Mary Juanita Yokum (Tut), at the lovely young age of 92, departed this life on May 20th, 2023, surrounded by her family in Denver Colorado. Juanita was born September 24, 1930, in Church Point, Louisiana to the late Joseph Brown Sr and Leila Duplechain.  Juanita attended Lady of Mercy Catholic School and went on to marry Alvoid Yokum and had 8 beautiful children.

Juanita really enjoyed cooking. She was well known for her boudin, pecan candy, preserves, tea cakes, homemade wine and coconut cakes, but we all know that she could throw down in the kitchen. She made sure that she taught her kids all her recipes. Juanita volunteered in the Calcasieu Parish schools as a Foster Grandmother to the little kids in kindergarten and loved going on field trips with the little kids. Throughout her career, she worked at the Red Fox Inn and the Sheraton Chateau Charles where she met the lovely Dionne Warrick. She was so excited, she told everyone! She worked at a jazz bar/Creole restaurant in Denver called Mary's Place. She really enjoyed meeting all her new friends, and through the years she continued to keep in touch with them all.

Juanita was a devoted Catholic and was a member of the St Margaret Catholic Church and served as an usher for over 40 years. Throughout Juanita's life she tried to do something different, so she went back to school and became a Certified Nursing Assistant where she worked at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital and Oak Park Care Center before going to do private home health care.

Did someone say Fashionista? Yes, Juanita was well known to have the complete outfit on… the hat, purse and shoes all had to match. It didn't matter where she was going, she had her hat and bag to match.

Juanita did her best to make sure her kids didn't go without, so often she would sell boudin to make sure she could pay for their college education or just to make sure that the bills was paid.  Everyone and anyone who came through Juanita's house was sure to be fed some good food and had a great time. She loved laughing and talking to all that called her, and she especially loved spending time with all her family and friends. She made sure to always call everyone for their birthday and holidays. She adored plants, flowers, and gardening, going to the casino, watching her favorite soap operas and discussing it with her niece, or just having a great time whenever or wherever she was. If you ever had the chance to be around or spend time with Juanita, you were in for a treat because she loved to have a good time. So, whenever you think of the name Juanita, Tut, Tootie Fruity, Mom or Mama, think of all the happy times that you had with a phenomenal, amazing, fantastic, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend.

She was preceded in death by her husband Alvoid Yokum Sr., her parents Joseph Brown Sr. and Leila Duplechain Brown; brothers Leo Brown Sr., Joseph Brown, Iris Brown, Ivory Brown, James Brown; sisters Beverly Brown and Irene Brown; and her daughter Glenda Hawkins.

She is survived by one sister Lacy Brown of Denver, CO, daughters Brenda Benjamin and Dru Yokum of Bowie Maryland, Heidi Ellis (Orin) of Denver, Sharon Traylor (Derrick) of Centennial CO, sons Alvoid Yokum Jr. (Eulease) of Neveda, Jerry Yokum (Dianne) of Bennet, CO, and Cedrick Yokum of Lake Charles. She also leaves fourteen grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and one great, great grandchild and many loving nieces, nephews, and friends.