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March 30, 1937 ~ December 19, 2019

ABBEVILLE — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, January 3, 2020 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Abbeville, Louisiana, for Jimmy Vice, age 82, who passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, December 19, 2019, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Father Louis Richard, pastor of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, will officiate at the mass.
Jimmy was born in Meaux, Louisiana, on March 30, 1937, to Hilda and Johnny Vice, the fifth of eight children. He attended Meaux High School and graduated as a member of the class of 1955. The memories he spoke of most often from school were about basketball, his Meaux Tiger teammates, the agriculture classes and Coach Rupert. Although he lived in other communities, he said that Meaux felt like home. He was very grateful to be able to spend his last years there. After high school graduation, Jimmy was awarded a basketball scholarship to Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now ULL). He and his 1956-57 basketball teammates from SLI were recently honored at a ULL basketball game. It was a great day for reminiscing with old friends and a very proud night for him! Jimmy did not complete his education at SLI, but later returned to school at McNeese State University and got his Bachelor of Science, Masters and Specialist degrees.
Jimmy was very proud to be a Vermilion Parish educator. He was a social studies teacher and basketball coach at Erath High School, an assistant principal at North Vermilion High School and a principal at Indian Bayou Elementary School. He tried to be fair when it came to discipline, but firmly believed in “spare the rod, spoil the child”. The guy could swing a paddle!
Over the last few weeks and months, Jimmy was very lucky to be surrounded by his family, good friends and by the amazing sitters whose care allowed him to stay in his home. Rhonda, Kitty and Samantha added kind nursing, good cooking and fun conversation to his days and nights. They were a blessing to him and his family. The St. Joseph Hospice staff also were instrumental in keeping Jimmy comfortable and safe at home. Their compassion, spiritual guidance and medical care were wonderful.
Jimmy’s survivors include his daughters, Denise Nugent and husband Keith, and Jackie Abshire and husband Oscar; his sons, Martin Vice and his wife Cathy, and Jules Vice and his wife Cyndi; his daughter-in-law, Irma Vice; his grandchildren, Simone Nugent, Brittany Geist, Lane Andrews, Evan Andrews, Barrett Nugent, Olivia O’Sullivan, Kimberly Harkness, Trevor Vice, Bailey Vice, Gavin Vice, Sam Vice, John Vice, Laci Vice and Zoe Vallot; his great-grandchildren, Beckham O’Sullivan, Ellie Andrews, Rosie O’Sullivan, Jolie Harkness, Branson Poirier, Lillianna Vice, and Luke Vice; and his siblings, Hazel Trahan, Wiltz Vice, Fanny Broussard and Kenneth Vice.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Hilda and Johnny Vice, a son, Keith Vice, and his siblings, Eula Bourque, Hubert Vice and John Allen Vice.
The family will receive friends at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 300 Pere Megret St, Abbeville, at 10:00 am on January 3, 2020, and a rosary will be recited at 10:30 am.
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.

​On December 24, 2019, at approximately 6:30 p.m., officers with the Abbeville Police Department responded to a call of an Armed Robbery at Gamestop, located at 3001 Veteran’s Memorial Drive.
According to the Abbeville Police Department, an officer who happened to be working an off-duty detail in the area did not witness the robbery but was able to notice an individual running from the area immediately prior to officers getting the call of the robbery.
Patrol officers saturated the area with units, attempting to locate the suspect. Based on the description given by the off-duty officer, officers located a subject and detained him. The subject was in possession of a concealed handgun, which the subject stated was his, but he did not have a concealed carry permit.
​A subsequent investigation by both the patrol division and the detective division determined that the subject that was detained was indeed the suspect in the robbery. The detained subject, later identified as Shatravin Hamilton of Duson, was transported to the Abbeville Police Department.
Hamilton was subsequently charged with Armed Robbery with a Firearm and Illegal Carrying of Weapons. Hamilton was transported to the Vermilion Parish Correctional Center. Bond for the Armed Robbery with a Firearm has been set at $150,000 and the bond for Illegal Carrying of Weapons has been set at $5,000.
​Due to the ongoing nature of this investigation, the Abbeville Police Department is not releasing any further details regarding this incident at this time.
Chief of Police William Spearman would like to commend his officers for a job well done. Chief Spearman would also like to thank the citizens of Abbeville for their support and help they provide to the Abbeville Police Department.
​Chief Spearman would also like to remind all of the citizens that we are there, 24 hours a day, to serve you. We encourage all of our citizens to stay vigilant and contact us if you need. In addition to dialing 911, you can contact us at 893-2511. You may contact our “Tips” line at 892-6777. All callers may remain anonymous. Citizens may also send anonymous tips through the Tip411 system at the department’s Facebook page @ www.facebook.com/AbbevillePolice Department/, the official web page @ www.abbevillepd.com by clicking on the “Submit a Tip” link provided or through the official Abbeville Police Department app, which can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

May 23, 1956 ~ December 25, 2019

ABBEVILLE — Memorial services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, December 28, 2019 at Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, honoring the life of Debra Gautreau Blanchard, 63, who died Wednesday, December 25, 2019 at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center. She will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Deacon William “Billy” Vincent officiating the services.
Debra is survived by her sister, Rachel Breaux and her husband Brian of Maurice; three brothers, Clyde Louis Gautreau and his wife Roxanne of Houston, TX, William Joseph Gautreau and his wife June of Youngsville, and Tony James Gautreau and his wife Christine of Lafayette; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Nolan Joseph Blanchard; father, Joseph “J.C.” Gautreau; and mother, Shirley Viator Gautreau.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St. on Saturday, December 28, 2019 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.

ABBEVILLE — There is an understanding among members of the law enforcement family; the next shift may be their last.
Members of the Vermilion Parish law enforcement family and others gathered Friday morning at the Abbeville Police Department for the John “Dooley” Hardy Memorial, remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
The memorial is held each December by the Fraternal Order of Police John “Dooley” Hardy Memorial Lodge 48 to honor fallen officers from Vermilion Parish.
“I think memorial services like this are some of the most important things we can do,” Abbeville Chief of Police William Spearman said. “This is not only for the families and the fallen officers, but also for the community, that they never forget what these officers sacrificed so that the community can be safe.”
Officers from Vermilion Parish who gave their lives in the line of duty include John “Dooley” Hardy (Dec. 24, 1992), Todd Touchet (Jan. 8, 2000) of the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office, Rodney Trahan (April 6, 1969) of the Kaplan Police Department, Otto Bourque (Oct. 3, 1964) of the Erath Police Department, and Allen Bares Jr. (June 23, 2014) of the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry served as the keynote speaker Friday morning.
“Today, we honor and recognize those who have fallen amongst us,” Landry said. “That is the ultimate sacrifice that Dooley, Todd, Rodney, Otto and Allen made. While we still mourn their losses, we should be comforted that they did the Lord’s work. The Gospel of Matthew declares: blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.”
Peace can be a fragile thing when a member of law enforcement goes out on a call, Landry said.
“It’s important to recognize that there is an absolute thin blue line,” Landry said, “between those who stand to protect, and those who want to harm. Each and every day, law enforcement officers from federal to state to the local level, kiss their family members before they go out. They put on their uniforms and go about the business of ensuring public safety.
“The people we honor here today did exactly that. We honor and recognize the sacrifice they were willing to make.”
Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office Capt. Drew David, who read the End of Watch for each of the five fallen officers, said they remain an inspiration for each of their loved ones.
“We love them, and we miss them,” David said. “In our faith, we know that they still protect us. Our challenge is to live each day of our lives, wanting to see them again. They are in their heavenly rest. They are watching over us. It is up to us to live every day to see them again in that eternal glory.”