Terrebonne Genealogical Society

TGS Newsletter
Vol. 24 No. 9 November 2005

Visit our home page at http://www.rootsweb.com/~laterreb/tgs.htm
Membership, book orders and/or 
     address changes, contact: 
      Corresponding Secretary: Jess Bergeron 
      Email:  jessndot at juno.com
      Phone (985) 876–2348 
      TGS, Station 2 Box 295, Houma, LA 70360-0295 		 News items or events, contact: 
     Newsletter Editor  Ed Hicks
      5306 Hwy 1, Raceland, LA 70394-2033 
      E-mail: edhicks at mobiletel.com
      Phone: (985) 532–3586 
NEXT MEETING: 
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Main Branch Library, Houma, LA 1:00 p.m.
  
     Our October meeting was very well attended, considering all the hardships that we have gone through. Maybe it was good for us just to get back to something we consider normal. Well, if that is true, I’ve got something else you will like. The following passage, taken from a newsletter from 2001, still applies. Read it, remember, and put it on your calendar.
     “...at our Christmas Social we sometimes fail to get around to genealogy. Somehow, the discussion wanders to good things to eat, recipes for the same, and thoughtful gift-giving. All of these are in evidence at this one special meeting during the holiday season. Please make plans to attend, and, if possible, bring something to add to our groaning table as well as a gift (or two) to put under our imaginary tree. We will have Santa’s helpers (Marcie and Essie Cavalier) there to help distribute the gifts. This may take up a large part of the time, since the number of gifts far outnumbers the members in attendance. We have been known to go around the room two or three times, with everyone getting something each time. Of course, we won’t throw you out of the meeting if you happen to mention a ‘brick wall’ that you have encountered in your research. It’s amazing how much advice our members are willing to give.
     “To get back to that groaning table, you may want to bring snack-type foodstuffs, either salty or sweet (even vegetables), either homemade or purchased ready-made, or you might prefer to bring hardware (plastic flatware and cups or paper plates and napkins). Whatever you bring will be put to good use, and it will make you feel better, knowing you participated. So try to find something to bring. You’ll be glad you did.” [from v.21, no.9 — Nov./Dec. 2001] As far as I know, if you do your part, we’ll do ours, and things will be either “normal” or very close to that ideal. Just remember: Keep it Light and Hang Loose. [P.S. You may want to ask Phil about his “Pride and Joy.”]
  
DEATHS: Our sympathies go out to a recent member, William CASTLE of Pittsford, NY, in the loss of his brother, Isaac CASTLE, native of Houma and resident of New Orleans. He is survived by his devoted companion, Evelyn VENIBLE, one daughter, Sandy KING, one son, Isaac CASTLE Jr., one stepdaughter, Sylvia MITCHELL, one stepson, Ovid MITCHELL Jr.; five brothers, Louis CASTLE and wife, Willie Mae, Curvin CASTLE Jr., and wife, Arnolia PORTER, Joseph CASTLE and wife, Doris WILLIAMS, William CASTLE and wife, Musette, and Donald CASTLE and wife, Cynthia; five sisters, Josie Mae AUSTIN, Carolyn CARTER and husband, Carlus, Rosalyn CASTLE, Clara BARABIN and husband, Albert, and Paulette LAY; eight grandchildren; his god-brothers and god-sisters Guidry WILLIAMS, Edrick JOHNSON, Melene MATEN, Lorita GAMBLE and Edrina HOWARD; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Curvin CASTLE and Riffie CHAMPAGNE CASTLE; his god-parents, Loretta and Edward JOHNSON, one daughter, Shannon MITCHELL; his god-brother, Melvin WILLIAMS and his god-sister, Clara Mae WILSON. He spent most of his formative years and all his adult life in New Orleans. He lived with his god-parents.
     We would also like to take this opportunity to extend sympathies to member Wanda L. GAIDRY, who lost her brother, Leland “Polene” LEDET Jr. He is survived by his wife, Diana GUIDRY LEDET, one son, Lance Patrick LEDET and wife Margaret “Maggie,” one daughter, Tammy LEDET DUPRE and husband Clifton DUPRE; two brothers, Dane P. LEDET and Keith John LEDET; three sisters, Wanda LEDET GAIDRY, Lisa K. LEDET and Melinda B. LEDET; and two grandchildren, Cierra M HUGHES and Samantha C. HUGHES. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leland Joseph LEDET Sr. and Doris Marie PRESTENBACH LEDET. He was a retired charter boat captain and a parishioner of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Houma.
Charter member Pat S. BLANCHARD mourns the recent loss of her mother. We send our heartfelt sympathy to her, as well. Levine Lee JASEK SCHMIDT was a native of Fayetteville, TX, and is survived by three sons, Richard Charles SCHMIDT, Toxie Lee SCHMIDT Jr. and Timothy SCHMIDT; one daughter, Patricia Ann SCHMIDT BLANCHARD and husband Minus; one brother, Jermon Arnold JASEK; seven sisters, Angeline Mae DOWELL and husband Herman, Jeraldine BLUM and husband Henry, Celestine WIDACKI and husband Valerina “Bill,” Esther TOUCHET and husband Elias, Irene MICHAISKY and husband Alfred, Bertha Jean RUETHER and husband LeRoy, and Gloria BARTA and husband Edwin “Eddie;” 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, Toxie Lee SCHMIDT Sr.; her parents, Henry JASEK and Sophie KURTZMANN JASEK; one granddaughter, Donna BLANCHARD PRINCE; one daughter-in-law Diane SPENCE SCHMIDT; one brother, Henry Willie JASEK; and one sister, Mrs. Ivy DELL CURRY. She was a homemaker.
     I am deeply saddened to inform you that our member, Aimée GRILLET, lost her husband, A. William “Bill” GRILLET Jr., recently, following a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, Aimée Rita HOTARD GRILLET; one brother, Brother Cassian Edwin F.S.C., born Thomas Emile GRILLET; two sons, John Paul GRILLET and wife Cindy SHARP, and Thomas André GRILLET; one daughter, Joan G. ADAMS and husband Jody; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elizabeth TAYLOR GRILLET and A. William GRILLET Sr.; and one brother, 1st Lt. John Joseph GRILLET with the U.S. Air Force. Bill was a sugar chemist for Southdown Sugars. He was a 1934 graduate of Loyola University of the South, served as sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II and chemist and chief chemist for several sugar refineries in Louisiana and Texas. In later years, he became laboratory manager and was instrumental in the start of the bacteriological water lab for Terrebonne Waterworks District No. 1.
  
OPERATION BRICK WALL: We are still accepting your brick wall situations, just not for the last couple of meetings. Just because we skipped having the feature last month, and plan to skip next meeting, because we are having a more “party” type of meeting, doesn’t mean we stopped altogether. Please come prepared to present your information for your most puzzling ancestor. Her name, or his parents, or their children, a date of birth, marriage or death you are trying to find. Jot down the vital facts you DO have and bring them to the next meeting. Our quarterly editor asks that you make a second copy to submit to our Terrebonne Life Lines as a query. It is more permanent and has a much broader coverage; you’ll be surprised, maybe. I have had good results, as has my wife. Ask any genealogist to share his/her query experience and you’ll see.
  
DUES: I almost forgot! We are collecting dues for next year. Our fiscal year extends from the first of March to the last day of February, so you are a member until then. You may rest assured that we will only collect a check from you once in a fiscal year. Come February, you can tell if you are a paid-up member by looking at your newsletter mailing label. If you pay your dues now you won’t be taking a chance of missing even one newsletter or quarterly.
  
HURRICANES . . . KATRINA AND RITA: That’s the title of our latest publication. Phil Chauvin Jr., our illustrious President, occupied his time during the hurricanes by collecting all the articles published in the Houma Courier about those two storms. He compiled all the news from Friday, August 26, 2005, when Katrina hit south Florida, until Friday, September 30, 2005. I’m sure many of you have friends and family in this area and are disappointed in the coverage by your own local papers and national TV. You will be better informed when you see the pictures and read the articles in this book. Note: Phil was given permission by the Houma Courier to publish and sell this book. We are a non-profit organization.
  
GIFT IDEA: Trying to think of a nice gift for that fellow genealogist? Or for helping someone get started in this fascinating hobby of ours? Check out our new South Louisiana Vital Records, Vol. 11, 1936-1937. The date of our next meeting, December 10, 2005, is the last day to get the pre-publication price. And, get this: you can pick up the book at the meeting! Is that a good deal or what? Don’t miss this opportunity. That’s $30 for a book whose normal selling price is $40, and that’s what you will pay after December 10.
 
ELECTION COMMITTEE: Members of our Election Committee are Dorothy M. Bergeron, Marceline “Marcie” L. Cavalier, and Gloria G. Hicks. Now is your chance to get on the board. There will be a vacancy come next year, so we will be looking for a replacement or two. If you are interested, just drop a hint to one of these ladies, and they will see to it that your name is added to the list of candidates. Most people don’t know what they are missing. If you are like me, you spent almost your whole lifetime avoiding “volunteer” duties. After I retired I figured I could commit to a couple of hours a month, so I put my name in the ring. I do not regret that action. I have really enjoyed being a part of this excellent organization, and meeting all the wonderful, generous, and caring people that form the membership. I was sorry that I had not volunteered sooner. Just think of all the people I could have known and didn’t.
  
ARE YOU DISPLACED? Or do you know any of our members who is? Our October newsletter mailed to Joyce REILLY LEWIS, of Meraux, LA, came back. There is a change of address sticker directing it to Clinton, LA, then another stamp placed over that one saying that her mail is not deliverable and unable to forward. Can anybody help? Do you know Joyce or any of her kin? I’m afraid this is going to happen often. I have a feeling that many of our publications are not being forwarded, but will you send us a change of address if you are not where we think you are? Please? If this doesn’t reach you, I don’t know what can.
  
SEMINAR: We just received the announcement of the Mississippi Genealogical Society and Mississippi Dept. of Archives and History’s annual genealogical seminar to be held on 21 January 2006 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It will be held at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in Jackson, MS. For additional information, call 601-924-9346, or email roystonana at aol.com or landinmc at aol.com. There will be a block of rooms held at Country Inn & Suites in Flowood, MS. The speaker will be Charles SHERRILL, and his topics will include Tennessee Records, Honorably Discharged Military Pension Record Research, Finding Genealogical Treasures in Manuscript Collections, and others. Cost of the seminar is $30, not including lunch.
  
FAMILY HISTORY BOOKS: For those who may not have heard: the LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) Family History Library has begun making available on the internet all of the Family History books in their collection. About 5000 books have been coverted to digital images and are available at the following site: http://www.lib.byu.edu/fhc/ or, if you need an alternative in case that does not work, try http://www.rootsweb.com/~ote/ and choose “Family History Books Online.” This is a fabulous collection. Try it out. The last site has many links to other sites. Investigate them as well.
   
WHERE IS YOUR STORY? Or query, or family information? We are still waiting. It seems no one is aware that we want more material for the quarterly. Maybe if more of our members would stop and think about the future. What will happen to your research? Who will hear your mother’s stories? Have you told them all to each one of your children? Will they pass them on? Will your files be carried away by hurricane winds or water? Now, what if they are published in our little quarterly. Did you know that we send quarterlies to libraries all over the United States, including the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.? Think of sending us copies of your work as preserving them for posterity. Do your share to increase the knowledge available to researchers everywhere; write down and send in your information or query. Do it now. Later may be too late.

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