William "Willie" Frank

Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 10:00 am in the Sunrise Chapel at Walters Funeral Home for William "Willie" Frank, 74, who passed away on October 13, 2023 at his residence. Interment will be held following the service in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will take place on Friday, October 20, 2023 from 4:00 - 9:00 pm; and resume Saturday morning at 8:00 am until time of service. A rosary will be led by Marie Journet at 7 pm on Friday evening.

William Frank is survived by his wife, Roxanne Batiste-Frank, his children, Melinda Frank West and Christopher Frank of Los Angeles, CA; grandchildren, Marissa Wooten and Kennedy West of Los Angeles, CA; three great grandchildren, Skylar, Phoenix and Legacy of Los Angeles, CA; one step-son Harvey “Poncy” Fuselier, Jr. (Leisa) of Lafayette, LA;. three step-grandchildren Eric Fuselier (Naeema), Cankton, LA, Warren Fuselier (Aline) Sherman Oaks, CA and Jordan Fuselier of Lafayette, LA; three step-grandchildren, Eesa, Adam, and Oori; three sisters, Louella Antoine of Lake Charles, LA, Louanna Guillory of Houston, TX, Shirley Green (Mike) of Houston, TX, one sister-in-law Deborah Frank of Opelousas, LA; one brother-in-law Bob Carrier of Pasadena, CA.; four brothers-in-law, Clausey Batiste Jr., Allen Batiste, Oscar Batiste (Patricia) and David Batiste (Patriece); two sisters-in-law, Rebecca Watson and Nancy Roberts (Marcus) and a host of relatives and friends who loved him dearly.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Essie Frank; six siblings, Helen Frank, Barbara Carrier, Joseph Ledet, James Frank, Nora Frank and Adam Frank; six brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law.

William Frank, also known “Frank”, was born to the late Jack and Essie Frank on February 10, 1949 in Opelousas, LA. He was educated in the Louisiana Public School System, graduating from J.S. Clark High School. Upon graduation, he attended Southern University in Baton Rouge.
 
While in college, Frank was employed as a waiter at Toby’s restaurant. He was briefly employed at the United States Post Office but quickly focused his sights on becoming an entrepreneur. Inspired by his older brothers Nora Frank and Nolton Frank, he enjoyed owning and building businesses, including Total Experience Nightclub, Frank Construction, and Frank Fine Homes. He found much success in business, especially in the Concrete Industry and as a Real Estate Builder and Developer. He leaves a legacy of prideful projects in the City of Lafayette and surrounding areas.  In the industry he was known as “Mr. Northside." Frank found pride in the entrepreneurial spirit passed down to him and his siblings by his mom who owned and operated her own business, a restaurant in Opelousas.
 
Frank enjoyed traveling (especially cruises), attending social events with family and friends, and maintaining an extremely stylish and dapper wardrobe.  Frank never missed an opportunity to attend funerals of friends and their families as an opportunity to fellowship at every repass.  He was an active member of the JS Clark Alumni Association and contributed generously to that organization.  Despite his health issues, nothing stopped him from being an avid sports fan and keeping up with current events and world affairs on CNN.
 
On April 5th, Frank married his longtime partner of 18 years, Mrs. Roxanne Batiste, in an intimate ceremony at home.

Pallbearers for the service will be Christopher Batiste, James Guillory, Mark Burleigh, Mike Taylor, Trabais Montgomery, and Da-vion Porter. Honorary pallbearers are Clausey Batiste Jr., David Batiste, Allen Batiste, Oscar Batiste, Mike Green, Harvey Fuselier, Jr., Joseph Jun Noel, Joseph Marshall Landry, Kenneth Chaisson, and Marcus Roberts.

The family extends special thanks to Ochsner Oncology Center and Dr. Aggrewall, Heart of Hospice, Treashur  Naquin and Anastasia Coleman.

Online condolences may be made to the family by scrolling to the guestbook below.