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Pastor Melrin Elois Lee Mandubourg, 65, a resident of Verdunville, La. and a native of Roxie, MS, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 4:35 am at Franklin Health Care Center in Franklin, La.
Visitation will be observed on Friday May 3, 2019 from 10 a.m. until funeral services at 12 Noon at the Full Gospel Community Church 627 12th Street Franklin, La. Burial will follow funeral services in the Little Zion Church Cemetery in Verdunville, La.
Memories of Pastor Mandubourg will forever remain in the hearts of her husband, Kieron Mandubourg of Verdunville, La.; her daughter, Yvonne Babino; her father, James Lee Sr.; one sister, Bernice Fontenet; a grandson, all of Toledo, OH; a mother-in-law; two brothers-in-law; two sisters-in-law, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Pastor Melrin was preceded in death by her mother, and her stepfather.
Jones Funeral Home of Morgan City-Franklin-Jeanerette-Houma in charge of arrangements.
Visit www.jones-funeral-home.com to send condolences to family.

October 3, 1952 - April 30, 2019
Funeral services celebrating the life of O’Neil J. Darden Sr. will be held Friday, May 3, 2019, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Baldwin during a 12 noon Mass of Christian Burial. Following he will be laid to rest in the Sacred Heart Cemetery. Father Cedric Sonnier will be the Celebrant for the Mass and conduct the services.
O’Neil was born in Franklin on Friday, October 3, 1952, the second of five children born to the late Roy Darden Sr. and the late Jeanette Leonard Darden. A former longtime resident of Charenton and a four year resident of Baldwin, O’Neil passed away following a brief, hard fought battle with cancer at the age of 66 in the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 30, 2019, with his wife and son at his side in the comfort and peace of his home which was truly his paradise.
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, and friend to many. O’Neil took great pride of his nearly 46 years of dedicated service with Orion Engineered Carbons, starting with the company when it was Ashland Chemicals. Some of his favorite pastimes were working in his yard, tinkering in his shop, and riding his golf cart. He was a true handyman who could fix just about anything, especially when it came to motors, and was a motorcycle enthusiast. He helped many neighborhood kids fix their bikes, motorcycles, and four wheelers, as well as many family members, friends, and neighbors with their lawn equipment and “toys”. But what brought the most joy to his heart was his family whom he deeply loved, especially his grandson, his pride and joy. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who were fortunate to have known him.
Those he leaves to cherish his memory include his wife of nearly 48 years, Connie Guillotte Darden; his son, O’Neil J. Darden Jr. and his wife Tessa; his daughter, Pamela Darden and her companion Rose Migues; his grandson, Addison Neil Darden; his brothers, Roy Darden Jr. and his wife Dianne, and Tony Darden and his wife Debbie; his sister, Elaine Darden; his brother-in-law, Ronnie Guillotte; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, family members, and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, David Darden; his paternal grandparents, O’Neal Darden and Lucy Mora Darden; his maternal grandparents, Sidney Paul Leonard and Ebmae Picard Leonard; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Allen Guillotte Sr. and Thelma Hebert Guillotte; his sisters-in-law, Pamela Guillotte (infant) and Pat Guillotte Mora; and his brother-in-law, Allen “Pummy” Guillotte Jr.
A gathering of family and friends will be held Thursday at Ibert’s Mortuary in Franklin from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m., with the Holy Rosary being prayed at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue Friday at the church at 10 a.m. until time of services.
Serving as pallbearers will be Roy Darden Jr., Tony Darden, Davy Darden, Roy Dwyer, Ronnie Guillotte and Randy Mestayer. Honorary pallbearers will be O’Neil J. Darden Jr. and Addison Neil Darden.
The family extends their heartfelt appreciation to the staffs of Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Lafayette Radiology Associates, Franklin Home Care, Grace Hospice, and Dr. Charles Parsiola, Kica Savage, Laurie Granger, and Gary Adams of the Chitimacha Health Clinic for their loving and compassionate care given.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Miles Perret Cancer Center, 2130 Kaliste Saloom Rd., Lafayette, La. 70508, 337-984-1920, http:—www.milesperret.org.
Family and friends may view the obituary and express their condolences online by visiting www.iberts.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert’s Mortuary, Inc., 1007 Main Street, Franklin, La. 70538, (337) 828-5426.

Franklin’s Bayou to Main Marketplace is Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
It will be located on Main Street in between Bargain Barn, Too and Chic & Shabby Collections.
The Franklin Merchants Association will also host its Art Stroll Saturday 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Main Street in Franklin. Because the Kentucky Derby is that weekend, it is suggested, but not required, that artists and attendees wear attire and hats similar to those worn for the Kentucky Derby.
The Franklin Merchants Association is asking artists and authors to donate to its silent auction. The proceeds from the silent auction will go to the Franklin Merchants Association.
Attendees will experience all types of art—including music. The Bunk Johnson Brazz Band from New Iberia will entertain Art Stroll patrons as they walk along Main Street. The band was a part of the Franklin Mardi Gras parade this year. According to the Bunk Johnson Brazz Band’s Facebook page, “This Band blends Traditional Jazz and combines the essence of R&B, Soul, Funk, and Gospel while upholding the traditional New Orleans Brass Band sound.” The band will perform on the sidewalk in front of the white picket fence on Main Street from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
You’re all invited to spend the day in Franklin. “I am hoping that everyone will come and spend May 4 in downtown Franklin,” Mayor Eugene Foulcard said. “The day begins at 8 a.m. Come out and enjoy the Bayou to Main Marketplace, the Art Stroll and the Bunk Johnson Brazz Band. Also, check out the new Franklin Bayou Teche National Water Trail Information Kiosk. It’s all under the lampposts!”
For more information about Franklin’s Bayou to Main Marketplace, contact Marnie Vaughn at 337-278-7497. For more information about the Art Stroll or to donate a piece of art or a book to the Art Stroll for the silent auction, contact Diane Wiltz at 337-828-3441.

First Lady of Louisiana Donna Edwards spoke at the Church of the Assumption Friday in Franklin.
Edwards was invited by the Catholic Daughters to address the Franklin community concerning human trafficking, an issue that Edwards said she and her husband have been socially and legislatively scrutinizing throughout his administration’s tenure.
Edwards discussed being previously unaware of the degree to which Louisiana’s human trafficking issue pervaded, until she was visited at the governor’s mansion by the Sisters of Mercy, who educated her, much to her reported horror.
“The average age (of human trafficking victimization in Louisiana),” Edwards said, “is 13.
“People from the ages of two to 65 are being trafficked.
“Even as a teacher, after having listened to these stories for over two years now, I still can’t believe it.”
Edwards shared some of the stories of trafficking victims which she had heard, after which she said, “Louisiana has two of the biggest human trafficking corridors in the country. We have I-10 and we have the I-20. Those are the two worst in the country.”
She further stated that while the number of human trafficking cases across the state has increased, so has the number of cases of discovery by law enforcement, and she attributed that to the education of the public and the education of law enforcement.
“It’s estimated that human trafficking generates many billions of dollars of profit every year,’ she said. “Just a thought for you—illegal drugs can only be used once, a person can be used over and over.”
Returning to her experience with Sisters of Mercy, Edwards said they built, just outside of Baton Rouge, a refuge for adolescent victims of human trafficking, called Metanoia Manor.
She said Metanoia is a place built on donated land through donated funds and that the staff of the home “rescues girls from everywhere: Shreveport, Monroe, Lake Charles, and they pull them in and get them the counseling they need.”
She said she feels that Louisiana needs more homes like Metanoia and that she is meeting with hospitals across the state in order to discuss possibilities for possible refuges to be made available at their facilities, as well.
According to Edwards, there are churches in Shreveport that make arrangements to have families agree to foster trafficking victims.
“I came here today,” Edwards said in closing, “because I want you to know that we can make a difference in our communities. We need to be aware of that child at McDonalds that doesn’t look like she belongs with the person she is with.
“We used to say, ‘That’s not my business.’ Well, no longer! It is our business to step up.”
To donate to Metanoia Manor, go to http://metanoia-inc.org/donate/ or call 225-615-7085.