John Jackson Molaison, Sr., Judge Jefferson Parish, Louisiana Submitted by N.O.V.A. - May 2005 Source: Times Picayune 07-27-1995 Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ************************************************ Jefferson Parish Judge John J. Molaison Loses His Battle With Cancer Judge John Jackson Molaison Sr., who was on Jefferson Parish's 2nd Parish Court since the judgeship was created in 1966, died at his Harvey home Sunday after an eight-year battle with cancer. He was 65. Judge Molaison was elected in 1966 and re-elected without opposition every six years after that. Since early May, he had been too ill to preside in 2nd Parish Court, which serves West Jefferson, hearing traffic violations and civil cases seeking damages up to $10,000. "Judge Molaison will be missed very much by the West Bank and particularly by those in my office," District Attorney John Mamoulides said. "He was very innovative in moving the many misdemeanor and traffic cases my office prosecuted in his court." First Assistant District Attorney Marion Edwards and Bob Pitre, chief felony supervisor, said they always found Judge Molaison to be fair and honest. "He was very patient with me as a young prosecutor and he was a great teacher," said Henry Sullivan Jr., an assistant district attorney for 14 years. "He didn't always rule in my favor but when he ruled against me it was always for a very good reason. And afterward he would explain to me why." Because more than a year is left in Judge Molaison's term, the state Supreme Court will appoint an interim judge until the governor calls a special election. Judge Molaison, born and raised in Gretna, was a lifelong resident of the West Bank, living the past 33 years in Harvey. He graduated from Gretna High School, attended Louisiana State University and earned his bachelor's degree from Loyola University and his juris doctorate from Loyola School of Law. He served four years in the Air Force, volunteering for duty during the Korean War. He was president of the International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo in 1986 and was a founder and past chairman of the Annual Wild Game Dinner. Judge Molaison was a member of American Legion Post 64, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Jefferson, Louisiana and the American Bar Associations and the David Crockett Steam Volunteer Fire Company No. 1. He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane Barrios Molaison; two sons, John Jackson Molaison Jr. of Gretna and Jacques Louis Molaison of Atlanta; a sister, Gertrude Molaison Herbert of Gretna; a brother, Lawrence J. Molaison of Gretna; and one grandchild. A funeral will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Salem Lutheran Church, 418 Fourth St., Gretna. Burial will follow in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, 1225 Whitney Ave., Gretna. Visitation will be today from 6 to 10 p.m. and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mothe Funeral Home, 2100 West Bank Expressway, Harvey.