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Adley Marie LeBlanc Renard, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend passed away on Monday, October 30, 2023 at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. She was born on December 13, 1954 in Erath, LA to the late Edwin and Olite Gerard LeBlanc.
Adley lived a life of joy, love and happiness. She enjoyed spending her time in the morning visiting her friends and loved ones, playing Bingo regularly in the early evenings and ending her days with the love of her life, her husband “Red.” She also enjoyed Pokeno, fishing and shrimping, but her most joyous times were spent with her family. Adley always had a smile on her face and was often the cause of the laughter. Her joyous spirit was contagious and she always made everyone feel loved.
Those left to cherish her memory are her loving husband, Lanny “Red” Renard; son, Daniel Bourque, Jr.; daughter in law, Marcia Daigle; step son, Anthony Hackney; God Daughter, Alicia Derouen; brothers, Mickel LeBlanc (Linda), Marty LeBlanc (Nena); Marcus LeBlanc (Franchell); Shane LeBlanc (Natasha); step sister, Belinda Bergeron; sister in law, Cindy Gannet (Tom); brother in laws, Brian Pitre and Ray Boy Bourque; grandchildren, Daniel Bourque, III; Deacon Bourque, Urijah Bourque, Harmony Daigle, Sofia Daigle and Madelyn Daigle and numerous nieces and nephews.
Along with her parents she is preceded in death by her sisters, Sandra Pitre and Darlene Bourque, beloved nephews, Damon Bourque and Brody Bourque, Brother in law, Kelly Renard; Sister in law, Bonnie Renard and her grandson, Malcolm Daigle.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, November 3, 2023 at 2 p.m. at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church with Fr. Buddy Breaux officiating. Interment will follow at the church cemetery.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed on Thursday from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Evangeline Funeral Home in Delcambre. A Rosary will be prayed at 6 p.m. The funeral home will reopen at 8 a.m. on Friday until 1:30 p.m.
Honored to serve as pallbearers are Shane LeBlanc, Marcus LeBlanc, Mickel LeBlanc, Marty LeBlanc, Toby Mergist and Leroy Lassell, Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be Lanny Renard, Daniel Bourque, Tristan Daigle, Daniel Bourque III, Deacon Bourque, Urijah Bourque and John Anthony Hackney.
Family and friends are encouraged to share their memories and condolences with the family by visiting Adley’s memorial page at www.evangelinedelcambre.com.
Evangeline Funeral Home of Delcambre is in charge of arrangements.

It’s not often that someone can boast about having two uncles who played in the NFL, but Abbeville High senior starting cornerback Tahj Judge can do just that.
Tahj was born and raised in Abbeville, and his mother, Shameria Judge, is also an Abbeville High graduate.
Tahj’s uncles are Kaplan Pirate football stars Joe Judge, who is also a member of the McNeese Football Hall of Fame, and Donald Richard who also played at USL and in the NFL in the 1990s.
Tahj’s father, Blandon Richard, hails from Kaplan and is Donald Richard’s brother.
Donald Richard played with the Baltimore Ravens while Joe Judge played for the Tennessee Titans.
Tahj keeps in touch with both of his uncles and speaks to Joe almost daily.
Tahj acknowledges Joe’s football prowess at Kaplan and McNeese, and considers him to be a standout player.
Tahj said Donald Richard tried to convince him to move to Kaplan to become a Pirate.
“I could not. I was born a Wildcat,” said Tahj.
Joe Judge, who lives in Sulphur and teaches at Sulphur High School, is expected to be at Friday’s game.
“I kept in touch with Tahj and wanted to make sure he did the right thing,” said Joe. “Tahj is an outstanding athlete and a two-way player. He comes from a pretty good gene pool.”
Joe Judge and his family are also expected to attend the Kaplan versus Abbeville game. When asked who he would support, he answered with “family.”
Tahj is well aware of the significance of Friday’s game.
The team that wins the game is declared the outright District 5-3A champion. It’s been 27 years since the Wildcats have played for an outright football district championship.
The last time they had the opportunity was in 1997, when both Kaplan High School and Abbeville High School had a 3-0 record in the district. Abbeville won the district title and the Peter Russo Trophy with a close overtime victory over Kaplan.
Tahj, a three-year starter, expressed his desire to win the district title, which is a big deal at Abbeville High, especially since it has been so long.
Tahj has played a key role in all three victories against Kaplan, having started as a quarterback for two years before becoming a starting cornerback on defense, with occasional appearances as a quarterback.
He has 25 solo tackles, 13 assists and three interceptions to his name.
Roderick Moy, the head coach of Abbeville High, has observed Tahj’s growth and development in the last three years.
Moy said that he has never seen a student mature so much over such a short period of time.
Moy said that when Tahj was a freshman, some people doubted his potential.
The coach also mentioned that Tahj’s decision to stick with the sport and believe in what they have taught him has made a significant difference in his progress.
“He has stuck with it and believed what we have told him,” said Moy.
Tahj’s success can also be attributed to the guidance and support of his two uncles who have played football at various levels, including high school, college, and the NFL.
“They have helped Tahj stay on the right path and overcome difficulties in both life and football,” Moy said.
Moy emphasized that “having someone to rely on when things aren’t going as planned is a significant advantage for Tahj. When Tahj gets upset with his coaches, he has someone he can contact to keep him motivated and focused.”
Moy said that having two uncles who have played football at the highest level is a privilege that not everyone has, and Tahj is fortunate to have them as a support system.
“Not everyone has that to go home to,” said Moy.

Members of Keep Abbeville Beautiful and the Abbeville Garden Club ask you to join in applauding these remarkable individuals and businesses who have gone above and beyond in taking exceptional care of their properties, creating a sense of pride in the community. Their commitment to maintaining beautiful spaces has contributed to the overall charm and appeal of our town.

Individual Category

Members are delighted to honor the James A. Herod Home, located at 601 E. St. Victor. The Nehemiah Projects of Acadiana has lovingly tended to this historic property, adorning it with beautifully landscaped gardens, vibrant blooms, and impeccably preserved exteriors. Their efforts have not only enhanced the visual charm of the community but have also ignited a shared passion for preserving our town's unique character.

Business Category

In this category, KAB is delighted to present the award to Center Stage Dance Academy located at 2617 Charity Street. Their dedication to creating a space that not only fosters artistic expression but also radiates beauty and care for our town is truly commendable. The well-maintained exteriors and inviting atmosphere at Center Stage Dance have set a remarkable example for all businesses to follow. Kudos to Center Stage Dance for their outstanding commitment to our community!
Let's celebrate this remarkable achievement by sharing this post and spreading the word about the incredible Center Stage Dance. “Together, we can unite as a community, inspired by their example, and build a stronger, more beautiful Abbeville that we can all take immense pride in,” KAB said.

So they threw a party, and nobody came. That’s what happened in Louisiana’s recent gubernatorial election. The turnout of voters going to the polls was a pathetic 35%. But remember that only 50% of Louisiana citizens are actually registered. What that means is that there was a turnout of only 18 % of voters who are actually qualified to vote. So 18% of voters took the time to go to the polls and pick those officials who will lead the state in the coming four years.
When all was said and done, 82% of those who could vote did not care just who would make the policies that govern their daily lives. They didn’t care who would decide if almost 200,000 Louisianans stay qualified for basic healthcare through Medicaid. They didn’t care how their kids will be educated and whether school choice will be the new norm. They didn’t care about which candidates actually had specific plans for dealing with the increasing problem of crime where several cities in the Bayou State are listed as the most dangerous in the U.S. They didn’t care about the growing problem of fentanyl use that is killing thousands of Louisianans every year. They didn’t care about the outrageous insurance rates they continue to pay every year.
I could go on and on, but you get my drift. Elected officials in Louisiana are only as good or as bad as the people who put them in office. And a vast majority of voters in the state said, “I don’t care.”
The Democratic Party in the Bayou state is on life support. There is not a major elected official who carries the Democratic label. Turnout in Democratic strongholds like New Orleans was abysmal. In the Crescent City, only 27% of registered voters went to the polls, the lowest turnout in the state. Virtually none of the democratic officials in New Orleans endorsed and helped other Democrats who were on the ballot. In days of old, Democratic voters in the greater New Orleans area had a major “get out the vote” effort, with a door knocking plan encouraging people to go, and volunteers lined up to drive people to the polls. Those days are long gone.
Statewide, the Democrats did not have candidates in 44 different legislative races. That means Republicans ran unopposed by any Democrat in almost half of all legislative challenges. The state republican party spent $1.2 million while the Democrat party spent a paltry $28,000 in the month before the election.
The heyday of the Democratic Party was during the 1990’s when more moderate and even conservative candidates ran under this party’s label. Statewide officials like Gov. Edwin Edwards, Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odem and Attorney General Richard Ieyoub traveled the state recruiting candidates for local offices, and raising campaign dollars for the Democratic coffers. Wealthy businessmen like Buddy Leach and Jim Bernhard headed up the Democratic drive and invested dollars and effort to build the party throughout the state. But those days are long gone also.
Whether you like the new governor Jeff Landry or not, one has to admit that he ran a first-rate campaign. He had a solid base of being Attorney General that kept him in the news headlines, and gave him entry to many early contributors. A contributor could hedge his bet by donating to Landry for his attorney general campaign fund. Landry could then, under existing law, use funds for either reelection or any other office he might choose, like Governor. He began campaigning for the state’s top office shortly after being reelected as Attorney General four years ago. By the time other candidates considered a possible run, Landry had the race already locked up. A Trump endorsement was lagniappe and was a bit of a help, but Landry was so far ahead by then that it really made little difference.
Three run offs on the ballot set for November 18th. In races for Secretary of State, Attorney General and Treasurer, it’s a Republican vs a Democrat. Look for a clean sweep by Republicans. Electing democrats, at least for the time being, is a thing of the past.

Peace and Justice
Jim Brown

Jim Brown’s syndicated column appears each week in numerous newspapers throughout the nation and on websites worldwide. You can read all his past columns and see continuing updates at http://www.jimbrownla.com. You can also listen to his regular podcast at www.datelinelouisiana.com.