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Mary Lena Blaze “Lil Mary” Bryant
Mary Lena Blaze “Lil Mary” Bryant, 86, was born Oct. 8, 1930, in Welsh to the late Isaac and Mary Dunn Blaze.
A native of Welsh, she resided in Crowley and Mossville. She was a resident of Lake Charles for 45 years where she was a member of Nebo Methodist Church.
She departed this life on Monday, May 8, 2017, in her residence.
She leaves to cherish her memories, her husband, David Bryant; five daughters, Bernadette (Tim) Francis, Wynona Green, Charlette Burd, Nellerine (Michael) Wilson and Lashalla (Donald) Davis Jr.; four sons, Howard, Winston, and Steve (Connie) Green and Darwin (Danielle) Bryant; three sisters, Ida Price, Rena Green and Eva Dean Joseph; 24 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Linda Clay; and parents.
Her funeral will be 11 a.m. Thursday, May 18, at Rose of Sharon Christ Sanctified Holy Church. Pastor Larry Gasaway will officiate. Burial will be in Westfork Cemetery under the direction of James Funeral Home. Visitation will be Thursday from 9 a.m. in the church.
Ball pages enjoy annual celebration
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Local Beta Sigma Phi chapters celebrate Founder’s Day
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Opelousas Catholic honors Gates upon her retirement
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Harold Lou Mire
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 16, at 11 a.m. at the Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home Chapel for Harold Lou Mire Jr., 61, who died Friday, May 12, 2017, at his home in Crowley surrounded by his loving family.
Rev. Mike Trahan, pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Estherwood, will be officiate for the services. The family is requesting visiting hours be held Monday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Interment will be in Ebenezer Cemetery.
Mr. Mire is survived by his mother, Audrey Brown of Crowley; four sisters, Brenda Thibodeaux of Opelousas, Mary Mire of Estherwood, Mechelle Bellard and her husband John of Crowley and Nora Dean Mire of Denver; three brothers, Lawrence Mire of Denver, Michael Mire and his wife Martha of Indian Bayou and Walter Brown Jr. of Midland.
He is preceded in death by his father, Harold Mire Sr.; his step-father, Walter Brown Sr.; one sister, Rosa Brown; one brother, Ricky Mire; paternal grandparents, Gladeau and Emmatile Mire; and maternal grandparents Morris Sr. and Annie Menard.
In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations be made to help with funeral expenses.
Condolences may be sent to the family by www.geesey-ferguson.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home Inc. of Crowley.
Rayne’s Breaux places at 4-A State Track Meet
BATON ROUGE - There was no gold for Acadia Parish athletes who competed in the 2017 LHSAA’s State Track and Field Championships Friday and Saturday.
But, there was a silver lining for three of them.
In Class 4A, Crowley High’s Chris Lewis landed a runner-up finish with a leap of 46-5 1/4 in the triple jump. Lewis was second to Washington-Marion standout Chris Edwards, who won the event with a mark of 50-11 1/2.
Church Point and Iota athletes also claimed silver medals, those in the Class 3A girls competition.
Church Point’s Hannah Richard was second in the javelin with a throw of 131-3 and Iota’s Chloe Smith was second in the 800-meter run (2:20.09).
Smith also finished eighth in the 300-meter hurdles (51.98).Crowley’s girls scored 12 points to place 19th of the 32 teams in Class 4A.
Ajah Williams scored a fourth place finish in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.34. Teammate Jalaysia Hebert was right on her heels, finishing fifth in a time of 15.37.
Hebert also finished fifth in the 300-meter hurdles and she ran a leg on Crowley’s 4x200 fifth-place relay team along with Kamryn Franklin, Jayliah Vallian and Anijah Williams. They clocked a time of 1:47.21.
Kneeland also finished eighth in the triple jump at 34-5.
On the boys side, Crowley’s Jeremy Johnson was seventh in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.61.
Johnson also teamed wih Obadiah Butler, Tyrone Shelvin and Yefri Sanchez to clock a seventh-place time of 3:27.46 in the 4x400 relay.
Rose Regan and Abigail Fontenot each logged in a seventh-place finish for the Lady Bulldogs.
Regan ran a 5:47.80 time in the 1600-meter run and Fontenot clocked a 16.45 in the 100-meter hurdles.
Church Point received a fourth-place showing from Madison Guillory in the girls discus (102-7) and Breelyn Jones was fourth in the boys 100-meter dash (10.68).
Rayne High’s Richard Breaux added a fifth-place finish in the shot put for the Wolves with a 44-4 1/2 toss.
Announce June wedding
RAYNE - On the evening of June 2, 2017, a Nuptial Mass at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church will unite in marriage Cynthia Marie Ledet and Stuart Jude Cook, both of Rayne.
The bride-elect is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy F. Ledet of Rayne. Her grandparents are Catherine Sandberg of Zwolle, the late Eugene A. Ledet, Larry Moore of Rayne, and the late Cynthia B. Leal.
Marie is a 2012 graduate of Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish, a 2016 graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a bachelor of science degree in geology, and is currently enrolled in graduate school at ULL studying geology.
The prospective groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis J. Cook Jr. of Rayne. His grandparents were the late Danny and Lucille Champagne Domingue, and the late Lewis and Josie Petitjean Cook, all of Rayne.
Stuart is a 2011 graduate of Notre Dame HIgh School of Acadia Parish, 2016 graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a bachelor degree in education, and is presently employed by the Acadia Parish School Board as a teacher/coach at Crowley High School.
April wedding unites local couple in marriage
A six-thirty evening Nuptial Mass on Friday, April 28, 2017, at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church united in marriage Caroline Haley Orillion of Lafayette and Michael Timon Billeaud, also of Lafayette.
The bride is the daughter of Jim and Cindy Orillion of Rayne. Her grandparents are the late A.C. and Flo Thibodeaux Sr. of Opelousas, and the late Jimmy and Olympe Orillion of Rayne.
Caroline is a 2006 graduate of Rayne Catholic Elementary, a 2010 graduate of Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish in Crowley, and a 2014 graduate of The University of Louisiana at Lafayette in child and family studies. She then attained a master of social work in 2016 from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and is presently employed as a master social worker by Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette.
The prospective groom is the son of Duane and Ann Billeaud of Lafayette. His grandparents are Margie LeBlanc of Lafayette, the late George LeBlanc, and the late Herbert and Ezila Billeaud of Lafayette.
Michael is a 2010 graduate of Lafayette Charter High School, attended South Louisiana Community College, and is currently employed by Acadiana Handicap Solutions in Lafayette.
The double-ring ceremony was celebrated by Rev. Steven C. LeBlanc. Altar servers were James-Charles Orillion and Ashton Orillion, the bride’s nephews.
Scriptures were recited by Alesha Perkins and Lauren LeBlanc, sisters of the groom, with Gifts offered by Jordan Heinen Ortlieb and Britlyn Delahoussaye.
Program attendants were Magdalene and Jude Romero, niece and nephew of the bride.
Against a background of musical selections provided by organist Dexter Thibodeaux and vocalist/guitarist Mark and Cristen Dunbar, guests were ushered to their seats by Tyler Geoffrey and Cody Minyard, friends of the groom.
Escorted by her father, the bride wore an exquisite David Tutera off-the-shoulder wedding dress designed with embroidered Venise lace appliques, tulle and organza over a satin trumpet-styled gown featuring capped sleeves, a deep sweetheart neckline, illusion lace low back bodice bodice enhanced crystals and seeded pearls and crystal button closures. The dropped waist of the ivory tone of gardenia creation flowed into a chapel-length train hemmed with a scalloped edging. A simple hair comb held a single-layer fingertip veil of sheer illusion embellished along the hemline with appliques. She carried a traditional bridal bouquet of white, peach and pink roses, green hydrangea, rinocula with a hint of greenery.
Traditional items selected by the bride for her wedding day included her grandmother’s camero as something old, her wedding dress was something new, a borrowed lace handkerchief, and a rosary was something blue.
Attending the bride as maid of honor was a friend, Paige Thibodeaux, while her sister, Courtney Orillion LeCompte was matron of honor.
Bridal attendants were Lauren O. Romero, sister of the bride; CeCe Mouton, cousin of the bride; Catherine Billeaud and Erin Billeaud, sisters of the groom; and Ann-Ayrisse Salvatierra, friend of the bride.
Attendants each wore an elegant A-line, floor-length dress of taupe Tiffany chiffon designed with a V-neckline and lace-covered bodice. Each carried a small nosegay of pink garden and blush spray roses.
Serving as flowergirls were Joslyn Orillion, Adele Romero, Evangeline LeCompte and London Orillion, godchildren and nieces of the bride. Each wore a white princess-style, A-lined knee-length dress fashioned with lace capped sleeves, scooped neckline and lace-covered bodice highlighted by an elegant sash. The younger girls walked hand in hand while Joslyn carried a white lace basket filled with rose petals.
Attending the groom as his best man was a friend, Austin Carrier.
Groomsmen were Richard Billeaud, George Billeaud, Jacob Billeaud and John-Paul Billeaud, brothers of the groom; Matt Minyard and Ben Brinkhaus, friends of the groom.
Serving as ringbearer was Conner Billeaud, nephew of the groom.
Male attendants each wore a Neil Allyn two-button notch lapel tuxedo accessorized by a silver Windsor tie and vest. A rose boutonniere was also noted.
For her daughter’s wedding, the former Cindy Thibodeaux wore a stylish floor-length gown of a midnight blue tone of ink designed with a sheer-sleene embellishment, three-quarter-length sleeves and a surplice V-neckline. The left side of the natural waist was accented with a jewel detail, while her left shoulder held a corsage of white, peach and deep pink garden roses.
The groom’s mother, the former Ann LeBlanc selected an A-lined gown of ocean blue designed with three-quarter-length lace sleeves and lace appliques on a fitted bodice. The ensemble was embellished with rhinestones at the hip. She was presented a corsage of white roses.
Immediately following the wedding ceremony the newlyweds were honored during a reception held at the Napoleon Ballroom of River Oaks in Lafayette.
Guest tables were adorned with silver trays and crystal vases filled with white hybrid tea roses and Melody grandiflora roses and topped with a gold letter “B”. Tea lights surrounded floral arrangement providing a celebratory glow.
Among the refreshments provided for guests was the bride’s cake, a three-tier ivory confection adorned with white, pink and peach roses in addition to green hydrangea and baby’s breath. The cake topper was a handcrafted “Mr. and Mrs.” of metallic gold designed by the bride’s sister for the special occasion.
The groom’s cake was a white confection of Bavarian cream with chocolate icing decorated in a hunting theme topped with deer antlers surrounding a “B” and topped with chocolate-covered strawberries and fondant shotgun shells.
Guests attended the wedding from points of Louisiana, Texas, Nevada and California.
Following a wedding trip to St. Lucia in the Windward Islands of the eastern Caribbean, the couple will make their home in Lafayette.
Prior to the wedding, a rehearsal dinner was held Thursday, April 27, at Joey’s of Lafayette hosted by the groom’s parents.
Ci et Ca Avec Belle
SPRING IS HERE AND SUMMER
ON IT’S WAY.....
This has been a wonderful spring time for us all. Beautiful green trees, yards and flowers that made it through the only cold snap of the year for us! Add to that a perfect Easter season and glorious Easter day and we all feel blessed. We pray that your Easter was as much a happy time as it was for us. Beautiful weather for the children to boil and dye eggs and the long wait for Easter morning for the egg hunt. So much excitement, such happy faces and fun voices as they searched to find the colorful eggs in the big back yard.
For the parents and grandparents, and especially for me, the great grandmother, it was a thrill for us adults. We were so blessed that all of Bo and Deb’s families could be there and they are amazing that they all get along so well and have fun together. No crying and no fussing with any of them. Just FUN. Of course the same can be said of Laura and Ed’s children and grandchildren. They are also very close and just get along and have so much fun together. No problems with them since they all enjoy being with one another. I feel we are blessed to have these families that are so filled with love for one another. God is good and thank you dear God for these loved families.
..................Now, we are into the exciting month of May with many activities going on at the schools and the end of the high school years for the seniors who will be entering a new phase of their lives. Such a happy time for everyone, even though the parents have pangs of sorrow as they watch their loved ones move on with their lives. That is overcome quickly with their great sense of pride for the accomplishments of their son/daughter! We send our love and congratulations to each of these dear graduates, and to the junior class members that will moving up as the seniors of the next year. God be with you all and bless you in your future!
....................We were very proud of our great grandchildren for their successful ventures into many activities. Baylor Beggs danced in the Peter Pan ballet program in Shreveport recently. She works very hard and enjoys dancing even with all the practices and rehearsals. Baylor is the daughter of Lindsey and Wayne Beggs and the granddaughter of Laura and Ed Milligan. We can’t attend the show, however, they take videos and I get to watch her perform. One of only a very few young dancers selected to be in the ballet show.
....................Our dear Addison, the gymnastic in the family has done really well in the recent competitions. However, she had an accident in a ball park and had to have staples in her head and could not practice or compete for several days. Of course she was disappointed, but her head had to heal. The good news is that it has healed and she can return to her practice and competition. Addison is the daughter of Kerri and Michael Gonzales and Debbie and Bo King are her proud grandparents. We can’t attend the meets, but we appreciate the videos sent of her at the meets and with her awards and I am very proud of her.
....................We cannot leave out our two great little athletes that are doing so well in their baseball games! They both are in tough leagues and are playing with boys a year older and doing great. Caleb King and Aidan Gonzales are really getting a collection of winning rings for their tourney play. So very proud of them and enjoy seeing the videos that they send to me with them during their games. Caleb is the son of Craig and Steffani King and the grandson of Debbie and Bo King. Aidan is the son of Kerri and Michael Gonzalez and grandson of Debbie and Bo King. I am very proud of them and their love for the game and the hard work they do to improve their skills. Caleb’s team, the Momentum Black Hawks, has already qualified to be in the National World Series Tournament in Destin, Florida this summer. Aidan just turned 7 and he and his team, the Warriors, have been for ages 7 and he was selected to play with them last year even though he was a year younger. His games are played in an amazing ball complex where every field is a replica of a major National League baseball stadium! The field is Big League Dreams in League City, TX and is as special for the spectators/fans as it is for the players.
.....................I am aware that I wrote much about some of my great grandchildren, but just want you to know that they are an important part my life at this time. I love them all very much and I want to be a part of their lives while I can so they can remember me playing games with them, watching them and having fun times with them. I certainly don’t want them to know me when I don’t know them. So, please understand why....and that this is very important to me! Love them all very much and love my memories of our times together..
.....................The view from our kitchen window continues to entertain us with the antics of the birds that we feed. The sight of a big blue jay with his wings spread and lying on top of the bird feeder to prevent others from getting it was a new one for us. However, it is necessary to keep the pigeons and doves from eating all the food. Those birds are the first to eat in the morning and the last to leave in late evening. I don’t know who they belong to, however, they are eating most of the bird food that I put out for the wild yard birds. Wish whoever owns them would feed them or least send me money to pay for that wild bird feed since it gets very expensive...and then for them to eat all the food every day and prevent my wild yard birds from getting much of the food. One happy sight that I see every day is a beautiful red cardinal and the female bird. It is said that a cardinal is a gift from heaven and is an angel for us. I love watching them. He will stay around her while she eats and watches so no other bird will bother her, then when it is time to go, he will have feed in his beak and go to her and put it in her beak... like a kiss. It is a sweet sight. Yes, these birds are a great pasttime for me and I look forward to even more to come.
....................I had a wonderful surprise visit from an old friend that I have not seen for many years. Hulin Richard stopped by and we has lots of fun remembering people and times at Rayne High during our senior year especially. He remembered the hour long lunch time with everyone going to Domingue’s across the street for the best food and treats. He also remembered the fun they had sitting on the side of the road and talking and other things with their classmates. Living across the street, we had food waiting for us, but also went to Mrs. Domingue’s for some of her delicious fudge and sweet dough pies. My classmates usually came and we put records on and practiced the newest dances of the time. I hope that he will come back for another visit so we can continue our trip down memory lane.
....................We were happy to have some of our classmates from Indiana State University come to Rayne for a short but wonderful visit. We were all together in Terre Haute, IN for a year and a half in a program for only 20 people from all over the United States. We all became family to one another and that friendship has continued through the years. They loved the sights here in our beautiful city, and really loved the Cajun food here also. Just wish it could have been a longer visit, but so happy that we got to have this one. God bless them for their thoughtfulness and friendship!
....................I wanted to give you an update on my days with my dementia as I promised. My long term memory seems to be good, however, my short term memory is almost gone. I don’t know what year, what month, what day it is without looking on my iPad or phone...the days and weeks seem to run together and I just don’t know where the time goes or what I do. I am trying to do things to help my memory, I write notes to myself on what I need to do, I write down names that I need to remember, since names are a real problem for me...even with my family and children. However, I love having company and in reading posts on Facebook. But, I don’t comment on many since that is difficult, so I hit Like, Love, Sad, or another of those selections. So please don’t be upset if I don’t comment on all your news. I love reading the posts, but just hard for me to respond. I am trying to force myself to make decisions on things to do every day which means I have to use my brain. I watch Jeopardy every day to stimulate my memory and brain. I hope that you and/or your loved ones will never have to face this terrible condition, but I am thankful that I have such wonderful family to help me and many friends that I know are ready to help if needed. I ask you all to please continue to pray for me and all my loved ones during this time and that the dementia will progress slowly for me. God Bless you all... and lots of love from me!
....................The month of May has so many things happening, including our wonderful Frog Festival, and I hope that you are keeping up with everything in each issue of the Rayne Acadian-Tribune so that you don’t miss anything! Enjoy this exciting month...and the beginning of summer vacations...Enjoy the month!
....................Enjoyed a wonderful phone visit with our long time friend, Corrine Baptiste from California. Except I was sorry to learn that she was in Rayne for the homecoming for the Acadia Parish Training School which was held recently. That is the second time we have missed a face to face visit with her. She said that her health was holding, however, her dear husband, James, was having some health issues. Corrine and I go back many years when she was just a very young little girl. She lived down the street from me and she was wonderful to help me with Laura when Laura was a little baby. She was so sweet and helpful to me in many ways...and she became one of the family and we have stayed close through many years and many miles apart! I am hoping that we can get together in June when she is trying to return to Rayne for a visit! Thanks for staying in touch dear Corrine and I pray that you and James will be healthy and in God’s care. Love to you both and God bless you all.
IN CLOSING.......
As I sat at home Tuesday grieving for our dear friends during this sad time knowing that I could not be there for the service or do anything for you my dear B.I., I wrote these words to help me to express with my sorrow for you and to let you know how much I regretted not being able to attend the services for dear Te or to do anything for you. So I tried to find the right words, unlike my dear mom, who always said the right things.
The following are my thoughts today and it is my way of coping with the sadness I feel for you and the family.
“Sitting here and thinking about the sad news and the beautiful services happening now for the passing of a long time friend, and I am heartbroken. True, I was a few years younger, however, you and Te were an inspiration to everyone that knew you and that realized your marriage was truly a match made in heaven.
“The bond between you and Te was and still is so strong and is like none other. Her passing cannot separate you! She will be with you always and you will know that she is near. She will be an angel by your side always.
“I am praying that our dear God will be with you and give you the strength and support needed in this sad, sad time...and that you always treasure the wonderful life that you shared. What a blessing you two were for one another.
I pray that you find assurance in God’s word....Strength in His presence....and Peace and comfort in His love.
God bless you and yours and love from me always”
Until next time.......Adios, au revoir,
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