Nell Louise Britner Poselle has been named the 2024 inductee to the prestigious Sabine Hall of Fame.
She entered this world on June 28, 1934, at the residence of her parents, Tim and Irene Ponselle in the Cedar Grove section of Shreveport. She was the youngest of four girls and later another sister was born, Jean, now Rains, who is a long-time resident of Sabine Parish.
Nell was educated in the public school system of Caddo Paish and graduated from Byrd High School in 1951 with honors, including being a member of the National Honor Society. After graduation on a Thursday night, she went to her first clerical job the next Monday morning and she says she thinks she has never stopped working.
Nell was employed for many years in secretarial jobs in Shreveport including being a legal secretary for various law firms. She was voted the Legal Secretary of the year in Shreveport and named the Legal Secretary of the Year or the State of Louisiana that same year.
Along with her family, they owned and operated Britner’s Grocery on North Lakeshore Drive in Shreveport; owned and operated Drive Inn Landing (a boat camp) on Caddo Lake in Mooringsport; and owned and operated Pendleton Habor Lodge & Marina and the Harbor Yacht Club on Toledo Bend.
The family moved to the Many area in 1980 an Nell went to work for Peoples State Bank as secretary to J. J. Blake and later as Manager and Loan Officer at their branch in Zwolle. She continued to work at the bank when it merged with MidSouth Bank after its closure as executive secretary to Pete Abington. She presently continues in that position. Nell is also a licensed real estate agent with Lewis McBryde and Associates.
She has been involved in many civic and social activities in Sabine Paish including: --Many Rotary Club, Past President and now Honorary Member, involved in many projects throughout the years; --Board of Directors of Sabine Council on Aging and on the Advisory Board of the Council; --Board of Directors of the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission; --Served on the Sabine Planning Commission and Many Variance Zone Commission;
--Board of Directors of Sabine Chamber of Commerce, including one year as president; --Founding Board Member of the Taylor House; --Founding Board Member of the Sabine Hall of Fame; --Steering Committee of the March of Dimes and Easter Seal Projects; --Named Oldest Worker of the Year by the Council on Aging; --Grand Marshal of the Christmas Parade; --Along with her husband, Bob, was on the Sabine Paish Mardi Gras Crew two years; and --Assisted Pete Abington with the Many High School Alumni Association, including doing a newsletter for the group. Also assisted Pete Abington with the Happy Bunch, the Vultures, and the Many Tiger Club.
After joining the staff of Peoples State Bank under the direction of J. J. Blake, she initiated and carried out a travel program known as “Travelin’ Friends’’ and for over twenty years planned and escorted groups on adventures through the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, China, Central America, and South America and on many cruises.
Nell met and married Robert “Bob” Britner in 1953 and her family life has always been eventful. After marriage to Bob, they had eight children, including Steve, married to Amanda; David, married to Karen; Jule: Amy, married to Larry Nixon; Bobby, married to Tonya; Lois; Mandy; and Greg (who died from ALS). There are now thirteen grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren with another about to be born, and one great-greatgrandchild. Bob passed away in 2018 after 65 years of marriage.
Although she is still employed by Pete Abington, says she does have her own hobbies. She loves to work crossword puzzles, loves to read novels, enjoys trips to the casino and enjoys coloring the books especially designed for adults. She attends St. John the Baptist church in Many and she says the people in the congregation are like family.
Nell stated that living in Many has created lasting happy memories. Not just for her, but or others while owner and operation of the Harbor Yacht Club, while serving as Marketing Director for Peoples State Bank and while seven as planner/ escort of the many people who made the tips with her the “Travelin’ Friends” throughout the years.
She further stated she was “greatly honored” to be selected as the recipient of the Hall of Fame Award.