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Joseph V.J. Conner

Fri, 07/28/2023 - 10:50am

January 3, 1931 ~ July 23, 2023

ABBEVILLE — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church honoring the life of Joseph V.J. Conner, 92, who died Sunday, July 23, 2023 in Shreveport, LA. He will be laid to rest at Saint Mary Magdalen Cemetery with Reverend Daniel Picard officiating the services.
Joseph V.J. Conner was born January 3, 1931 in Abbeville, LA, to Gladu and Lillie Dubois Conner.
V.J. worked a few jobs before landing one at a service station before moving to Shreveport. He loved playing French songs on the harmonica and he loved to dance, which is where he met his wife on Christmas Eve in 1950 at the local dance hall. They were married on June 12, 1954 and while living in Abbeville, were blessed with two children. After 10 years they moved to Shreveport where they had their third child. V.J. went to work for Beard Pollan Chain Saw as a machinist and held a part-time job at a service station. He was such a trusting individual, the boss let him run the station by himself.
When they shut Beard Pollan down 18 years later, he went to work for Caddo Parish, spraying mosquitos. He worked there for another eleven years until he retired at 65. After retiring he learned to wood carve and became so good at it, he won several awards. V.J. was very proud of his hobbies.
V.J. loved to work in the garden and he loved to tend to his red roses. He loved his grandchildren. To him, having grandchildren meant hours of letting the girls fix his hair by placing rollers in his hair.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 69 years, Betty Rost Conner; son Kelly Brent Conner (Daphne); granddaughters, Raechelle Halloran (Kayne), and Madalyn Dufour (Levi); grandson, Zachary Conner; brother, Dalton Conner (Elnora) of Shreveport; sisters, Delores Harrington and Pearl Broussard; sister-in-law, Pat Conner of New Zealand; and three great grandchildren.
V.J. is preceded in death by his parents, Gladu and Lillie Dubois Conner; daughter, Sharon Raye; son; David Bryan; and brother, Golden Conner.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Monday, July 31, 2023 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. with a rosary being prayed at 6 p.m.; Tuesday, August 1, 2023 from 9:00 AM until 10:45 AM when the procession will depart for the church.
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.

Jim Bradshaw

Blackbeard and Bayou Teche

Thu, 07/27/2023 - 10:32am

Jim Bradshaw, LSN columnist

If you read enough stuff that was written a good while ago, you will eventually run across the claim that Bayou Teche was named for Edward Teach, the infamous pirate better known as Blackbeard. I most recently came across it in an 1868 piece in the New Orleans Crescent describing the discovery of salt at Avery Island, which was then called Petite Anse Island, for its little wooded coves.
The unidentified writer claims that the island “was inhabited at an early period in the history of Louisiana … when Teach (or Black Beard, as he was called), the celebrated pirate traded up Bayou Teche (which was named after him}. … It was well known and inhabited by quite a number of persons — fishermen, smugglers, and pirates.”
A version of that story had appeared in the Opelousas Courier in 1859, claiming that “the noted pirate … is said to have had a rendezvous on Berwick’s Bay.”
I wouldn’t wager the ranch on the truth of either of those stories.
To begin with, it is unlikely that Blackbeard ever heard of Bayou Teche, let alone traded on it. He was notorious in the West Indies and lower Atlantic Coast, not the Gulf of Mexico. Second, he was killed in North Carolina in 1718, which was about 50 years before the Acadians began to settle around St. Martinville (1765). There would have been precious few people to trade with.
The historian George R. Stewart, who was a founding member of the American Name Society and authored books such as Names on the Land: A Historical Account of Place-Naming in the United States (1945), theorized that “Teche” is, “probably a French rendering of Deutsch, the name by which the German colonists of the area would have named their stream.”
The problem I have with that is that the Germans who came earliest to Louisiana lived on the Mississippi River (mostly at or near Des Allemands), and didn’t come in any large numbers to the Teche country early enough to give it a name.
Local historian Shane Bernard agrees with that assessment in his history of the bayou (Teche: A History of Louisiana’s Most Famous Bayou, University Press of Mississippi, 2016). “The numbers of Germans living on the Teche was always negligible,” he points out. He does note that an early name for the Teche community of Patterson was Dutch Settlement, but that “Patterson’s Dutch founders did not arrive on the bayou until the early 1800s, after the waterway’s name had been firmly established.”
I like the hypothesis that Teche comes from “tenche”, a Chitimacha word meaning “snake.” The Chitimacha legend that is still told goes like this:
“Many years ago, in the days of the Tribe’s strength, there was a huge and venomous snake. This snake was so large, and so long, that its size was not measured in feet, but in miles. This enormous snake had been an enemy of the Chitimacha for many years, because of its destruction to many of their ways of life. One day, the Chitimacha chief called together his warriors, and had them prepare themselves for a battle with their enemy. In those days, there were no guns that could be used to kill this snake. All they had were clubs and bows and arrows, with arrowheads made of large bones from the garfish.
“Of course, a snake over ten miles long could not be instantly killed. The warriors fought courageously to kill the enemy, but the snake fought just as hard to survive. As the beast turned and twisted in the last few days of a slow death, it broadened, curved and deepened the place wherein his huge body lay. The Bayou Teche is proof of the exact position into which this enemy placed himself when overcome by the Chitimacha warriors.”
Bernard has a problem with that because the Chitimacha words for “snake bayou” do not sound like “Teche.” He has two alternate theories about the origin of the name, both of which he admits “should be viewed with skepticism” because neither can be proven.
He suggests that the name may have indeed come from the Chitimacha, but not for its word for snake. He says the word for “another wiggling creature,” the worm, is “cheesh,” which sounds more like Teche.
His other theory is that the name comes from the Caddo Indian word for “friend,” as interpreted by Spanish missionaries who came into the area from Texas.
I still like the snake story. I don’t think that many missionaries came from Texas to the Teche country, and I doubt that any tale (and the resulting bayou name) would be kept alive for generation after generation if it was about a lowly worm, even if it was a really big one.
But I also agree with Bernard’s conclusion that there is no definite and fully convincing record, and that “barring discovery of a ‘smoking gun’ document, we may never know the actual origin of the word Teche.”
That’s true, but I am willing to bet that if such a document is ever found it will have nothing to do with Blackbeard.
You can contact Jim Bradshaw at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

Carrie Broussard Suire

Thu, 07/27/2023 - 10:13am

September 9, 1926 ~ July 25, 2023

COW ISLAND — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, July 28, 2023 at St. Anne Catholic Church honoring the life of Carrie Broussard Suire, 96, who died Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at Maison duMonde Living Center. She will be laid to rest at St. Anne Cemetery with Rev. Stephen Ugwu officiating the services.
She is survived by her two sons, Roland Suire and Bradley Suire; two daughters, Nell Hebert and Ruby Dugas; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wallace Suire; son, Tommy Suire; daughter, Deanna Hebert; parents, Theodore Broussard and the former Lilly Stelly; brothers, Louis "Black" Broussard, Galton Broussard, Claude Broussard, and Clayton Broussard; and sisters, Willa Mae Landy, Edna Roy, and Mazel Broussard.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Friday, July 28, 2023 from 8:00 AM until 10:30 AM when the procession will depart for the church. A rosary being prayed at 10:00 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.

Donald James Vidalier

Thu, 07/27/2023 - 10:12am

November 16, 1944 ~ July 21, 2023

“Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure. You are missed beyond words and loved beyond measure.” Unknown Author

ABBEVILLE — Memorial services will be held at 12:30 PM on Friday, July 28, 2023 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Donald James Vidalier, 78, who died Friday, July 21, 2023 at his residence. Deacon William “Billy” Vincent officiating the services.
Beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. He will be greatly missed for his sense of humor and proverbial wise sayings, or as we called them “papa-isms.”
He is survived by his daughter, Katherine V. Werner and her husband, Sean of North Dakota; five grandchildren, Alexis Vidalier, Sophia Vidalier, Madison Werner, Dylan Werner, and Roen Werner; three great-grandchildren, Joshua Breaux, Jr., Ashlyn Stelly, and Jaxson Stelly; and sister, Cena Mae Zaunbrecher of Gueydan.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Patsy Marceaux Vidalier; parents, Ferdinand Vidalier and the former Agnes Rung; and daughter, Michelle Vidalier.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Friday, July 28, 2023 from 10:00 AM until time of service.
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.

Evan Broussard (right) holds the queen bee on his finger, along with the plastic honey comb. On left is Leyton Jones who has kept the bee in his baseball bag for the last three years.

Leyton Jones’ grandmother took a picture of the bee sitting in the dugout on a cell phone during a game. It was the first time she saw it in the dugout.

This is close up of the Bee

QSA bringing ‘Queen Bee’ to World Series

Thu, 07/27/2023 - 10:00am

Plastic bee has become the team’s lucky charm

It is not surprising to learn that some teams have a good luck charm. The QSA 12-year-and under All-Star Team has its good luck charm, and it’s heading to Loredo, Texas, with them.
The QSA 12s recently qualified for the Bronco World Series, which features eight teams from around the World. QSA’s first game is against Japan on Friday.
Joining the team in the dugout will be “Queen Bee.”
Queen Bee is a plastic bee that stays in a plastic honeycomb. When the all-stars are not playing, that bee stays in the honeycomb inside the bat bag of player Layton Jones.
Jones, 12, has kept the bee in his bag for the last three years as a good luck charm.
This season, however, the bee has surfaced out of the bag in the dugout to watch the game.
Player Evan Broussard is in charge of holding and caring for the bee during the games. When the team is warming up, the bee sits on Leyton’s bag, watching them practice.
During the game, the bee sits near the fence inside the dugout.
This bee and honeycomb have a story behind it. It represents the “Queen Bee.”
Leyton’s great-grandmother, Anne Falcon, was called the “Queen Bee” by her daughter Anna Romero (Leyton’s grandmother).
Leyton called his great-grandmother “Old grandma.”
Three years ago, Old Grandma passed away. Leyton was eight years old at the time of her death.
The Easter after her death, Leyon went on an Easter Hunt, and the first egg he found was the honeycone egg and there was a plastic bee inside.
He told his mother, Jana, and his grandmother that it was meant to be that he found the plastic bee. It was a sign from Old Grandma, he told them.
He did not tell his grandmother that he kept the bee in his batting bag for the last three years.
For the first time, Anna Romero saw the bee during an all-star game this summer. It was sitting in the dugout watching the game.
“I was pleasantly surprised,” said Romero.
The bee is doing its job. QSA sports a 27-2-1 record going into Friday’s World Series.
On Facebook, Romero thanked her grandson.
“Thank you, Evan, for keeping Queen Bee in good hands! Queen Bee will be heading to Laredo, Texas, this week!”

Teens arrested for possible vehicle burglaries in Vermilion Parish

Thu, 07/27/2023 - 9:49am

According to Sheriff Mike Couvillon, in the early morning hours on Monday, patrol deputies responded to a complaint of a vehicle burglary in progress in a subdivision near the Abbeville Airport.
The investigation led deputies, VPSO K9, Criminal Investigations Division and Narcotics investigators to a nearby motel where numerous juveniles and two adults were detained.
During initial interviews, it was determined that two of the three juveniles were the suspects in the attempted burglary.
It was also determined that sexual activity had taken place between an adult and a juvenile victim within the group. Illicit drugs were also found during the investigation along with several stolen firearms.
The investigation resulted in an arrest warrant being obtained for Jacorlin Levy (B/M, D.O.B. 09-16-2003) from Opelousas, for one count of Felony Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile and one count of Indecent Behavior of a Juvenile.
The bond has been set at $15,000.
The three male juveniles were also arrested for Illegal Possession of a Stolen Firearm, two of which were also charged with two counts of simple burglary. They were subsequently released to the custody of their parents.
A 16-year-old female was also arrested on a verified complaint out of Lafayette and turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
The investigation is on-going with further charges pending.

Bradley Alleman

Thu, 07/27/2023 - 9:47am

July 31, 1951 - July 26, 2023

ABBEVILLE — Funeral Services for Mr. Bradley Alleman, 71, will be held at David Funeral Home of Abbeville on Friday, July 28, 2023 at 10:00AM with Father Charles Esuaiko officiating. Interment will follow at St. Paul Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at David Funeral Home of Abbeville on Thursday, July 27 from 5:00PM until 9:00PM with a recitation of the rosary at 7:00PM. Visitation will resume on until time of Friday, July 28, 2023 from 8:00AM until time of services.
Family and friends of Brad Alleman mourn the loss of a devoted husband, a loving father, and an exceptional carpenter. After graduating from Kaplan High in 1969, Brad met Brenda, the love of his life. Together, they shared a bond that stood the test of time building a warm and nurturing home where love and laughter thrived. Brad adored his children, their spouses, his grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. His most cherished memories were made with everyone around the kitchen table, grilling for family get- togethers, and on the many beach vacations they were all fortunate enough to spend together. He took immense pride in watching his children grow into the compassionate, caring, and accomplished individuals they have all become.
Brad discovered his passion for woodworking at an early age. He was fascinated by the art of crafting quality, enduring, and beautiful pieces from wood. This passion only grew with time, and he eventually pursued a career in cabinetry, as a master of his craft. In 1984, Brad started his company, Brad’s Woodworks, in Abbeville where he followed his passion, fulfilled his dreams, and became known for the quality in both his work and his character.
Brad’s household was filled with love. He also left that love, inspiration, and passion for his craft as his indelible mark and piece of his heart in the form of his work that will stand the test of time in the homes of his clients.
As we continue on our journeys through this life we will honor Brad’s memory by embracing the values of love and family he held so dear and instilled in each of us.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Brenda Alleman of Abbeville; his son, Chris S. Alleman and his wife Bess of Greely, CO; his daughters, Stacey Ashley and her husband Patrick of Youngsville, Rachel Hebert and her husband Chris of McKinney, TX, and Jessica LaHood and her husband Shane of Lafayette; his brothers, Eugene Alleman and Raymond Alleman; his sisters, Sandra Alleman and Karen Alleman; his grandchildren, Lanie, Dawson, Amber, Emily, Katelyn, Allie, Gabby, Paul, Abigail, Rylee, Sophia; and his great-grandchildren, Easton, Jolie, and Colt.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Louis Alleman and Dixie Villejoin Alleman.
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home of Abbeville 2600 Charity St. (337)893-3777 will be handling the arrangements.

Sean St Amant points to the leaf surrounded by Meggan and friends and family of Marietta.

Pointing to the leaf of her Mother Marietta Clark is Meggan Clark St Amant holding a picture of her Mother. Also pictured are Confrerie d’ Abbeville members Arlene Collee,( Meggan), Kathie Terpening, Elray Schexnaider, Confrerie president Bonnie Broussard and Meggan’s husband Sean St Amant.

A leaf was placed on the tree of life in honor of Omelette member Bobby Hebert. Pictured are his wife, Beverly Hebert with members of the Confrerie d’ Abbeville.

Family, friends gather at Abbeville General’s Tree of Life to remember two from Confrerie d' Abbeville

Wed, 07/26/2023 - 9:55am

Family and friends joined the Confrerie d' Abbeville for a brief gathering at Abbeville General Hospital to remember 2 members of the Confrerie d’ Abbeville who have passed away.
Immediately following, pictures were taken of the engraved leaf on the Tree of Life in honor of Marietta Clark and Bobby Hebert.
The Confrerie honors its deceased members by donating to the Tree of Life at Abbeville General Hospital. Donations go towards an annual scholarship fund.
The Confrerie d' Abbeville is the organization responsible for sharing The Giant Omelette Celebration to town residents and visitors to Abbeville from around the world annually.
The event takes place the first full weekend of November (www.giantomelette.org).

At the Class 3A State meet, Gabe Clement Jr. holds up three fingers after winning the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes.

Kaplan's Gabe Clement commits to run track for UCLA

Wed, 07/26/2023 - 9:51am

Weather played a big part in his decision

KAPLAN — Kaplan High graduate Gabe Clement Jr. had his choice of running track at four major universities — LSU, TCU, UL and UCLA.
Three of the four have one thing in common — it is hot during track season.
The one university that is not hot during track season is where Clement decided he wanted to be for the next four years.
Clement committed to running track at UCLA, which is located in Los Angeles.
“The weather played a huge contribution,” said Clement. “It was perfect. They said this was how it was all year round.”
The average temperature in April and March is in the mid-70s during the day and 50s at night at UCLA.
He and his family visited the campus on June 21 and stayed for a week. Former great Kaplan football player “Mookie” Mouton (1997-1998) lives in Los Angeles and is related to the Clement family.
After the week in California, the Clements returned to Kaplan and waited to see what type of scholarship UCLA would offer before committing.
He plans to major in pre-medicine, dreaming of one day becoming a physician assistant.
“UCLA is the best public school in California and is a great place to earn a degree,” said Clement. “The hardest part about moving to Los Angeles is being away from my family. The good thing is that I have family in Los Angeles already. This is an opportunity I can not pass up. I am ready.”
Clement made Vermilion Parish history by becoming the first athlete from the parish to commit to UCLA in any sport.
Clement is coming off a stellar senior year at KHS.
He won the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes at the Class 3A state outdoor track meet in May.
Earlier in the year, he ran a 46.9-second race in the 400-meter dash. No other parish sprinter has run that fast in the 400.
His best time in the 100 is 10.55 seconds and in the 200 his best time is 21.31.
Gabe Clement Sr. has helped guide him throughout his track and field journey. The older Clement ran track at Kaplan in the early 1990s and then went on to run track at USL (now UL-Lafayette).
The elder Clement went with his son on the four visits and said he is not surprised by his son’s choice.
“When he ran at Nationals in Oregon as a junior, we got off the plane and he loved the weather. So when UCLA came calling, I knew he would like it. The weather is a plus, and it is a beautiful campus,” Gabe Sr. said.
The younger Clement will no longer be a big fish in a small pond. UCLA has four sprinters running in the 45s and another in the low 46s.
“I know they will push me in practice,” said Clement. “I know I have to train harder to be as good as them.”
As a freshman, his father said his son could run in the low 46s and high 45s with proper weight training at UCLA.
The Clement family has been Gabe’s biggest supporter. However, traveling to Los Angeles to watch him run will be tough, said Gabe Sr.
They plan on watching his races on the internet.
His father said he had hoped his son would have selected UL, but that was because it was where he ran. However, he understands it is his son’s life.
“I want him to enjoy his own experience,” said his father. “It is his journey and he does not walk in my shoes. He is his own person.”

Beverly Abshire Hebert

Wed, 07/26/2023 - 9:47am

July 23, 1938 ~ July 24, 2023

ABBEVILLE — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 27, 2023 at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Catholic Church honoring the life of Beverly Abshire Hebert, 85, who died Monday, July 24, 2023 at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center. She will be laid to rest at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Cemetery in Kaplan with Fr. François Sainte-Marie officiating the services. Those serving as pallbearers will be Thomas H. Lege, Roddy J. Trahan, Todd Trahan, Shane Hebert, Terry Prejean, Albert Hebert, Teryl Ryder and Paul Trahan. Lectors for the Mass will be Albert Hebert and Trey Ryder. Gift bearers will be Brenda Prejean, Charlene Hebert, and Tammy Ryder.
Beverly enjoyed camping gardening reading and praying her rosary daily. Having been employed by the Vermilion Parish School Board, she retired after serving as the cafeteria manager at Abbeville High School. Throughout the years, she made many friends and was beloved. Her camping adventures took her to many states. She especially enjoyed the mountains. She will be greatly missed by her son, Rusty, her nieces and nephews, and her many friends who enjoyed her cooking, sense of humor, and stories of times passed. She was very active in the Abbeville Lions Club for many years with her late husband, Russell.
She is survived by her son, Rusty Jude Hebert and his fiancée, Monique Guillotte; brother, John O. Abshire; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Russell P. Hebert; parents, Eudor Abshire and the former Leonie Hollier; three sisters, Eula Mae Guidry, Pearly A. Lege, and Velma A. Trahan.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Thursday, July 27, 2023 from 9 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. when the procession will depart for the church. A rosary being prayed at 11:30 a.m.
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.

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Joseph V.J. Conner

Blackbeard and Bayou Teche

Carrie Broussard Suire

Donald James Vidalier

QSA bringing ‘Queen Bee’ to World Series

Teens arrested for possible vehicle burglaries in Vermilion Parish

Bradley Alleman

Family, friends gather at Abbeville General’s Tree of Life to remember two from Confrerie d' Abbeville

Kaplan's Gabe Clement commits to run track for UCLA

Beverly Abshire Hebert

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