Obituary for Dr. Rose Duhon-Sells

Dr. Rose Duhon-Sells was born Rose Marie Duhon to Mr. & Mrs. O’neil and Alice Green Duplichain in Church Point, LA.  She was the fourth of four daughters and was much loved by her family. She married Patrick C. Duhon in 1957 and had five children.

Dr. Duhon-Sells received her GED from St. Landry Parish School Board and volunteered with the Head Start program in Opelousas, LA. She went on to earn a BS degree in Elementary Education from the University of Louisiana in Lafayette in 1971. She taught kindergarten for seven years at Grolee Elementary School in Opelousas and she said it was the best time of her life. She became a supervising teacher for student teachers from Southern University and University at Louisiana at Lafayette. She went on to earn a M.ED in Guidance and Counseling at Southern University at Baton Rouge, LA plus 30 hours in Administration. She also earned a Ph.D. in Education from Union Institute and University in 1980 and started her career in higher education at McNeese State University, During her 18 year career at McNeese, she was the first African-American professor to earn tenure and become a full professor. Later in her career, she was asked to return to McNeese and become a Distinguished Professor.

Dr. Duhon-Sells was an administrator at several universities. She was Dean of the College of Education at Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA; Academic Vice President at Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, OH; and Vice Chancellor at Southern University in New Orleans, LA. She has written and edited over 30 books and 38 articles on such topics as elementary education, early childhood education, peace education, multicultural education and conflict resolution. She has presented her research locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. She has traveled to over 30 countries and spoke to thousands of people about the need for change in the educational system and reaching and teaching all children. She founded Duplichain University, an online graduate and undergraduate university, which was nationally and internationally accredited. Over thirty graduate students received their doctorate degrees and over 20 students received their masters’ degrees from that university. Many HeadStart employees with associate degrees received their bachelors’ degrees from Duplichain University. Dr. Duhon-Sells along with the university board members assisted the Headstart students with financial aid and all Headstart employees in the program graduated debt-free.

Dr. Duhon-Sells is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and has made many friends, professional contacts and mentees. She started the Sisters Surviving, Inc. which is a breast cancer support group that has been active for over 25 years and it has helped hundreds of women and men who were struggling to regain their lives after a diagnosis of cancer. She also started the National Association for Multicultural Education at McNeese over 25 years ago and it has become an international organization that has lead the cause for social change and equity in today’s schools. She was the first African-American president of the Association of Teacher Educators which serves to increase the body of knowledge for teacher educators and increase the level of professionalism for preservice teachers coming into the field of education. She also started the National Association for Peace Education and Anti-Violence which serves to reduce conflict in the classroom and teach children and educators how to create safe classrooms and school environments.

Dr. Duhon-Sells is preceded in death by her parents, Mr. & Mrs. O’neil and Alice Duplichain; her first husband, Patrick C. Duhon; her second husband, Dr. Halloway Sells; her son, Gregory Duhon; her oldest sister, Youramae Kennerson, and her grandson, Donovan Duhon. She has four children, Dr. Alice Duhon-Ross; Dr. Gwendolyn Duhon, Dr. Glendolyn Duhon, Patrick C. Duhon, Jr. and his partner, Kendra Williams. She has two sisters, Dr. Mary Addison (Joseph); and Mrs. Theresa Savoie (Francis). She had six grandchildren, Mrs. Grace Haynes McVea (Norris), Mrs. Whitney Taylor (Ian), Britney Duhon, Charles P. Viney (LaShawn), Jordan Jeanlouis (Lacey), Mrs. Allison Lara (Jose); and Patrick C. Duhon, III. She has ten great-grandchildren and hosts of nieces, nephews, and friends.