Louis Adam Nabors Jr.

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Louis Adam Nabors, Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1943 to
Lillian Conerly-Nabors and Louis Nabors, in Leesville.
The eldest of five children, Louis was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Karen and Martha.
Louis married Pearlie Profit, PhD, and to that union two sons, Louis
III and Jeffrey, were born. Both Pearlie and Louis III preceded Louis in death. After the death of his beloved Pearlie, God sent him another soul mate, Mara Lewis. He and Mara married and to this union one daughter, Lillian Isabella, was born.
Louis had his first experience as a soloist when his eighth grade teacher allowed him to sing a song to obtain extra credit in a mathematics class. Louis chose “White Christmas” and his class gave him a standing ovation, to his great surprise.

Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College admitted Louis on a trombone scholarship. However, it was Louis’ performance in an elective choir class that captured the attention of the music faculty and staff. The faculty
marveled at this accidentally discovered talent, and believed Louis was in his element as a singer. Mentors continued to encourage Louis’ interest in vocal performance as he completed the Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at Southern University,
and later the Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Prairie View University.
A revered colleague, teacher, and mentor to University of Louisiana at Monroe students, and many successful musicians throughout the state of Louisiana and
the world, Louis Nabors served as Voice Department Chairman, and was a member of the faculty of the University of Louisiana at Monroe Department of Music for nearly 40 years. His stellar performance career is highlighted by appearances at the Kennedy
Center, and with symphonies and opera companies throughout the United States and the world.
Louis sang with American companies in Arizona, Houston, Los Angeles, Fort Worth, Shreveport, and throughout Louisiana. He sang internationally
throughout Germany, Italy, the Philippines, and the Bahamas. Louis also appeared in musical theater productions nationally. He was honored to receive the 1990 College of Liberal Arts Performing Artist of the Year award, and additional honors and
recognition for outstanding community service. In 2005, Louis performed the role of Amonasro in Elton John’s Aida. In the summers of 2007 and 2010, he performed the role of Sarastro in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and in the summer of 2008, he sang the
role of Simone in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi. Louis sang both roles with the Amalfi Coast Music Festival in Italy, where he also served on the faculty.
Louis is one of the founding members of Spiritual Voices, and completed recital tours
throughout Germany in 2006 and 2009. Spiritual Voices will return to Germany in December 2013 to sing concerts in Hanover and Stuttgart in loving memory of Louis Nabors.
Louis Nabors, a beloved husband, father, friend, and colleague,
leaves to truly cherish his memory his wife, Mara; son, Jeffery; daughter, Lillian Isabella; grandchildren, Jaylah and Jeffrey Jr.; brothers, Isaac (Malinda) and Joseph (Patricia); a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, many dear friends,
and every student he taught, and mentored throughout his distinguished career as an artist/teacher.
Louis passed away in Salerno, Italy, where he was performing, on July 30, 2013.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on August
10, 2013, at Brown Auditorium on ULM Campus.