Our beloved and respected mayor, husband, father, son, brother, grandfather, uncle, leader, and friend to ALL, went to take a closer walk with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on December 30, 2006.

A lifelong resident of Westlake, Louisiana, three-term city councilman and recently elected Mayor of Westlake, was ready to continue his quest for "One City-One Team," before his tragic death.

He left behind many wonderful and loving memories along with his legacy to live out, First Lady and devoted wife of thirty-six years Mary B. (Ledet) Washington, his loving son Geroski (Regina) Washington of Dallas, Texas; his caring daughter Germaine (Edwin) Washington-Broussard of Aurora, Colorado; his compassionate mother of ninety-three years Lillian Washington of Westlake, Louisiana; one strong brother, Joseph "Dugar" (Marie) Washington of Lake Charles, Louisiana; four giving sisters, Mary Louise (Artis) LeDoux, Mary Lou (Lionel) Goodwin, Sharon Washington, and Catherine Washington of Westlake, Louisiana; three grandchildren (LaMarc, Taylor, and Ge'Yane), and a host of nieces and nephews who will miss him dearly.

He was preceded in death by his father Adam Washington.

Accomplishments

Mayor Gerald "Wash" Washington was fifty-seven years old, husband of thirty-six years, devoted father of two, family man, a lifelong resident of Westlake, Louisiana, an activist, and well respected within the community. He also served as an usher for St. John Bosco Catholic Church, a 1966 graduate of Mossville High School, attended Sowela Technical Community College and McNeese State University, three year Veteran of the Army where he earned the pay grade E-5 and received the National Defense, the Vietnam Campaign and Vietnam Service Medals, was Vice-President of the Old Spanish Trail Employee Credit Union, member of the Knights of Peter Claver Council 147, co-founder of the Westlake Boxing Club, board member of the Calcasieu Women's Shelter, American Red Cross-Lake Charles Chapter, and Conoco Credit Union. He retired from Conoco, Inc. after thirty-two years of dedicated service and a three-term city councilman with two terms as Mayor Pro-Tem.

As a family man, everything Mayor Washington dreamed he achieved, all obstacles he overcame, his vision for the city was becoming reality and everything he lived and stood for was to better his family.

When his children were small, he pushed them to be all they could be, urged them to pursue higher education, motivated them to not give up and push on. Although his immediate family was only four, he encouraged family time - praying together, sitting down, and eating together, family vacation, and helping each other on a daily basis.

He visited his living and beloved mother of ninety-three years old on a daily basis, just so she knew he was there for her. He was a backbone and support system for some family members but a mentor to others.

While working at Conoco, Inc., Mayor Washington completed numerous management and leadership training courses, had more than twenty years of managerial experience, and was a recipient of the Conoco Value All People Award.

During his three terms as City Councilman, some of his accomplishments included a balanced budget, not raising taxes, upgrading the water system, building a new City Hall and Post Office, land purchases for development, street overlay and paving, cemetery beautification, upgrades of the police and fire departments that included new patrol cars, motorcycles, communication systems, fire trucks, and fire fighting equipment.

Mayor Washington was a leader for some, but a friend to all.