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October 13, 1940 ~ June 13, 2021

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Rachael Williams Morton, 80, who died Sunday, June 13, 2021 at Maison duMonde Living Center. She will be laid to rest at Graceland Cemetery with Rev. Tracy MacKenzie officiating the services. Pallbearers will be Preston Townley, Kaleb Townley, Kasey Townley, Daylan Hebert, Bayley Broussard, Kyle Hargrave and Jordan Sudberry.
Rachael spent most of her life living and working in Abbeville. She was a nearly 30-year Branch Office Administrator for Edward Jones. She loved working with and helping the people of Vermilion Parish achieve their goals. Rachael was also a lifetime and devoted member of the United Methodist Church of Abbeville. She enjoyed attending Sunday school, participating on various committees, volunteering for Vacation Bible School and, especially, singing in church.
Rachael was an introvert at heart, but her big laugh and strong personality made everyone feel welcome. She lovingly gained nicknames such as, Big Rach and The Pink Lady. Everyone in her life knew when Big Rach participated in events and gatherings in the community that they would eat well due to her love of cooking for her family, friends and her children’s friends. It was always a given that there was a meal already prepared.
Rachael will be missed by many – her family, church family and friends.
She is survived by her son, Gregory D. Townley, Jr. and his wife, Christine of Abbeville; three daughters, Robin T. Duhon of Dallas, TX, Deborah T. Rodrigue and her husband, Michael of Abbeville, and Melissa M. Williams and her husband, Wayne of Dallas, TX, four grandchildren, Preston Townley, Andre M. Hargrave and her husband, Kyle, Bayley Broussard, and Camille D. Sudberry and her husband, Jordan; eight great grandchildren, Christian Townley, Elizabeth Townley, Kaleb Townley, Kasey Townley, Daylan Hebert, Hazel Grace Hargrave, Brycyn Broussard and Bralyn Broussard; and one sister, Rebecca W. Landry and her husband, James of Abbeville.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Preston Morgan Williams and the former Maude Elizabeth Broussard; husband, D.D. Morton; two grandchildren, Jennifer Townley and Morgan Mouton; and one great grandson, Keb Townley.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 from 9:00 AM until time of services.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.

January 24, 1934 ~ June 13, 2021

GUEYDAN — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 AM on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church honoring the life of Edward Alcee Freeland, 87, who died Sunday, June 13, 2021 at his residence. He will be laid to rest at Gueydan Cemetery with Reverend Jason Vidrine officiating and Reverend Corey Campeaux concelebrating the services. Serving as pallbearers will be Patrick Freeland, Nathanial Hoffpauir, Samuel Hoffpauir, Hayden Dupuis, Scott Trahan and John Peter Hensgens. Honorary pallbearers will be Glenray Trahan, Doug Baudoin, David Dupuis, Todd Saltzman. Lectors will be his granddaughters, Anna-Marie Freelamd and Bailey Dupuis.
He was also known as Ed, Jr., E.A. Man and Poppa. His gentle heart, loving spirit, love of God and family showed in everything he did.
He attended Wright Elementary and graduated from Gueydan High in 1952. He was attending SLI when he was drafted into the United States Army. He was stationed in Alaska and was very proud of his time serving his country.
He came home and married his sweetheart, Joyce Trahan, in 1958. Together, in Wright, they farmed rice and soybeans, raised their family and became very involved in the farming community.
He received an outstanding Young Farmer award in 1967 and the Vermilion Parish Farm Bureau Lifetime Achievement award in 2017. He has served on many Agricultural committees, served as a board member for Vermilion Parish Farm Bureau, the Louisiana Rice Promotion Board and a member of Vermilion ASCS County Committee. He was a 3rd Degree and a Sir Knight 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Joyce Nell Trahan Freeland; his children, Cynthia "Boo" Freeland (Gretchen Erlingson), Gail Baudoin (Doug), Patrick Freeland (Andree) and Anita Dupuis (David); his 11 grandchildren; and his nine great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, David Edward Freeland and the former Annie Mae Savoie; and his sisters, Elizabeth Levy and Louise Khoury.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Gueydan, 311 Fourth St., on Monday, June 14, 2021 from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 7:00 PM; Tuesday, June 15, 2021 from 8:00 AM until the procession departs for the church at 11:15 AM.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Gueydan, (337) 536-6124 [Service Information 225-5276]. Condolences may be sent to the Freeland family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.

Claire Meyers of Maurice, Louisiana and Caleb Armstrong of Swartz, Louisiana were united in marriage on Saturday, June 5, 2021, at The Berry Barn in Amite, Louisiana. Officiating the 7:00 p.m. ceremony was Brother Grant Bamburg.
Claire is the daughter of Kevin and Monica Meyers of Maurice, Lousiana. She is the granddaughter of Lynwood and June Meyers of Abbeville, Louisiana and Larry and Rena Duhon of Abbeville, Louisiana.
A 2016 graduate of North Vermilion High School, Claire furthered her education and earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Finance and a minor in Interior Design.
Caleb is the son of Mark and Jenifer Armstrong of Swartz, Louisiana. He is the grandson of Mike and Phyllis Garvan of Swartz, Louisiana and Gary and Sheila Armstrong of Swartz, Louisiana.
A 2016 graduate of Ouachita High School in Monroe, Louisiana, Caleb furthered his education and earned his Masters in Business Administration.
Escorted by her father the bride wore a relaxed wedding dress featuring a plunging ,V-neckline and coordinating plunging side cutouts that added to the design of the sheer bodice. Floral beading throughout the bodice added a feminine touch, extending slightly onto the layered French tulle skirt. A coordinating V-back was the focal point of the back of the gown and was balanced out with a breathtaking train. The back of the sheer wedding dress featured a zip beneath its crystal buttons.
Taylor LaPorte and Katherine LeBlanc, sisters of the bride, served as Matron’s of Honor. Serving as Bridesmaids were Saygan Broussard, Somer Cooper, Megan Dejean, Ashley Rees, Sarah-Kate Reynolds and Bailey Landry. They wore a mix of classic, charmeuse silk or velvet straight gowns with a cowl neck, spaghetti straps and a side slit.
Serving as Best Men were Colby Armstrong, brother of the groom and Garrett Heath, friend of the groom. Serving as Groomsmen were Marco Ramos, Ethan Daily, Will Heath, Mitchell Campbell, Hunter Johnson and Nick Lee. Attending as Ushers were Mark LaPorte and Luke LeBlanc, brothers in law of the Bride.
Following the ceremony, a reception was held at The Berry Barn. Adorned with fresh flowers, the Bride’s cake featured multiple layers of chocolate chip cookies with fluffy vanilla cream filling on each layer. The groom’s table held a variety of chocolate chip cookies and chocolate chip doozies.
After a wedding trip to Breckenridge, CO, the couple plan to reside in Maurice, Louisiana.

As the nation honors the Stars and Stripes by observing Flag Day each June 14 it is following the fondest wish of a soldier from south Louisiana who had a special place in his heart for Old Glory.
Col. James A. Moss was one of the best-known military men in the nation when he came home to his native Lafayette in late 1923 to begin a campaign to make sure that the U.S. flag would always fly high and proud.
The son of Judge Anderson J. and Octavie Moss was nearing the end of a distinguished career. He won the Silver Star for gallantry in the Cuban campaign during the Spanish-American War and commanded a regiment in France during World War I.
He may have been best known within the military as the author of the Manual of Military Training, the military bible that was used to train U.S. officers during World War I and for many years after, as well as for a number of other military textbooks. He was also credited with originating a standardized system of army correspondence and with designing a simplified payroll system.
But the thing that made him known outside the ranks was his love for the flag.
On Dec. 19, 1923, he made Lafayette the first stop in what he said would be a “nationwide campaign of education in rendering proper reverence to the colors and to bring about a more general knowledge of the National Anthem.”
He began the campaign at an assembly at Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now UL) and spoke later in the day to the general public at the Jefferson Theater downtown.
“The flag has a peculiar significance for those who have followed it upon the battlefield,” he said. “It is more than the colors – it portrays the history of America and it should at all times be paid the proper reverence and respect due from everyone in this great country.
“The 13 stripes of the flag stand for more than just the fact that they represent the 13 original colonies. They recall the wars and the privations and the battles through which Americans have gone to establish and preserve the nation. The 13 stripes will never change – they will continue as an emblem commemorating the greatness of our country and the steps which have brought about its greatness.
“The stars in the flag represent the states, but that is only the beginning,” he said. The stars, he said, “each tell of a state won from the wilderness – a story of suffering and struggle that these states might come into being.
“The red in the flag portrays courage – the courage of men who have gone into battle, the courage of men and women, pioneers who made their way across the country laying the foundation for later development of the nation.”
He said the white in the flag stands for liberty and the blue for loyalty, and that the whole flag “typifies a land of freedom, a land of the square deal, a good land to live in. It has a special message for each of us, and an appeal to pay this flag the proper reverence and respect.”
He offered a simple rule to follow giving the flag the respect it is due.
“There are many people who wish to pay this flag the proper reverence and respect, but who are not fully informed as to the proper methods,” he said. “Just remember this: Treat the flag as you would your mother’s picture.”
A collection of Jim Bradshaw’s columns, Cajuns and Other Characters, is now available from Pelican Publishing. You can contact him at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.