Terrebonne
Genealogical Society
TGS Newsletter
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E-mail: edhicks@mobiletel.com Phone: (504) 532-3586
Membership and/or address changes:
Please send by mail to TGS, Station 2 Box 295, Houma, LA 70360-0295
If you have ever attended one of our meetings, you will probably remember
how our esteemed president, Phil Chauvin Jr. begins the meeting by walking
down the aisle to see if there are any “new faces.” (An aside: some of
us “old faces” have tried to get Phil to use a different phrase, but he
always forgets.) He then asks you what your name is and what family name
or names you are researching. Almost nine times out of ten he will find
a surname that someone else in the group is researching, so there is immediate
feedback. A link is established, and help is on the way. Sometimes
a new cousin is found. I want to explain that Phil doesn’t do this to “put
you on the spot.” Although to a newcomer, it may seem like that for a few
seconds. No one has panicked and run out of the meeting room, as yet. When
asked, he will tell you he does it because when he was just starting to
get interested in genealogy he attended a meeting of another society (which
will go unnamed) and sat through the whole meeting without anyone speaking
to him. He made up his mind when he helped to organize our society that
whenever he was able, he wouldn’t let that happen to anybody else.
All of this is preamble to what happened at the February meeting —
there were more “new faces” than I can remember at any meeting. There were
at least eight persons there who had never attended a meeting before. And
two or three decided to begin their membership right then. Perhaps because
of connections that they made at their first meeting. It is my opinion
that this increase in new members is an indication of our vitality. Certainly
a hopeful sign in our twentieth year!
Our March meeting will see the installation of our “new” officers.
(Same old faces.) We have heard that the installation committee has a meaningful
ceremony planned. Come on out and renew some acquaintances and maybe make
some new ones. We have a good chance for good weather. At least it’s spring.
You should have received your winter quarterly by now; it was mailed on
March 11. We need to say goodbye to those who have not renewed their membership
to T.G.S. This is the last newsletter they will be getting. Actually, it
is the first of the new year, but we always give people a “second chance.”
So check your mailing label. If the date on it is last month some time,
you will not be getting any more newsletters. If that is good news, then
“Goodbye and Good Luck!” If it is not what you really want, send us a check
right now. Don’t delay. It’s $25 for an individual.
COLLATING YOUR LIFE LINES
Talk about good turnouts! We had 32 members wearing out the carpet
at our collating party on 20 February 2002. Oh, wait a minute — that should
be 16. We had two people taking down the names. But it seemed like a lot,
‘cause we finished in record time. And had a good time chatting. That is,
those of us who can collate and chat at the same time. Not me! Those present
were Nancy Wright, Wade Usé, Leah Usé, Dot Smith, Rodney
Pontiff, Lou Ostheimer, Ed Hicks, Ed Henry, Cecil Eschete, Phil Chauvin,
Maxie Champagne, Marcie Cavalier, Essie Cavalier, Rita Bernard, Brice Bernard,
and Beverly Alford. We hereby acknowledge that these people should receive
a big part of the credit for making this organization great!
DEATHS
We wish to extend the sympathies of the entire society to member Philip
Uzee on the death of his beloved wife on 18 December 2001. Yvonne Toups
Uzee is survived by a daughter, Denise Uzee, a son, David Uzee, his wife
Trina Uzee, and two granddaughters. She is also survived by three brothers,
D. D., Carl and Donald Toups and two sisters, Eveline Comeaux and Lucille
Rhodes. She was preceded in death by her parents, Sylvester and Lydia Legendre
Toups, two brothers, Lynn and Blaise Toups and one sister, Lena T. Rau.
Yvonne was respected in the library field, having taught Library
Science at LSU, been the first librarian at Nicholls State University,
and upon her retirement from Nicholls served for many years as the
librarian at St. Joseph Elementary School in Thibodaux. She was a
charter member of the Media Specialists of the Houma/Thibodaux Diocese,
and was a very active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution
and the Catholic Daughters of the Americas.
Our sympathies also go to Laurie Portier Patton, who lost her son,
Brandon John Portier, Tuesday, 12 March 2002. Besides his mother, Laurie,
he is survived by his stepfather, Aaron Patton, one sister, Hilary Patton,
grandparents Sydney Spahr Ling and Louie Ling of Houma and Vada Saucier
of Mississippi. He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Lawrence
Portier and Burton Patton, and his great-grandparents, Serville and Lillian
Hebert Portier and Sidney and Shirley Aitkens Spahr.
SEARCH FOR BRIENS
Jean Desrochers Brien is conducting a search for the descendants of
André Brien. André married (1) Rosalie Forest in 1844 in
Lafourche Parish, and m.(2) Marie Domingue on 6/11/1849 (Note: my information
came from outside the U.S. — I’m not sure if that is 11 June or 6 November)
in Houma. If you can help Jean, please contact him at jdesroch@videotron.ca
or write Jean Desrochers Brien, 1210-14 avenue Montréal, Québec,
CANADA H1B-3T6.
LANDRY REUNION
If you are a descendant of one of the children of Ernest Landry and
Emelie Callegan, you shouldn’t miss this. There will be designated tables
for each of Ernest and Emelie’s children: Theophile, Cecille, John, Louis,
Emelie, Ernest, Percy and Joseph. They are planning to take souvenir photos
at 1:00 p.m. — don’t be late. Members of the family will start arriving
at St. Bernard State Park at 10:00 a.m. on 6 April 2002, and most will
be staying until 5:00 p.m. so bring your folding chairs and a picnic lunch
(but no glass bottles, please)! Also you may bring information or pictures
of your parents, grandparents or family to display. For directions and
suggestions about shirt color for the different branches of the family,
contact Merlene Landry Duhon at 985-643-5879 (Slidell), Richard M.
Landry at 504-362-9578 (Gretna) or Agnes Landry Giroir at 225-545-8694(White
Castle). I hope this notice reaches you in time to join the fun! Just don’t
forget the camera.
BOOKS
Due to the unexpected demand for the Cemeteries of Lower Terrebonne
Parish book, we will have a second printing of just 10 copies. Please do
not put off ordering this book. We will be doing the soft cover and offering
it at the usual price of $25 per book, plus postage. The postage is $3.00
for the first book, and $1.00 for each additional book. If you are a paid-up
member (see mailing label) you will get a discount of $1.00 off on each
$10.00 of book price.
If you want the 1870 census at the pre-publication price, order now.
Deadline is 30 April 2002.
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