usher President
Sister Connie Parker - Christian Education
Bro. Ronald Bennett - Lay Leader
To locate us take Interstate 10 Westlake Exit 27. At Sampson Street (the first light) turn left, go to the next light (Sulphur Ave.) turn left. We are located right behind Burger King .
ANNOUNCEMENTS
A Representative from CNN National Televison Network will be attending Mt. Nebo/St. Paul on January 24, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. where the Rev. Rodney Geyen is Pastor and the Rev. Barbara Tousand is Assistant Pastor. They will be doing a documentary on Sister Dorothy Felix and her Civil Affairs Community Work in Mossville and at her Church. Everyone is invited to attend. The documentary will be shown March 6, 2010. Time TBA. The Rev. Dr. H. Leon Williams Sr. is the Presiding Elder and The Right Rev. Thomas L. Brown, Sr. is Presiding Bishop.
The Reverend Rodney Geyen sworn in as City Councilman
The Reverend Dr. H. Leon Williams Sr., Judge Thibodeaux, and Reverend Rodney Geyen
