TGS Newsletter
Vol. 25 No. 7 September 2006

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    First, let me get the apologies out of the way. If this newsletter reaches you after the meeting, I’m sorry but it couldn’t be helped. After putting up with a fever for two days, I went to the doctor’s office and he immediately put me in the hospital with septicemia (look it up). I’m writing this from there.
    As expected, the subject of illegitimacy and interracial unions generated some discussion at the meeting, but it was very respectful to the feelings of all. It is something we may all face at some time. When I was new to the field of genealogy, I naïvely thought that there was some mistake in my research when I found that the mother of Ruth COE was Sarah COE, and I could find no record of a marriage or even a father. I was informed by some of my New England friends that it happened as often in the early years of our country as it does today that children were born out of wedlock, and if the mother did not care to disclose who was the father of her child, she often carried the secret to her grave. Literally. After a few moments to get used to the idea, I “took it like a man” and went on finding out more interesting facts. I started to have fun when I found out interesting tidbits about my heritage. There wasn’t much to be particularly proud of. After all, the accomplishments and peccadilloes were not mine; I was just an onlooker. My grandchildren even thought it was cool when I discovered that one of our female ancestors was executed for witchcraft. Well, times do change, as well as our attitudes toward lots of things. It was a few years ago that the popular media had a field day when it was proved by DNA studies that Thomas JEFFERSON left more heirs than anybody had considered before, even though there was an abundance of family narratives to back it up. He evidently had at least one child by one of his slaves, although he never publicly acknowledged the relationship during his lifetime. Closer to our own time, Senator Strom THURMOND (R-SC) had supported an out-of-wedlock daughter with whom he had frequent contact but never introduced to his friends in Washington or South Carolina. It was only after his death that it was divulged to the press. Let’s take a lesson from our grandchildren (those of us who have them) and try to be more respectful of the feelings of others and maybe one day the distinction between the races will disappear. I hope you don’t mind my preaching a little, but I am really looking forward to that day.

DEATHS: 
    Cathy DANTIN SHANNON, a lifetime member from Florida, lost her mother on September 1, 2006. Our sympathies go out to Cathy and her family. Marie Albertine SAPIA DANTIN was 94, a native of Raceland, LA and resident of Lockport, LA. A funeral mass was held in Holy Savior Church in Lockport with burial in the church cemetery. She is survived by three daughters, Vivian D. BRUCE, Audrey D. BOUDREAUX and our member, Cathy. She is also survived by two sisters, Nola S. GARRISON and Velma S. GOOD; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, Luderic DANTIN; her parents Dave and Adele Leonize  BOSSUET  SAPIA; one son Lee DANTIN; one daughter, Suzanne D. Gilbert; four brothers, Harry, Eddie, Nolan and Emory SAPIA; and one sister, Winnie S. AUTIN.
    We are saddened to have to report the death of lifetime member Garnett Marie PICOU BOURGEOIS and her father Marsan Sylvestre PICOU who died within hours of each other on August 28, 2006. Mrs. BOURGEOIS’ burial took place in St. Francis de Sales Cemetery No.2. She is survived by one daughter, Kimberly B. ADAMS and husband Craig, two brothers, Ronald and John PICOU; two sisters, Kathryn P. VICKNAIR and Linda P. CHARPENTIER; and two grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her mother, Emily THIBODEAUX PICOU and her husband, Leroy Adam BOURGEOIS. 
     Her father, Marsan Sylvestre PICOU, was buried in St. Francis de Sales Cemetery No.2. He is survived by one brother, Webb PICOU, one sister, Lucy P. PORCHE and husband, Aaron; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alidore Joseph PICOU and Melina LeCOMPTE PICOU, and three brothers, Easton J., Bruce A., and Isadore PICOU. He was a retired owner and auto mechanic of Picou’s Auto Repair and a member of the Knights of Columbus.
  
BRICK WALL: 
    Don’t forget to bring your brick wall to put in the brick wall box at the next meeting. We will be pulling a new one out for our members’ consideration and research. At the last meeting, Barbara WHITFIELD was the only member present who was prepared to give the particulars on her brick wall, so she won the lottery by default. She is looking for the details of the marriage of James Vincent REYNOLDS (b.1858, d.1919) and Mirina McKENNA (b.1871, d.1915). Both of them were buried in St. Patrick’s Cemetery  No.1. She thinks James was born in Ireland or New Orleans, but another member, Kevin HERRIDGE, said that the last name is common in Wales. The couple had two children, James Vincent REYNOLDS Jr. (b.1880 in N.O., d. Aug. 1922 in N.O.) and Edna REYNOLDS, about whom nothing was given at the meeting. Barbara gave another brick wall, but I am going to save that until another day due to lack of space. Contact Barbara at 985-872-3185 (no collect calls, please) or email bbw21 at bellsouth.net or write her at 122 Manchester Dr., Houma, LA 70360-7996. She is anxiously awaiting your help. And bring your own brick wall next time, you may be the lucky winner!
  
CREOLE HERITAGE CELEBRATION & EXPO: 
    I wrote about this workshop/celebration in the last newsletter. This is just a reminder that the deadline for registration is Saturday, September 30, 2006, and the celebration extends over two days: October 12 and 13, 2006. To get a brochure and registration form, write CHC, NSU Box 5675, Natchitoches, LA 71497, email colsonj at nsula.edu or phone 318-357-6685. Better hurry, the late fee is $20.
  
LIMITED PRINTING: 
    We are pleased to announce a limited printing of the following Lafourche Comet (Daily Comet) newspaper extracts: 1)1950-1959 Deaths and marriage announcements. 2)1950-1959 Births. 3)1960-1969 Comet Deaths. 4)1970-1973 Comet Deaths. 5)1974-1977 Comet Deaths. 6)1978-1981 Comet Deaths. All books sell for $30.00 each. The special printing will be only for the number of books ordered. Deadline for ordering is December 31, 2006. Why don’t you leave this notice where a loved one can find it. He or she may be looking for gift ideas for Christmas.