NEXT MEETING: Saturday, February 28, 2004
Main Library, Houma, LA 1:00 p.m.
Do you remember Keith PETERS? I wrote about his quest in the October
newsletter. To refresh your memory, I will quote my report: he “asked for
help from the members of our society to locate his two half-sisters, of
whose existence he was unaware until he read the obituary of his father,
who died in 1971. His father, Joseph H. PETERS, was a veteran of World
War II. At the time of his death, he was survived by two daughters, Miss
Sharon PETERS and Miss Laura Jean PETERS, both of New York. Keith is from
a previous marriage.” It is not often we hear of a successful search, so
maybe that’s why I neglected to mention it in the January news. Mr. PETERS
was successful in meeting his two sisters, and locating the grave of his
father and grandparents as well. He brought a videotape to share that joy
with us at the December meeting. I don’t know why I forgot to mention it,
but if any of my readers are what is euphemistically referred to as “Senior
Citizens” they may understand. Keith, please forgive me.
DEATH: Our sympathies go out to member Julia A. BENOIT, who lost
her mother on 20 November 2003. Julia LaVerne MILLER CHATAGNIER was a native
of Poplarville, MS, former resident of Biloxi, MS, and a resident of Houma
for 40 years. She will be sadly missed by her family, among whom are her
husband, Harold Antoine CHATAGNIER; two daughters and sons-in-law, Paulette
and John DUBOSE of Jacksonville, FL, and Julia and Michael BENOIT of Houma;
eight grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren; two stepdaughters, three step-grandchildren,
one step-great-grandson; one sister-in-law, Letha MILLER; many nieces and
nephews, and her caring friends, Janice HARRIS and Nancy SHEETS. She was
preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Jefferson MILLER Sr. and Annie
Julia MARSH MILLER, two brothers, W.L. MILLER and T.J. MILLER Jr.; and
three sisters, Clara MILLER MURRAY, Mozelle MILLER McCAIN and Bruba MILLER
WALLEY. Mrs. CHATAGNIER was a Civil Service employee at Keesler Air Force
Base in Biloxi and worked for the Social Security Administration in Houma
for many years. She enjoyed studying art, crocheting, quilting, crafting
and genealogy research. She spent more than seven years assisting her daughter
in researching and writing the MILLER family history published in The Millers
of Sand Mountain which her daughter lovingly dedicated to her. To her family
she truly exemplified the godly woman described in Proverbs 31 which states:
“Her children rise up and call her blessed...” She will be missed.
ELECTION YEAR: 2004 is an election year. Anyone who has seen
a TV screen or heard the news on a radio has heard that November will see
the election of a President of the United States. Granted. So? So TGS is
holding an election, too. At the next meeting on Saturday, February 28
we will elect a slate of officers and members of the board. Fortunately
(or unfortunately, depending on your viewpoint) the incumbents are so far
unopposed. Unless other nominations are proposed from the floor, the candidates
are as follows: for President, Phil CHAUVIN Jr.; for Vice-President, Edgar
L. HICKS; for Recording Secretary, Sheila RODRIGUE; for Corresponding Secretary,
Jess BERGERON; for Treasurer, Nancy L. WRIGHT; for members of the board,
Essie CAVALIER, Louis DUET, Patricia WHITNEY-GRAVOIS and Daniel GUIDRY.
Now you have another reason to come to the meeting — nominate yourself
and run for an office, but make sure your dues are paid up current. Check
right now. Look at your address label on this newsletter. If it has EX2004,
it is not - repeat not - up to date. Only if it has EX2005 are you paid
up for another year. You know you get more than your money’s worth in the
quarterly, alone. So, go ahead, make out that check and send it to our
new address. Look at our masthead to make sure you have it right. And be
sure to include your correct address. We want you to get all your good
publications.
DID YOU GET YOUR QUARTERLY? The U.S. Postal Service returned
quarterlies addressed to the following: Georgia PORCHE, Rose U. DUCOTE
and Acadian Genealogy Exchange. Please help us by notifying these people
that they can get their quarterlies by sending us $3.00 along with their
new address.
THANKS TO THE COLLATORS: The whole society owes a debt of thanks
to the faithful people who help collate our quarterly. They are: Beverly
ALFORD, Dorothy BERGERON, Brice BERNARD, Rita BERNARD, Essie CAVALIER,
Marcie CAVALIER, Phil CHAUVIN, Cecil ESCHETE, Ed HENRY, Ed HICKS, Gloria
HICKS, Cecilia RICHARD, Dot SMITH and Nancy WRIGHT. Thanks for the help.
BOOKS NEEDED: New member Anna S. ADAMS of Clearwater, FL is
looking to buy a set of the Catholic Church Records of the Diocese of Baton
Rouge. If you know of anyone willing to part with same, please have them
contact her at 1655 S. Highland Ave. J396, Clearwater, FL 33756. I presume
you may call her home at 727-501-1885, but not collect, I suppose.
LOUISIANA HERITAGE DAY: If you are not busy on Sunday, March 14, why
not get a friend and go on down to Larose for the whole day. It starts
with a French Mass at 9:30 a.m., with lots of exhibits and good food on
hand later. Our own Audrey WESTERMAN will be there, speaking on Early Settlers
of Lower Lafourche and Their Occupations at 3:15 p.m. She is on a short
list of distinguished speakers, including Dr. David BERISS of UNO, Dr.
Richard McCARTHY of Loyola, Chef John FOLSE, and Marcelle BIENVENU, among
others.
CAMP FEVER: Do you have a record naming a disease that is unheard
of today? You need to try a website with a glossary of ancient medical
terms. There are several good ones. Olive Tree Genealogy at <<http://olivetreegenealogy.com/misc/disease.shtml>>
is one you can try. The next one is Sedgley Manor at <<http://www.sedgleymanor.com/diseases_front_
page.html>> Don’t be alarmed if you don’t get the right page. Just go to
the site map and click on “Diseases and Medical Terms.”
CALLING ALL SAVOIES: Savoie Acadian Cultural and Historical
Society (also known as SACHS) is the dream child of Deb SAVOIE GUILINI.
You are invited to read about it on the new SACHS website. <<http://savoie
heritage.org/index.html>>
Attending CMA 2004? The upcoming events for SACHS for CMA 2004
include as speakers Steven WHITE and Louisiana’s own Harry J. SAVOY and
others. It’s all on the website. If you like what you see, please consider
joining us. How to do that is on the website also.
SMGHS SEMINAR: Each year the South Mississippi Genealogical
& Historical Society sponsors a day-long seminar with many excellent
programs. However, this seminar is a MUST - mark your calendar. This year’s
speaker is Dr. George K. SCHWEITZER, Alumni Distinguished Professor at
the University of Tennessee. Professor SCHWEITZER uses historical re-enactment
to teach genealogy and has traced many of his ancestral lines back to the
early 1500s. Interested? Call or write now. There is a March 6 deadline
for pre-registration and a space limitation. President of SMGHS is Clif
EVANS, email Clif@netdoor.com phone 601-582-1013. Vice-President, Paul
& Celeste YOUNG msgmyoung@msn.com phone 601-261-9222. I’m not sure,
but I believe the seminar will be held at the Holiday Inn, 6583 US Hwy
49, Hattiesburg, MS 39401, phone 601-268-2850. Call for a brochure/registration
form. |
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