Jocelyn was a rambunctous child, not content to remain in the rotting plantation house her family calls home. She dreamt of seeing the world and being an actress, ambitions which didn't set well with the kindred matriarch of the clan. Concerned with the survival of the family as branches broke off to persue their own destiny, Marie-Thérèse was adamant that the three daughters of Gerard and Emeline would do her proud and propogate the line. To this end, she arranged for Jocelyn's rape by a vicious man of one of the divergent bloodlines whom she wanted to bring back into the fold. Satisfied that the young girl had conceived, she forced the marriage past her parents.
The effect of this on Lynn was mostly as desired, her rebellious streak was beaten out of her and her will was broken by the brutality of her constant abuse. As hoped, she began to produce children and quietly tended to them as she was told. Part of her, however, had not completely given up and her former passion warped into a more subtle desire. As the years went on, she squirmed her way out from under her husband's thumb, finding means to manipulate and control him, as well as deflect his lust by directing it at their daughters. As she grew more skilled at this, she began to branch out, seducing her father and using his increasing isolation from his wife to tie him more securely to her.
After the raid, her role in the household made her even more important and she used the increase in status to her advantage until such time as she arranged for the death of her long-hated husband at the hands of Gil and Gui, a favor she repayed happily despite her personal revulsion. The rest of the family might have taken issue had not Jocelyn made sure to continue producing progeny after the death of her husband by her father and whomeven else she could lure into her bed. With her newfound independance, she has found that she actually enjoys these dalliances and the power they give her. Shedding her husband's last name, she has reaffirmed her dedication to her own family and has come to be known as 'Mama Lynn' by the younger generations.
Jocelyn has been producing children for many more years than any normal woman could, but is even beginning to push the boundaries of her revenant anatomy. Most of the family is certain that her child bearing days are over and it has been almost a decade since she produced a child, which seems to support their theory. However, she remains an integral part of the family as the primary teacher and caretaker of the children. Moreover, she has come to realize that her extensive procreation assures her dominance in the family as the older members die off and are replaced by her brood. Already, this fact has been noted by the Matriarch, who is duly threatened and tends to act cooly towards Mama Lynn.
Much of Jocelyn's personality is a result of the extensive abuse she has suffered. Her use of sex to manipulate the men in her life and her enjoyment of it as a means of validation are very much tied to the circumstances of her marriage. The carefree child who dreamed of acting is gone, replaced with a dysfunctional manipulator whose ambitions are limited to the people and places which have imprisoned her. Still, at times, she nurses the fantasy of fleeing Lafayette, but a barely conscious awareness of just how deviant in the eyes of the outside world she is prevents her from pursuing it seriously.
Jocelyn's persona is, to be blunt, slutty. She has found no need to hide her sensuality among the twisted members of her family and so lacks any sort of shame or tact about it. Otherwise, she seems generally caring and attentive towards the children, though sometimes her attentions seem unwholesome to the outside observer (and often are). The rest of the family doesn't hold any of this against her, of course, and she commands a great deal of respect from them.
Jocelyn is perhaps closest to her father, just because she's spent the decades since she first seduced as his lover. In the years since Emeline's been chosen by the Matriarch, she has taken over the "wifely duties" her mother is no longer interested in and thus cemented herself further in her father's good graces. While their relationship may seem based on manipulation, there is genuine affection and loyalty there as well, or about as much as this family is capable of mustering.
Jocelyn was never very close to her mother, blaming her for letting the Matriach force her former husband on her. Thus, she harbors a bit of satisfaction at her current state, though she is terrified that, once Emeline is used up, that she will be the next to become the elder's mouthpiece. Gerard shares her concern, as does her uncle, Beranger, but so far, none of them has been able to come up with a means to avoid it. Her fantasies of flight generally surface when preoccupied with this fate.
She is respectful of Rodolphe but fears him quite a bit (though that hasn't stopped her from sleeping with him) due to his alien mindset. As for the Prejeans, she doesn't really pay them much mind. She dislikes Ida, Emma, and Raoul and is frightened by Jean-Michel and so tends to avoid that side of the family whenever possible. She's fond of her uncle Beranger in New Orleans and has slept with Sevis on occasion in order to get presents out of him from the city, but doesn't particularly like him.
When it comes to the Matriarch, Lynn is petrified. While she's more comfortable with her lapdogs than most of the rest of the family, the matron herself scares her. Not only for the reasons outlined above, but just the fact of her state and her age and the sheer unassailable domination of the family she represents. She is like a dark god whom Jocelyn can never escape, who knows what she is thinking and will never let her flee.