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ERATH — Last Saturday’s special election in Erath yielded a historical result.
After more than 120 years, Clarence Fusilier will become the first African American to serve on the Erath council. Fusilier defeated Chris Hebert to earn the spot.
“It means a lot to me,” Fusilier said of breaking the barrier. “I am proud of that fact.”
The moment didn’t come without a little bit of stress. Fusilier won by 11 votes.
“I was sweating a little bit,” Fusilier said with a laugh.
Erath’s next regular council meeting is Monday, April 12. Fusilier said he will be sworn in at some point prior to that meeting. He will be ready to hit the ground running.
“I did a lot of walking for this election,” Fusilier said of his time campaigning. “I went house to house. I heard the issues people have with different things.
“I have to see what we can do.”
Fusilier said he used the word “we” because he is also ready to work with Mayor Taylor Mencacci and the other council members.
“It’s not just about me,” Fusilier said. “It’s about the working relationship with the mayor the rest of the council. Things will not happen all at once.
“This will be a process.”
Fusilier said that there were a couple of issues brought to his attention on the campaign trail that will have his focus early on.
“I heard from a lot of people about their light bills,” Fusilier said. “They think it’s a little higher than expected.”
Fusilier also mentioned working on fixing the issue of flooding at the Erath Housing Authority. That topic came up last month, with the council taking Mencacci’s recommendation to not yet accept a $2.2 million grant from FEMA that would go toward lifting 13 homes. Mencacci said he is waiting on HUD to approve the use of $40,000 that the Erath Housing Authority would contribute to the elevating of the 13 homes. He wanted to make sure HUD will let the housing authority use the $40,000 to lift the houses. Fusilier said finding a resolution to this flooding issue has personal meaning for him.
“I will bring that up,” Fusilier said. “I think that is important. I used to live in there a long time ago, in 1973. It used to flood when I was in there.
“I’ve seen first-hand.”
This is not the first time Fusilier has run for a seat on the five-person council.
“I ran in 2014,” Fusilier said. “There were seven of us running. I didn’t come out in the top five.”
Not deterred, Fusilier did seek some advice before running in this particular election.
“I prayed on it,” Fusilier said. “I said, ‘Lord, I’m going to run one more time.’
“He sure did answer my prayers.”
Fusilier will now serve the remainder of the late Robert B. Vincent’s unexpired term, which ends in late ‘22. Vincent passed away last October. The council then appointed his mother, Jackie Vincent, to serve on an interim basis. She did so until earlier this month. Fusilier, who works as a foreman for the Vermilion Parish Police Jury, said it is special to follow both Vincents.
“I appreciate Mrs. Jackie, and I became close to Robert,” Fusilier said. “We did Knights of Columbus together.
“It is an honor to be able to serve in a spot that he held.”
For Jackie Vincent, the feeling is mutual.
“Today I passed the torch of Robert’s term on the council to Mr. Clarence Fusilier,” Vincent said in a post on social media. “Mr. Fusilier won his election this past Saturday. My son, Robert B. Vincent, was an attorney, councilman, and local historian. He was a strong believer in equality and diversity. He would be thrilled that the first black man in the history of ERATH will take his place. It took 122 years to break that barrier. It was time.
“Good luck, Mr. Fusilier. I’m so proud that you are filling my son’s shoes.”
Circling back to the historical aspect of his win, Fusilier reiterated that it is a proud moment. With that said, he is ready to help everyone in the Town of Erath.
“It means a lot to me to be the first,” Fusilier said. “It’s uplifting. We have waited for so long, and I guess it was just that time. My heart is in this, and it is in my heart to help people.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to do that.”

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, March 29, 2021, in St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Maurice for John Roy Broussard, 78, who passed away on March 24, 2021.
Reverend Paul Bienvenu, Pastor of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, will serve as Celebrant of the Mass and will conduct the funeral services.
Burial will take place in the St. Alphonsus Mausoleum.
John, a resident of Maurice, was the son of the late Gerard Broussard and the former Elina Broussard.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Beulah Marks Broussard; one son, Michael J. Broussard and his wife, Colinda; two grandchildren, Mikiya Broussard and Chance Cantrelle.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Wilbert J. Broussard, Ida Belle Champagne, and Lurtha Broussard.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home of Maurice on Sunday, March 28, 2021, from 10:00 AM until 8:00 PM. A Rosary will be recited at 6:30 PM on Sunday in the funeral home. Visiting hours will resume on Monday, March 29, 2021, from 8:00 AM until the time of service.
Personal condolences may be sent to the Broussard Family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com.
Delhomme Funeral Home, 200 Chief H. Fred Road, Maurice, LA, is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Funeral services will be held on March 27, 2021, at a 1:00 PM Mass of Christian Burial in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette, Louisiana, for Joseph Charles Giglio, Sr., 91, who passed from this life to the next on March 23, 2021, surrounded by those he loved and who loved him, including especially his wife of 69 years, Loretta Baum Giglio.
For family members and friends who are unable to attend on Saturday, at 1:00 P.M., the service will be live-streamed to a Memorial Facebook Group dedicated to Joseph C. Giglio, Sr.. To join the group, click the link below and then "join group". The video will appear on this group at service time 1:00 P.M. You may also share memories, pictures and condolences to the family in this group.
Facebook link: www.facebook.com/groups/josephgiglio/
After serving in the U. S. Army, Joe studied Animal Husbandry at Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in 1951. Thereafter, Joe enjoyed a 55-year career in the medical field for Charles Pfizer and Company. For many years Joe worked as a professional sales representative, and eventually, after retirement from full-time work, he continued representing Pfizer as a senior ambassador, traveling to many states, three times to Canada and twice to France. He received many awards and honors over his long career with Pfizer. He was an active parishioner and supporter of Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist for over 64 years. The first love of his life was Loretta Baum, devoted wife and mother of his children. But, no story of Joe’s life would be complete without mentioning his second love, the farms in Pointe Coupee, where he raised cattle, grew vegetables and potatoes, and later with tenant farmers, soybeans, wheat, corn, and sugarcane.
Joe, or as some called him, “J. C.” was born in Batchelor, Louisiana, on August 16, 1929. He was preceded in death by his parents, Philip and Nancy Giglio, a sister, Adele Giglio Robillard, of Morganza, Louisiana, and a brother Dominic Giglio of Baton Rouge. He is survived by two sisters, Shirley Soprano of Torbert, Louisiana, and Rose Bryan of Dallas, Texas.
Joe and Loretta had three children, all of whom survive him: Joseph C. Giglio, Jr., married to Deborah Dupuy Giglio; Loretta Ann Giglio, married to Bryan Neal Dronet, Sr.; and Marie Elizabeth Giglio, married to Glen Olivier Raggio, Sr.
Joe was especially proud of his ten grandchildren and twenty-two great-grandchildren who survived him: Joseph C. Giglio, III, married to Margaret “Peggy” Perry Giglio, and their children, Joseph C. “Charlie” Giglio, IV and Kellen Margaret Giglio; Kathryn Giglio, married to Lance Strother, and their children, Madeline Grace “Maddy” Strother, Landon Grady Strother, and Gracie Elizabeth Strother; Lori Giglio, married to Shawn Carter, and their children Isabel Carmen “Izzy” Carter and Callie Elizabeth Carter; David Giglio, married to Brooke Latiolais Giglio, and their children, Caroline Ella Giglio, Owen Thomas Giglio, Andrew David Giglio, and Elizabeth Kate Giglio; Linda Giglio, married to Derek Foreman, and their children, Gabriel Joseph Foreman, Clare Catherine Foreman, Anna Grace Foreman, and Luke Michael Foreman; Renée Dronet, married to Seth Rounsaville, and their children, Ty Rounsaville and Chloe Rounsaville; Bryan Neal Dronet, Jr., married to Annie Pecue Dronet, and their son, Christian Dronet; and Alyson Dronet and her son Thomas Dronet; Glen Olivier Raggio, Jr., married to Mindy Raggio, and their children Hope Lavonne Raggio and Ava Grace Raggio; and James Raggio, married to Kaysha Cormier Raggio, and their son Jackson Paul Raggio.
The family requests that visitation be observed in Martin & Castille's DOWNTOWN location on Friday, March 26, 2021, from 1:00 PM until 9:00 PM. A Rosary will be prayed at 6:00 PM. Visitation will continue at Martin & Castille’s DOWNTOWN location on Saturday, March 27, 2021, at 10:00 AM until the time of the Funeral Mass at 1:00 PM at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Entombment will follow in St. John Cathedral Cemetery Mausoleum.
Pallbearers will be Joseph Giglio, III, David Giglio, Neal Dronet, Glen Raggio, Jr, James Raggio, Brett Robillard, Paul Billings, and Gino Soprano. Honorary pallbearers are Rodney Robillard, Jr., Herb Billings, Chad Soprano, Terry Horne, Frank Compagno, Lee Johnson, Tom Worth, Don Webb, Kenny Self, Amy Self, Carl Marler, Jude Bourque, and the many in the medical field with whom Joe worked, from the President and CEO of Pfizer to the doctors and their staffs numbering in the hundreds, whom he met and worked with as he traveled through the territories that he worked.
The family is extremely grateful for the service of Joe’s caregivers, Becky Senegal, Paulette Scott, Tanya Broussard, Abby Thomas, Helen Cormier, and Elmo Breaux, and of Hospice of Acadiana, especially Nurse Karen Nelson, the many Hospice volunteers, and Kent Zeringue and all of his volunteers with Hospice’s Food with Love Ministry.
Memorial contributions can be made in Mr. Giglio’s name to the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 515 Cathedral Street, Lafayette, LA 70501; the Holy Family / Teurlings Scholarship Fund, 200 St. John Street, Lafayette, LA 70501; or to Hospice of Acadiana Food With Love Ministry, 2600 Johnston Street, Lafayette, LA 70503.
View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com
Martin & Castille-DOWNTOWN-330 St. Landry St., Lafayette, LA 70506, 337-234-2311.

PINEVILLE, La. – March 23, 2021 – Today, Cleco made a $20,000 donation to South Louisiana Community College (SLCC) to establish an endowed scholarship for the college’s Power Lineman and Electrical programs.
The Cleco endowed scholarship will be used to recruit, retain and train students enrolled in these training programs. In 2018, Cleco contributed $50,000 to SLCC to help establish the Power Lineman program which recently celebrated the graduation of its fourth class.
“This additional funding is part of our commitment to not only invest in the communities we serve but to help sustain workforce training programs for future generations,” said Bill Fontenot, president and CEO of Cleco Corporate Holdings. “Endowed scholarships differ from traditional scholarships because the money donated is never actually spent. Rather, the money is invested, and the investment income is used to fund scholarships which provide more permanent support.”
“The generosity of partners like Cleco help us train the workforce and meet workforce needs across Acadiana and Louisiana," said Dr. Jermaine Ford, SLCC’s vice president of Economic and Workforce Development at SLCC. "Our Power Lineman program puts technicians right to work after graduation, and we are grateful for our partners like Cleco who make this possible."
“The Louisiana Board of Regents provides a competitive 100 percent match on private scholarship donations, so the total endowed scholarship will be $40,000 which means SLCC will be able to award scholarships for years to come thanks to this donation from Cleco,” said Lana Fontenot, SLCC’s vice chancellor of Institutional Advancement.
When awarding scholarships, priority will be given to females and minorities due to their low enrollment in energy education programs.
Cleco Corporate Holdings LLC is a regional energy holding company that conducts its business operations through its subsidiaries, Cleco Power LLC and Cleco Cajun LLC. Cleco Power is a regulated electric public utility company that owns 10 generating units with a rated capacity of 3,360 MWs and serves approximately 290,000 customers in Louisiana through its retail business and supplies wholesale power in Louisiana and Mississippi. Cleco Cajun is an unregulated utility company that owns 14 generating units with a rated capacity of 3,379 MWs, and wholesale contracts serving nine Louisiana cooperatives, three wholesale municipal customers and one electric utility. For more information about Cleco, visit us at www.cleco.com.