On Monday January 12th 2026, while watching Monday night football in Lake Charles and Angel softly whispered for Joseph Curtis Guillory to come home. His mission on this earth was finally complete. "Well done, thy good and Faithful servant." Joseph Curtis Guillory age 68 was born in Lake Charles to the late Josie Mae (Gobert) Guillory and Jim "JC" Guillory.

Curtis attended Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Catholic school through the eighth grade and then attended Washington High school where he played varsity basketball. He also played baseball for a city league that his father assisted as a coach. Curtis and Ruby became friends when he needed assistance with his homework. We had quite a large group of friends that all ate lunch together on most days. We began dating when we both needed a date for our junior prom and went on a double date with our best friends. After graduation from high school, Curtis was offered a basketball scholarship along with a major league baseball contract, but he chose to serve his country and joined the United States Navy. In July of 1976 Curtis and Ruby were married at IHM and began their life together. They went from being best friends to a couple "yoked" together in the name of Jesus, living as one body. Within the nucleus of this union there were three children: Jessica and Joseph "JC" Guillory, and Joy Holt.

Curtis served in the Navy for twenty-one years and our family lived in Italy, Virginia, Tennessee, and he finally retired in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Curtis began his next career as a Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) Instructor at Lithonia High School in Lithonia, GA. He taught himself how to drill because his competitiveness wouldn't allow him to not attempt to be the best. He loved working with the students and encouraging them to dream BIG. Curtis believed that if you could dream it, you could achieve it. He also loved the camaraderie of his fellow instructors. They became his second family and being an NJROTC Instructor was more than a job, it was his calling. He enjoyed going to work every day, because he wanted to be available for his students. When our daughter Jessica passed away suddenly in March of 2012, Curtis left his teaching position at Lithonia High School for three years. During this hiatus, Curtis kept busy with his landscape business. I think our son, nephews and grandsons all learned how to manage a landscape company during their summers at our home that they nicknamed "The Guillory's Boot Camp." Eventually, the lure of being a mentor to children called Curtis back to the education system. He accepted a position at Columbia High School in Decatur, Georgia as an NJROTC instructor in 2015 where he said he was going to "chill" until he retired. Knowing Curtis, I knew it was only a matter of time before he came back to me saying "I'm either all in or I have to quit". That was my cue to say, "team Guillory is all involved". It didn't take long for everyone to see the fabric that made up Senior Chief Guillory. Lithonia High and Columbia High
were rival schools, yet Curtis was able to get his prior LHS students to assist him with showing his new Columbia students the work required to become a winning unit and the fact that they achieved success speaks for itself. In 2020, Senior Chief Guillory retired and Curtis Guillory moved back home to Lake Charles, Louisiana where our journey began. "Job well done, good and Faithful servant. Your earthly commission has ended, but your legacy lives on through every life that you touched and poured in your wisdom and knowledge.

Curtis was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: Patrick and Jerome Guillory; one sister: Edna Guillory; our daughter: Jessica Guillory Rosenburg; Maternal Grandfather: Lawrence Gobert (Where Curtis spent his summers on the farm); along with other grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and good friends too numerous to name.

Curtis leaves to cherish his memory and continue his legacy, his wife and best friend for almost fifty years: Ruby Lewis Guillory, who he trained to be "shipyard tough", two sisters: Pamela Guillory (Wade) Anderson of Lake Charles; Debra Guillory of Conyers, GA; one son: Joseph "JC" Guillory of Lake Charles; one son-in-law, who is like a son: Ernest Rosenburg, Jr, of Lilburn, GA; one daughter: Joy Holt of Atlanta, GA; one daughter-in-law, who followed in Curtis's footsteps: Brandi Canada (US Navy, Retired) of New Orleans; Seven grandsons: Marquez (Maima) Simmons of Decatur, GA; Shyheim Guillory of Stone Mtn.,GA; Dorian Rosenburg of New York; Jayden Guillory of Baton Rouge; Julian Cole of Baltimore, MD; Julius Cole of Las Vegas, NV; Joseph Ellis of Decatur, GA; one granddaughter: Delaney Rosenburg of Lilburn, GA; one goddaughter that he mentored for many years, Dr Matoaka Wikson (Veterinarian) of Las Vegas, Nevada; five great grandsons, several nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of other relatives and friends.

Curtis loved his sport, whether his team was winning or not he never wavered. The New Orleans Saints was a team Curtis said was going through a rough patch. The LSU tigers just needed a new winning coach and his Los Angeles Lakers lately was "no comment." His banter, laughter and need to go to any and all local sports with his boys will be missed. Our home will definitely be quieter and I'm praying that his memories and our love will keep me strong. Remember prayers are always welcome.

There is a wake on Friday, January 23rd from 4-8pm at Fondel Funeral Home that will also be live streamed via their Facebook link. The address: 832 North Lyons St, Lake Charles, LA 70601

There will be visitation on Saturday from 9-11:15 at Fondel Funeral Home

Funeral will be at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church at 12noon. Address: 2031
Opelousas St, Lake Charles, LA 70601

Repast will be immediately after the funeral at the KPC Hall on 2526 Opelousas St, Lake Charles,
LA 70601

Burial will be on Tuesday January 27th at 10 a.m. at the SWLA Veteran Cemetery Address: 1610
Evangeline Rd, Jennings, LA 70546

Live Stream