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It lay beneath shrubbery at the rear of a service station for decades.
Its three names unfamiliar, its origins vague, and its transit from the final resting place of a local family’s burial plot might have had something to do with elephants.
David Rose, owner of Scotty’s Towing adjacent to the lot where his family’s OST station stood for decades, said he remembers when the headstone probably arrived when he was around 10 years old. A truck came, likely an old flatbed GMC truck with wood sides. He said one truck “just shoved off all kinds of debris. Bricks and what-not here…I think that’s how grandpa got into it. Whoever the contractor was had a bunch of bricks from a house on Circle Drive, they were adding onto.”
The house on the lot where the headstone rested all those decades was behind the OST location. Undamaged bricks were stacked neatly, the rest piled up.
“I always asked him, ‘Grandpa, we used to play right here because of the bamboo that was all through here, somebody must have died here.”
“No, no, that’s just pothole material, don’t worry about that,” his grandfather said. “I remember when it was dropped here from that truck. We’ve never touched it, it was never moved.”
Rose mentioned the artifact to local resident Chris Freeman, who maintains an active Facebook page on his research and investigations in to the history of the local area, “The Curious Historian's Historical Society.”
“I contacted Suzanne Wiltz, and she began checking around,” Freeman said, and one contact led to another, which then led to Deborah Robinson, all the way in Maryland, through her mother’s cousin, Mary Pecot. Mary refers to Deborah as “the family historian.”
There are three names on the headstone:
Mary L. Fontenot Pecot died in 1887 at 75 years of age. Her children listed on the headstone were Louise Pecot, died in 1892 at age 48, and Arthemeise Pecot, died 1895 at age 55.
Mary L. was an African-American woman, and Pecot was white. They were the parents of five.
Pierre Pecot and Mary Louise Fontenot were not married, but they are listed as the parents of Louis and Arthemeise’s brother.
Freeman said there are three possible locations the headstone may have come from: the Franklin Cemetery across the street, a cemetery that was once on Fourth Street where Broussard-Harris Recreation Center is today, and a slim possibility that it came from a Willow Street cemetery where the city market is.
“Suzanne didn’t tell me exactly what it was,” Robinson recalled. Wiltz sent her Freeman’s phone number and they connected. “When he started reading the name, I was so overwhelmed…he had been asking if anyone knew those names, but you see how old they are.”
She came to Franklin immediately.
“I was like, oh my gosh, this woman is coming all the way from Maryland!” Freeman said. “To come see this? This means a lot to her.”
Robinson said, “If he’s going to do all that he’s done, the least I can do is come down and help him.”
She regularly makes trips to Franklin to study the family history. The headstone is broken at the top, with a length of iron bar sticking out, signifying that some decorative feature, possibly a cross, is missing.
“The thing is,” Freeman said, “we’re going to try walking around the cemetery to see if we can find any pieces that match…if we can find the piece that matches the etching (in the stone), we know it originated from the big city cemetery. If we don’t find it, it might have been from either of the other two cemeteries.”
“Or it’s buried in the dirt,” Robinson added.
Robinson said the family has a plot in the city cemetery. “So I can’t figure out…we’ve had that plot forever,” she said.
“There’s a history all the way back to the 1800s. Mary was a free person of color. My mother is the only surviving member of the people that grew up in Franklin at 505 Iberia St. She’s 96. She went to her 70th Dillard reunion, and we brought her here because she hadn’t been to Franklin in a long time, and we knew this would be the last trip, really.”
There are plans to clean and restore the section of the marker.
So how do elephants fit into this story?
In October, 1971, there was a 2 a.m. vehicle accident that overturned a truck carrying four elephants.
The Banner-Tribune reported that the animals roamed through town a bit, including the cemetery, and locals say some of the headstones and other fixtures were damaged by the huge beasts. The newspaper headline noted, “Grave Slabs Broken.”
“Following the mishap, Taffy, Jewle, Freda and Jackie, occupants of the trailer, were led to safety at a location behind a small building near the OST Service Station,” it was reported. “Although injured, an attendant remained with the elephants until another truck arrived to transport them to New Orleans. They are scheduled to appear in a four-day stand with Clyde Beaty-Cole Bros. Circus. None of the elephants were injured.
“According to the police report the truck driver, James Borie Hunger, of Cleveland, Ohio, was headed south on Main Street and he stated that when he was negotiating the curve the elephants in the trailer shifted, causing him to lose control of the truck, which turned over.
“A telephone pole was broken and tombstones and slabs of four graves in the cemetery were moved and broken exposing the coffins within.
“The elephants and attendants moved out at about 7 a.m.
There’s no firm evidence that the elephants caused the relocation of Mary L. Fontenot Pecot’s headstone, or from where, the city cemetery across the road, or elsewhere.
But it’s easy to believe that sometimes, there is no such thing as random coincidence.
Registrar of Voters Jolene Holcombe announced appointment and swearing in of a new chief deputy.
Clerk of Court Cliff Dressel performed the oath of office last week. The previous chief deputy, Joni Ronsonet, retired April 5, and Holcombe hired Byron Stelly on May 20.
He is originally from St. Landry Parish, is a graduate of LSU with a degree in Political Science. He comes to the Registrar’s office from the Secretary of State’s Office, and has election experience. He has conducted early voting in Orleans and East Baton Rouge parishes during his tenure there. Stelly has used the new early voting machines that will be utilized across the state for the fall elections when he assisted with early voting in East Baton Rouge Parish for their May election. He has experience with programming, ballot proofing, post-election auditing and more.
Michael Thomas brings his first annual Camp Mike T to the area June 17.
Michael William Thomas Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He played college football for Ohio State University. Thomas holds the NFL record for the most receptions by a player through his first three seasons, with 321. Thomas led the league in receptions in the 2018 season.
Camp Mike T will be held at 4C’s Ministry, 1560 Cypremort St., Jeanerette. Michael will hold an open dialogue with youths on a range of topics such as education, financial literacy, life as a student athlete and social activism. A healthy breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Camp Mike T is free to the public and registration is from 7-8 a.m. and 9 a.m. until the camp begins. Registration can also be made by email, campmiket4c@gmail.com. There are elementary, middle school and high school divisions. Provide the participants name, age, school, shirt size, parents’ name and address and phone number.
A waiver and consent form will be given after registration that must be signed by a legal guardian, which can be sent back to the email address or presented when arriving at the camp. This form is mandatory.
Until further notice due to rising water, East Stephensville Road, Tower Tank Road, Four Mile Bayou Road, Landry Street, Adell Street, and Edna Street in lower St. Martin Parish remain closed to vehicular traffic except for residents who reside there.
Only Stephensville Road and Bayou Estates Subdivision have reopened, a St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office news release said.
Do not sightsee or attempt to go around barricades and/or signage that have been put in place, and please be respectful of those who live in these affected areas. Do not attempt to drive through standing water on the roadway, by doing so, it can lead to deadly consequences.
A 26-year-old man was arrested in Siracusaville after authorities learned he was threatening to bust a vehicle’s windows, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith said in a news release.
—Brennan Norton Skinner Sr., 26, of Grace Street in Siracusaville, was arrested at 10:40 a.m. Thursday on a charge of resisting arrest or an officer and warrants for failure to appear on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, simple escape, attempted possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and domestic abuse battery first offense child present.
Deputies were dispatched to the 100 block of Grace Street in Siracusaville in reference to a disturbance. Upon arrival, deputies learned Skinner was threatening to break out windows in a vehicle, Smith said.
When deputies arrived, Skinner began to flee. They were able to locate Skinner on Joseph Street in Siracusaville a short time later. A background check on Skinner revealed the active warrants. He was jailed with no bail set.
Smith reported that deputies responded to 47 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Darren Joseph Jackson, 34, of Jordin Lane in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 3:15 p.m. Thursday on a charge of violation of protective orders.
A deputy was dispatched to the 100 block of Todd Lane in Bayou Vista in reference to a violation of a protective order. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with the complainant who stated Jackson was making contact with her by phone. The deputy learned Jackson violated a protective order that was in place, Smith said. He was jailed with bail set at $2,500.
—Russell Quintin Francis Jr., 34, of Mill Road in Patterson, was arrested at 3:38 p.m. Thursday on a warrant charging him with disturbing the peace intoxicated. Francis was located at his home on the active warrant. He was released on a summons to appear in court Aug. 28.
Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported that officers responded to 39 calls and reported the following arrests:
—Passion Harris, 22, of 11th Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:40 a.m. Thursday on a warrant charging her with three counts of failure to appear in court. Harris was located at the police department and arrested on a city court warrant. Harris was jailed.
—Jesse Blakeman, 25, of Cypress Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:08 a.m. Thursday on a warrant charging him with two counts of failure to appear in court.
Officers came into contact with Blakeman on Cypress Street. A warrant check revealed city court had a warrant for his arrest. He was jailed.
—Joynique Phillips, 22, of Apple Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:11 p.m. Thursday on a warrant charging her with two counts of simple battery.
Officers came into contact with Phillips on Apple Street. A warrant check revealed police had two separate active warrants for simple battery. The warrants allege Phillips committed a battery on a victim March 13 and March 27. She was jailed.
—Angela Marie Boudreaux, 43, of Chester Bowles Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:12 p.m. Thursday on charges of proper equipment required on vehicles and driving under suspension.
An officer observed a traffic violation on La. 182 and conducted a traffic stop. The driver was identified as Boudreaux. A computer check revealed her license was under suspension. She was jailed.
—Renata Jolene Harris, 38, of Bush Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:39 p.m. Thursday on charges of tail lamps-license plate light, expired license plate and driving under suspension.
An officer observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation on La. 70 and conducted a traffic stop. The driver was identified as Harris. A computer check revealed her vehicle’s license plate was expired and her driver’s license was under suspension, Blair said. She was jailed.
Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported the following arrest:
—Eddie Ramirez-Sanchez Jr., 28, of Oriole Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:10 p.m. Thursday on a charge of disturbing the peace by alarming the public. Cash bail was set at $356.
Chitimacha Police Chief Hal Hutchinson reported the following arrest relating to east St. Mary Parish:
—James Therold, 35, of Berwick, was arrested Friday on charges of remaining where forbidden and disturbing the peace by public intoxication. He was transported to parish jail. An officer responded to a tribal business in reference to an intoxicated person. During the investigation, the officer learned Therold was involved and was arrested, Hutchinson said.
Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported no arrests.
Col. Michael Clancy, commander of the Army Corps of Engineers’ New Orleans District, had sobering news for south Louisiana when he spoke May 23 to a waterways group in New Orleans.
“We are in a historic [Mississippi] river flood,” he said. “It is the wettest year on record for 124 years, since the National Weather Service began keeping records. We’re breaking records up and down the river now for the longest period in flood stage.”
And heavy rains were still falling regularly in the upper Mississippi River Valley, sending more water into the swollen river, making it inevitable that some of the gates of the Morganza spillway would be opened for only the third time since the control structure was built in 1954.
The spillway begins at the Mississippi River in Pointe Coupee Parish and eventually joins the Atchafalaya Basin floodway near Krotz Springs at the eastern edge of St. Landry. The control structure has 125 gates, but it is unlikely that even a quarter of them will be opened.
Fully opened, the spillway can divert up to one-fifth of the water in the Mississippi away from stressed levees guarding Baton Rouge and New Orleans and other downriver places. But the torrent of water it sends into the Basin swirls across 25,000 acres of farms and grazing land, through timberlands, and over and around crawfish traps, pipelines, and oil and gas operations, finally funneling to a narrow stretch of river at Morgan City.
The town is better protected today, but the prospect of flooding still causes people with long memories to recall how close it came to ruination when some of Morganza’s gates were opened for the first time in 1973.
Back then, Morgan City was partially protected by a seven-foot-high floodwall that had been built in the 1940s. Parts of the wall had been raised to about 10 feet by then, but nobody knew for certain exactly what would happen when the gates were opened. C. R. “Doc” Brownell, who was mayor of Morgan City for more than 30 years, had a pretty good idea.
“If you open the gates, you’ll wipe out Morgan City,” he warned Tommy Sands, then the New Orleans district engineer. Sands didn’t say so explicitly, but everyone, including Brownell, knew that the Corps had only a devil’s option: Leave the gates closed and risk flooding New Orleans, or open the gates and put Morgan City at risk. That decision was also inevitable.
Even before the gates were opened, Morgan City residents began to add sandbags and plywood walls, and anything else they could think of, to the top of their levee. Then they crossed their fingers and prayed. As it ended up, they raised the levee just enough, just barely enough, and their makeshift work somehow held against the rising river.
But then there was another problem: The levee ended downstream from the city, and water began going around it and creeping back up Bayou Chene toward the town’s back door. People thought he was crazy when Mayor Brownell had a 1,500-ton barge sunk in the bayou. It turned out to be not such a looney idea; it held back just enough water, once again just barely enough.
The Corps and the Mississippi River Commission and the local levee boards took a hard look at the entire flood control system in the lower Mississippi after the 1973 flood, and one of the results was that the Morgan City floodwall was raised to more than 20 feet and levees were built to help control backwater flooding.
When 17 of the Morganza gates were opened in May 2011 the water rose to the highest it had ever been at Morgan City, high enough that the 1973 floodwall and all of its sandbags would not have been able to contain it. But the new wall did its work and the flood was kept away from Front Street and the rest of the town.
The water could rise a bit higher this year than in 2011. We were in a drought when the gates were opened then and the parched ground soaked up some of the water. This year everything’s pretty well saturated so the same amount of water flowing through the gates will raise the water level higher.
The good news is that we’ve learned some lessons from the past experience. Protection levees are generally higher and stronger. Morganza’s gates will be opened just a few at a time so that the Basin won’t flood as quickly. And Doc Brownell’s crazy idea has already been imitated; the barge guarding Morgan City’s backside was moved into place a week ago.
A collection of Jim Bradshaw’s columns, "Cajuns and Other Characters," is now available from Pelican Publishing. You can contact him at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.
August 11, 1941 — May 28, 2019
Warren Andrew Rink, 77, of Kokomo, Indiana, passed away at 3:55 p.m., Tuesday, May 28, 2019, at Waterford Place Health Campus in Kokomo. He was born August 11, 1941, in Morgan City, Louisiana, the son of the late Alcide A. and Mary (Moore) Rink. On January 29, 1966, he married Katheryn Sewell and she survives.
Warren was a 1961 graduate of Morgan City High School, and a graduate of Northwestern University where he earned a degree in Electronics. He served with the United States Army during the Korean War from 1963-1966. Warren worked for Welex and Lowes in Houma, Louisiana. He was a member of Bible Baptist Church. Early in his marriage Warren trusted in Jesus as his savior and throughout his life he served actively in churches he attended.
Along with his wife, Katheryn, Warren is survived by his children, Warren Andrew (Rebecca) Rink II, and Wendy (Dan) Murphy; grandchildren, Whitney (Elisha) Andrews, Kimberly Rink, Wesley Rink, William Rink, Bennett Rink, Julia Murphy, Shawn Murphy and Sarah Murphy; great-grandchildren, Ezra Rink and Rhydian LeBoeuf; and sisters, Helen Toups and Betty (Don) Romaire.
Warren was preceded in death by his parents; twin brother, Wayne Rink; and brother, Jimmy Rink.
A memorial service will be held at noon on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at Bible Baptist Church, 2635 S. Dixon Road, Kokomo, with Pastor Keith Treadway and Dan Murphy officiating. Military honors will be provided by the United States Army and the Kokomo VFW Military Rites Team. The family will receive friends after the services. Another memorial service will be held at a later date in Morgan City, Louisiana. Memorial contributions may be made in Warren’s memory to Bible Baptist Church.
Stout & Son Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.stoutandson.com.
December 28, 1935 — May 28, 2019
Doris “Totsie” Giroir Harrington, 83, a resident of Patterson, passed away Tuesday, May 28, 2019, at Teche Regional Medical Center, surrounded by her loving family.
Doris was born December 28, 1935, in Morgan City, the daughter of Ulysse Giroir and Mary Solar Giroir.
Doris loved to play bingo at Central Catholic and the AARP building in Morgan City. She was also a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.
She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her husband of 51 years, Wilmer Harrington of Patterson; one son, William C. Mumford IV “Billy” and wife Gina of Patterson; one brother, Billy Giroir; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Ulysse and Mary Giroir; two brothers, Joseph and Edward Giroir; and seven sisters, Edith LaBoeuf, Edna Gussman, Enola Breaux, Amy Shely, Anette Theriot, Eula Mae Aucoin and Agnes “Lee Lee” Tophman.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, June 1, 2019, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Morgan City with Father Bennerfield officiating. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. with a rosary being recited at 7 p.m., Friday, May 31, 2019, at Twin City Funeral Home. Visitation will continue Saturday, June 1, 2019, from 11 a.m. until the time of Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. After Mass, Doris will be laid to rest in Morgan City Cemetery.
The devotion to Mary, Mother of Godwas was celebrated in May by Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court Massabielle, with a crowning ceremony. Churches throughout the world honor Mary with this tradition. Members of the court brought flowers. Crowning Mary was Ellen LaHoste along with, seated from left, Jovita Compton, Rochelle Bergeron, Elsie Medine and Emelina Basas. Standing from left are Betty Rulf, Lana Domino, Judy Blanco, Evie Bertaut, Marian Jones, Angela Mire, Sundra Deshotel, Betsy Grizzaffi and Margaret Kreider. The flowers were delivered to the grotto at Sacred Heart Church. Also in attendance was Regent Veronica Governale.
Franklin Banner-Tribune
P.O. Box 566, Franklin, LA 70538
Phone: 337-828-3706
Fax: 337-828-2874
Morgan City Review
1014 Front Street, Morgan City, LA 70380
Phone: 985-384-8370
Fax: 985-384-4255