Next meeting: Saturday, May 27, 2006, Main Branch
Library, Houma, LA 1:00 p.m.
TLL Spring Issue 2006
Collating Party from 12:30 to 3 p.m. at the North Branch Library
Thursday, May 25th
Helpers get their issue early.
Ya’ll come, now!
Can it be true? After all that happened to
us last year, does 60% of the population still have no family disaster
plan in place? It’s hard to believe, even knowing how some of us are procrastinators
and some more of us are convinced that “It’s not going to happen here.”
Is it because we have survived this time, so we think lightning doesn’t
strike twice in the same place? If that’s so, I’ve got news for you. It
does. It can. And it probably will. Aren’t there any Boy Scouts left that
believe in the motto “Be Prepared?” Well, if there are, you will be happy
with our plans for this month’s program. Our speaker, none other than our
peripatetic recording secretary, Sheila RODRIGUE, will talk about “Long-term
Evacuation: Been There, Done That.” Plus we will give you a form to help
your family make a plan for any disaster. Not JUST a hurricane, but it
will do for that, too. You will be glad you came. I promise.
Speaking of Sheila RODRIGUE, our recording
secretary, reminds me that when she read the minutes of the March meeting
at the April meeting, I suddenly remembered something. She reminded me
that I had forgotten to mention our illustrious editor, Audrey WESTERMAN,
in the April newsletter. I should have told everyone about the Lifetime
Achievement Award that was presented to Audrey by the Lafourche Heritage
Society for her outstanding work. We all know what a wonderful researcher
she is, but it is nice to be recognized by your peers. Good Job, Audrey,
we’re proud of you!
You may remember that the Executive Board
of our Society voted to replace any of our quarterlies that were lost to
Hurricanes Katrina or Rita by libraries on the Gulf Coast. We recently
received a thank-you letter. You may be interested in hearing what they
said. It is from the West Biloxi Branch Library at 2047 Pass Road, Biloxi,
MS 39531. I quote “Thank you for your generous donation of the Terrebonne
Life Lines journals to the Murella H. Powell Local History & Genealogy
Collection of the Biloxi Public Library, Harrison County Library System.
The Local History & Genealogy Department is now located in the West
Biloxi Library, and we are excited to have these journals as our collections
redevelop post-Hurricane Katrina. Our researchers and staff will appreciate
your contribution to our collections for many years to come. Thank you
again for this valuable resource, and we are proud to make it available
for our patrons...” It is signed by Jamie Ellis, Local History & Genealogy
Librarian. If you should happen to visit the library, tell them you are
proud to be a member of TGS.
DEATHS: Noted author Jacqueline K. VOORHIES Born in Bucharest,
Romania, Jackie VOORHIES attended school both in Romania and France. She
completed her education with an M.A. in Foreign Languages and taught at
the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL).
During her time as an instructor at USL, she was a researcher and translator
for the USL Archives and Center for Louisiana Studies. She is the author
of numerous articles, books and essays on the Acadian people in Louisiana.
Mrs. VOORHIES played an active role in her
community. In 1974, she was responsible for the erection of the historical
bilingual markers on Main Street and has recently been involved in a project
to restore them. She served in various capacities preserving the French
culture in Louisiana. For example, she played an active role in the Council
for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL) and served as co-chair
of the twinning of the city of New Iberia with Woluwe-St. Pierre in Belgium.
She also was instrumental in the formation of Les Sons du Teche, a Christmas
chorale in New Iberia.
She is survived by her husband, Dr. Vernon
A. VOORHIES of New Iberia; five daughters and sons-in-law, Valerie and
Davy BURTON, Cathy and Johnny INDEST, Aline VOORHIES, Marie and Eddy FROIS,
and Dean STOKES; two sons and daughters-in-law, M. Alexis and Gwen VOORHIES
and Steven and Gabriela VOORHIES.
She is also survived by thirteen grandchildren
and their spouses, and by a first cousin, William STEINBACH of California.
Former member Geraldine Navarre BULLOCK
died on Monday, December 26, 2005. She was a native and resident of Gretna,
LA. She is survived by three daughters: Janet RICHARD, Barbara SCHMITT,
Connie LOOMIS and a son, Ralph LACOSTE; two brothers, Robert and Michael
NAVARRE; 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. She was 84 years
of age. She was preceded in death by first husband Octave J. LACOSTE and
second husband James G. BULLOCK; sisters Ethel CLEM, Valerie and Mary NAVARRE;
and brothers Roy Sr. and Elmo NAVARRE. Burial at Westlawn Memorial Park,
Gretna, Louisiana.
Member Dorothy C. CHAISSON died at 5:30
a. .m. Monday, April 17, 2006. She is survived by her husband of 45 years,
Nolan James CHAISSON of Houma; four sons, Kenneth Dean CHAISSON and partner,
Anita JOHNSON, Keith Daniel CHAISSON and wife, Jamie Lynn DUPLANTIS, Cary
James CHAISSON and wife, Judy Lynn WEBRE, and Chad Michael CHAISSON, senior
at Nicholls State University; two daughters, Karen CHAISSON MORVANT and
husband, Joseph C. MORVANT Jr., and Crissie CHAISSON PITRE and husband,
Madrid A. PITRE; three brothers, Glynn Joseph CUNNINGHAM and wife, Sue
MAXEY, Albert Joseph CUNNINGHAM Jr. and wife, Evelyn HENRY, and Daniel
Keith CUNNINGHAM and wife, Tammy CHAMPAGNE; 11 grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents,
Albert Joseph CUNNINGHAM Sr. and Edith Marie GUIDRY; one sister, Carol
Ann WOOLEY; her maternal grandparents, Jean Eddie GUIDRY and Marie Olivia
BOURG; her paternal grandparents, Joseph Louis CUNNINGHAM and Cornelia
Virginie DeROCHE; and her paternal step-grandfather, Whitney HUTCHINSON.
She served as a religious-education teacher and aide during the 80s
and 90s. She also served as Eucharistic Minister at Annunziata Catholic
Church.
She was a homemaker and worked alongside her
husband in a small business. She loved genealogy, photo projects on her
computer and loved to sew. She also loved to spoil her grandchildren.
Former member, Georgia "Jay" Ella SAVOIE PORCHE,
81, a native of Bayou Blue, died after a battle with Alzheimer’s at 8:50
a.m. Monday, April 24, 2006. She was buried in Matherne Cemetery.
She is survived by three children, Darlene
BERGERON and husband, Kenneth, Gilbert POCHE and wife, Theresa, and Faith
BOUDREAUX and husband, Don; one brother, Earl SAVOIE and wife, Morine;
one sister, Rhoda GROS; 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband,
Dewey John "Pete" PORCHE, two children, Pomela Amanda and Dewey John "Sonny";
her parents, Gabriel Joseph and Gracious MARTIN SAVOIE; four brothers,
Warren, Hudson, Nolan and Titus; and six sisters, Nora, Lorina, Eula, Hilda,
Esther and Ruth.
She was a pioneer in many endeavors during
her lifetime. She was instrumental in the formation of DAV, VA Genealogical
Society and Women’s Ministries in the Houma-Terrebonne area. She helped
to establish the Bayou Blue Recreation Center and the Bayou Blue Senior
Citizens Center. She was a farmer’s wife, a Girl Scout leader, Sunday-school
teacher and a Sunshine Sister. She was the first cosmetologist and beautician
in Bayou Blue. She will be remembered best for her singing and playing
the guitar, her crocheted afghans, fresh homemade bread, having family
functions, loving and spoiling her grandchildren and by being there every
time someone needed a home-cooked meal.
GENEALOGICAL WORKSHOP will be held in Natchitoches, LA, on Saturday,
September 30, 2006. Speakers will be Robert de BERARDINIS and Judy RIFFEL.
(The note under Mr. de BERARDINIS’ description says you are encouraged
to bring records that you need transcribed. True!) For the afternoon session,
the Natchitoches Parish Courthouse and the Genealogy Library will be open
for research, and assistance will be available. Cost is only $25.00, and
that includes morning refreshments. For more information, write the Natchitoches
Genealogical & Historical Association, P. O. Box 1349, Natchitoches,
LA 71458-1349, or phone 318-357-2235, or email ngha at wnonline.net
WEST BANK GENEALOGY SOCIETY: In case you haven’t heard, their
meetings are now being held at the Library in Westwego. Please make an
effort to attend.
LOOKING FOR PICTURES: Mrs. Veronese DOUGLAS is looking for help
with her documentation of the schools in the area that served the children
of African-American descent. She asked if anyone had pictures or records
of attendance at the Houma Negro High School (Naval Base School) or the
Public School on Church Street, or the Houma Colored Elementary School,
to please contact her. You may write her at 110 Morrison Ave., Houma, LA
70364-2944, or call 985-868-1641 (no collect calls, please). This is a
story that is crying out to be told. Please help her if you can.
OBITUARY BOOKS, 2005: We are taking orders NOW for the Lafourche
Comet Deaths, 2005, the Houma Courier Deaths, 2005, and the Houma Courier
Engagements and Births, 2005. Prices of each book will be found on the
order form included with this newsletter. Just remember, it’s better to
be able to say “I’m glad I did,” than “I wish I had.” We do not carry these
books with our regular publications. We print enough to satisfy the orders
we get and then it is over. Done. Fini. |