Genevieve Robinson Abel passed away peacefully on Monday, October 10, 2016 at 73 years old. Born January 30, 1943 in Little Rock, Arkansas, "Genny" embraced her love for performance in the arts by age six. Her primary and secondary education were spent in Benton, Arkansas, where she was crowned Homecoming Queen. From there, she went on to achieve her Bachelor of Arts in Voice from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and earned a full scholarship to further her education at the Louisiana State University School of Music, where she met her beloved husband of 48 years, Paul Louis Abel II. In 1981, Genny's personal passion for working with women who had endured abuse led her to begin volunteering as a crisis line counselor for the CAFVIC Battered Women's Program, which developed into a career leading her to her position as Executive Director, which she held for 12 years. Throughout those years, she trained, mentored and inspired numerous board members, staff members, volunteers, intern students and community members with her wisdom, her great and heartfelt empathy, her sense of social justice, her gentle demeanor, her wicked sense of humor, and her fierce dedication to the philosophy of empowerment for women. In 1999, Genny retired to spend time and enjoy life with her family. Predeceased by her parents, Leo Willard Robinson and Opal Smithers Robinson, her husband, Paul Louis Abel II, her sons Paul Louis Abel III (Rita), and Andrew Patrick Abel. She is survived by her children, Mark Abel (Jean), Charles Abel, Lisa Hattaway (Ben Shrake), and Leo Abel (Kimberly). In all, Genny had eleven grandchildren: Christopher Dudley (Katie), Matthew Abel (Elaine), Brian Abel, Paul Louis Abel IV, Jason and Michael Abel, Amanda and Emily Hattaway, and Alex, Ian, and Estelle Abel. She was a great grandmother to eight: Julia, Charlie, Alexis, Grayson, and Gaston Dudley, Marshall Moore, and Cynthia and Shaun Abel. By her family and friends, Genny will forever be remembered as a kind and gentle soul. Whether by blood or by marriage, she devoted herself to her family with unconditional love. The funeral service will be held in Baton Rouge, LA at Broadmoor Baptist Church on Sunday October 16, 2016 at 3 pm, following visitation from 1-3.

Beside her husband, Genny will be laid to rest in a private service on Monday at Green Oaks Cemetary.