NEXT MEETING: June 25, 2011 1:00 p.m., Main Branch 151 Library Dr. Houma , LA 70360

The guest speaker was unable to make it to the meeting due to emergency.

GUEST SPEAKER
Yes! We do have a speaker, Orvis William Ellzey Jr. (Bill Ellzey), writer for the Courier on weekly local history piece based on interviews and on old accounts of the area, dug out of out of print publications. Born January 21, 1943 in a Florida military hospital not long before his father went overseas with the U.S. Army. His parents were typical north Louisiana protestants, raised in Sabine and Natchitoches parishes, near Many and Natchitoches. He does not pursue genealogy, but some of his relatives have traced the family trees have discovered mostly English ancestors, with perhaps one German branch. Ancestors seem to have arrived on the Virginia coast in the late 1600s, and migrated southwest through Mississippi to Louisiana, becoming established in Sabine parish before the Civil War. He migrated south to Terrebonne parish in 1964. He taught school briefly and worked for the Houma Courier/Terrebonne Press for about year before returning to college to complete an education degree at Northwestern and Nicholls. After retiring from teaching in 1988, he was recruited to write a twice-weekly column for the Courier. He did not pursue genealogy, partly because with the French and Catholic resources in Terrebonne Parish, this was not important in his almost exclusively English protestant ancestry. His wife, Lynn Barrios graduated from Terrebonne High in 1961.

SEMINARS
The 15th Annual Angelina College Genealogy Conference will take place on Friday & Saturday, July 15 & 16th. Two all-day optional sessions are offered on Thursday, July 14th. (1) Cemeteries. (2) Laws & social history “Family Myths and Realities” is designed to help family researchers and genealogists. Determine just what is fact and what is “suspect” as they conduct genealogical and historical research. Check out the website for lecturers and lecture topics and other events. A list of vendors is shown who are also well versed in genealogy. Full details and registration information are found at http://www.angelina.edu/genealogy/genealogy.html early registration helps us plan and saves you money. We hope you will consider joining us.

The Lafourche Heritage Society 35th Annual History & Genealogy Seminar will be on Saturday, August 6, 2011 at Envie Restaurant in Thibodaux, LA. Members will receive a register form. Registrations are also accepted on the Saturday morning on the day of the seminar at 8:30 a.m. the day ends around 3:00 p.m. To pre-register, please send your name and check to the Lafourche Heritage Society, P. O. Box 913, Thibodaux, LA 70302. Only participants who pre-register will be included in the count for a buffet lunch. Same day registration will not include lunch. There will be speakers and displays of family trees, bring your 15 generation tree to display. More information will come. We hope you will be there.

DEATHS
Olive Mary "Ollie" Pichoff passed away on, May 25, 2011 at the age of 86. She was the mother of Elaine Boudreaux, and mother-in-law of Ronald Boudreaux; grandmother of Rhonda Boudreaux Herrmann (Terrance), and great grandmother of Lauren Mari Sisk. She is also survived by two sisters, Joy Pichoff Gordon (Curtis) and Vera Ledet (Albert). She is predeceased by her brother, Harold Pichoff , and by her parents: Irving Pichoff and Christine Weber Pichoff . She was the godmother of Joy Gordon, Glen Pichoff , and Patrick Daigle. She retired from Celotex after 50 years. She was a member of Swingin' Ladies bowling team, Westbank Genealogy Society, Terrebonne Genealogy Society, and a charter member of the National WWII Museum. Interment will be in GOH Mausoleum Our Lady of Prompt Succor Cemetery, Westwego, LA.

Dorina Guidry Walker on Friday, May 20, 2011. Beloved wife of the late Neuville Adams and second husband Sanders Jack Walker . Mother of Carol Adams. Daughter of the late Ulysses and Emily Plaisance Guidry. Sister of the late Anna Mae Bergeron, Arthur, Earl, Eula, Eugene, Wilbert and Jerry Guidry. Survived by four sisters: Earline Bergeron, Geraldine Breaux, Emily Sampey and Eunice Bolotte.

Aline Matte died May 20, 2011 at the age of 81. Survivors included five sons: Jimmy Matte & wife Mary (Castille), Gary Matte & wife Laura (Matte) of Richard, LA,Wayne Matte & wife Florence (Castille) of Welch, LA. Michael Matte & wife Brenda (Matte), Glenn Matte of Church Point, LA; three daughters Dorothy M. Bergeron & husband Jess Bergeron, Jr. of Houma, LA; Marie M Mire & husband Dewey Mire of Lawtell, LA, and Sandra M. Duplechain of Richard, LA; a brother C. J. Matte & wife Bertha (Boone) of Richard, LA; a sister, Irene M. Courville of Morgan City, LA; twenty grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren, two step grandchildren and three step great-grandchildren. Her husband, Eliza Matte; a sister, Cecile M. Matte and her parents, Willis and Orelia Thibodeaux Matte, preceded her in death. She is buried in the St. Edward Cemetery in Richard, LA.

BOOK COMMITTEE
Can’t find a genealogy or family history book at the Terrebonne Parish Library and you would like to have it there. Jot down the title, author, publisher and if you now where it can be purchased; get that information to Sondras SAUCIER. She can be reached at (985) 688-6792 or email svbs3@yahoo.com. If you call leave a message of why you are calling her.

WORKING PROJECTS
We have several working projects, such as picture book of older family members from the area at the turn of the century. Several member are asking about the plantations and sugar farms from around the area, where, when and what happen to them. If you are interested in helping with this project or any other projects please contact one of the board members or officers.

OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS
Patricia Whitney, President; Louis Duet, Vice President; Nancy Wright, Treasurer; Sheila Rodrigue, Recording Secretary; Jess Bergeron, Correspondence Secretary; Ronald Berger, Sandra Boudreaux, Philip Chauvin, Jr., and Wanda Moore, all board members.

MEETING SCHEDULE
Meetings are the last Saturday monthly except for November and December. These are the dates for the rest of this year. June 25, July 30, August 27, September 25, October 29, 2011 all at Terrebonne Parish Main Library. On December 10, 2011 we will hold our annual social holiday gathering at Terrebonne Parish North Branch Library. All meetings start at 1:00 p.m. Join us.