RSS Feed

WARREN BUTLER III

Wed, 12/12/2018 - 9:24am

Warren Butler, III, 50, a native of Patterson, La. and resident of Lafayette, La., passed away on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at his residence in Lafayette, La.
Visitation will be observed on Saturday, December 15, 2018 at the Siracusaville Recreation Center, 1110 Grace St., Morgan City, La. from 9 a.m. until funeral services at 1 p.m. Burial will follow services in the Home Industrial Cemetery.
Memories of Warren, III will forever remain in the hearts of his wife, Lana Butler of Lafayette, La.; his mother, Iris G. Butler of Patterson, La.; his stepfather, Alfred Garrison Sr., of Houston, TX; three sons, Courtney (Lynette) Williams, and Wanya Francis all of Patterson, La. and Warren Neem Butler, IV of Lafayette, La.; four daughters, Kina Williams, and Mrs. Titus (Warneisha Williams) Jones all of Patterson, La., Warntaysha Clark of Baton Rouge, La., and Warn’Yala Butler of Lafayette, La.; four brothers, Dion Cage of Patterson, La., Corey Smith of Pearland, TX, and Derrick J. Butler of Port Arthur, TX and Alfred Garrison, Jr. of Monroe, La.; four sisters, Iris A. Butler and Felicia Williams both of Port Arthur, TX,; Mrs. Keith (Mireyea) Morris of Katy, TX; Mrs. Marcus (Carolyn) Rambo of Cypress, TX, ; two godsons, seven grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Warren, III was preceded in death by his father, a brother, a cousin; his paternal grandparents, and his maternal grandparents, and a niece.
Jones Funeral Home of Morgan City-Franklin-Jeanerette-Houma in charge of arrangements.
Visit www.jones-funeral-home.com to send condolences to family.

JOHN D. MATHEWS SR.

Wed, 12/12/2018 - 9:23am

Funeral Service for John D. Mathews Sr. will be held Saturday, December 15, 2018, 11:30 a.m. at MK Dixon Funeral Home, 211 Main Street, Baldwin, La. Min. Gary Eave will officiate the service.
Visitation will be Saturday, December 15, 2018, from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. at MK Dixon Funeral Home.
John D Mathews Sr. was born on May 12, 1940 to the late Mr. Dalton Sam, Jr. and Mrs. Ophelia Sam on Katy Plantation. As a young child he was baptized by the late Reverend Batiste.
He was employed with J Roy McDermott for 35 years before retiring in 2005.
He leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife of 54 years, Mrs. Carolyn Madison Mathews, one son John D. (Twana) Mathews, Jr. of Hampton, VA, three daughters, Anetta (John) Lockett of Baldwin, La., Paula (Murray) Mathews of Lafayette, La., Priscilla (Stephen) McCoy of Ardmore, AL; four brothers, Shederick Sam of Franklin, La., Alfred (Ursula) Sam of Sorrel, La., Wallace (Lois) Sam of Houston, TX, Edward (Shirley) Delaune of Jeanerette, La.; six sisters, Alva Mae Burrell, Phyllis (Troy) Mitchell, Consuela (Paul) Jones, Madeline (Arthur) Edwards, Pamela Castille, and Thelma Sam, all of Franklin, La. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Jaylon, Phaedra, and Brittney Lockett, Stephen and Sierra McCoy, Jarius Carson, Keyanna Hawkins, Kacie, D’Vantell and Tamera Mathews; three great grandchildren, Jarius, Jr., Joseph and Jasmine Carson; two godchildren, Todras Sam and Adrienne Sam.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. Dalton Sam Sr. and Mrs. Opheila Sam, grandparents, five brothers, two sisters and two brothers-in-law
MK DIXON Funeral Home is in charge of final arrangements, 337-940-9253, 211 Main Street, Baldwin, La. 70514, www.mkdixonfh.com

ALLEN HARDING

Wed, 12/12/2018 - 9:22am

Funeral Service for Allen Harding will be held Saturday, December 15, 2018, 12 Noon at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Charenton, La. Rev. Paul Godfrey will officiate the service.
Visitation will be Saturday, December 15, 2018, from 10 a.m. until the time of service at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.
Mr. Harding will be interred in the church cemetery.
Allen Harding, 67, passed away on Sunday, December 2, 2018 at Terrebonne Medical Center in Houma, La. Allen was born on July 16, 1951 in Lafayette, La. to the late Lionel and Myrtle Shields Harding.
He attended Mary Hines Elementary School and graduated in 1971 from Franklin Senior High School.
In addition to being a jack-of-all-trades, Allen loved drawing. He would sketch anything that would capture his attention. Allen was quite the talker. He was well known for being able to converse with anyone and was always the center of attention at any gathering. He often left his family and friends in stitches by telling jokes and stories with a flare that was all his own. Though he was not affluent, he had a large and caring heart and was always ready and willing to provide whatever he could for family and friends until he fell ill.
Allen courageously battled health problems for several months and was finally called home to be with the Lord.
In addition to his parents, Allen was preceded in death by his wife, Josephine M. Harding; two brothers, Lemerro Harding and Glenda Harding; four uncles, Adam Shields, William “Bill” Harding, Louis “Chip” Harding and Wilbert Harding; seven aunts, Gladys Shields, Virginia Shields, Almeta S. Charles, Katie S. Little, Caldonia Shields, Sandra H. Nerve, and Shirley H. King; his maternal grandparents, Willie and Pearly Shields and his paternal grandparents, Lionel and Hazel Harding.
He leaves to cherish his memories his children, Monica (Marvin) Grogan of Franklin, La.; Laconda Key of Jeanerette, La.; Yolanda Torrence of San Antonio, TX; and Trema Teneise Matthews of Four Corners, La.; Alan Michael Harding Sr. of Four Corners, La.; and Demnick (Shantell) Allen of Jeanerette, La.; three sisters, Kathy Jones and Jane Harding, both of Baldwin, La.; Brenda H. (Wilfred) Burney of Franklin, La.; three uncles, Willie Shields of Franklin, La.; Warren (Lois) Shields of Houston, TX; and Joe (Myrtha) Shields of Baldwin, La.; three aunts, Virvia Shields of Baldwin, La.; Sedonia H. Belton of Beaumont, TX; and Carolyn H. Mitchell of Jeanerette, La.; one great uncle, Willie (Ethel) Narcisse of Baldwin, La.; several grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.
MK DIXON Funeral Home is in charge of final arrangements, 337-940-9253, 211 Main Street, Baldwin, La. 70514.

DAVID GASH

Wed, 12/12/2018 - 9:22am

Funeral Service for David Gash will be held Saturday, December 15, 2018, 1 p.m. at Macedonia Baptist Church. Rev. Ulysses, Pastor, Rev. Richard Williams, Officiating.
Visitation will be Saturday, December 15, 2018, from 11 a.m. until the commencement of the funeral service at Macedonia Baptist Church.
Mr. Gash will be interred in Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, La.
David Gash, a resident of Franklin, La. passed away on Friday, December 7, 2018, at The Carpenter’s House in Lafayette, La. He was 76 years old.
MK Dixon Funeral Home is in charge of final arrangements, 337-940-9253, 211 Main Street, Baldwin, La. 70514, www.mkdixonfh.com.

'Fatherhood Program' sets goals on fitness

Wed, 12/12/2018 - 9:21am

St. Mary Community Action Agency’s Fatherhood Program held an “Exercising with a Purpose” movement activity with help from General Manager Lauren Frederick of Anytime Fitness in Franklin.
Boys and girls at the Peter Pan Head Start Center frolicked with anticipation in the “Spirit of Health and Happiness.” Frederick kindly volunteered to help whip a few Head Start dads and father figures into shape. Roughly 40 dads of all shapes and sizes worked out with their sons and daughters moving, dancing and getting fit. Head Start staff members filled in with children whose dads or other family members could not attend.
Members of the Franklin High School football team, which made it to the third round of the playoffs for the first time in school history, participated in the event. This is the second year Franklin’s players have joined in to exercise with the children. “We are so overjoyed that these young men took time out of their busy schedule to help out with the little children, who look up to them,” Fatherhood Coordinator David Teno said.
Frederick said he was impressed with the number of children and dads who participated. Fatherhood Coordinator Jeff Beverly added,, “Christmas is quickly approaching, and it is important to implement exercises that can combat weight gain from the excessive number of cookies, cakes, pies, and endless amounts of food many of us consume during this time of the year. We really appreciate the dads and moms who came to share in this exercise experience.”

Christmas social

Wed, 12/12/2018 - 9:20am

Baldwin-based Community of Friends Inc. Special Needs Social Support Club hosted their Christmas Social Tuesday at West End Branch Library in Baldwin. The event was a chance for participants, family, friends and supporters to gather in the holiday spirit, sing carols, meet Santa Claus and celebrate the work of COF. Baldwin dignitaries, including Baldwin Mayor Donna Lanceslin, were in attendance and refreshments were served along with holiday sweets.
The Banner-Tribune/CASEY COLLIER

Duplantis-Brown nuptials set

Wed, 12/12/2018 - 9:19am

Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Brown of Berwick wish to announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Erin Lynn Brown, to Ryan Michael Duplantis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Duplantis of Bayou Vista. The wedding will take place at 7 p.m. Jan. 4 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church in Morgan City. ...

PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news from St. Mary Now. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today!

Adopt A Family

Wed, 12/12/2018 - 9:19am

St. Mary Community Action Agency held its 20th Annual Adopt a Family Program Tuesday at the Peter Pan Gymnasium at their Franklin campus. This year, it was reported that 40 families received donations from sponsors, and 14 senior citizens were gifted holiday groceries from Spirit of Liberty Food Pantry. The Adopt a Family Program targets families in CAA’s Head Start Program who have come up against “challenging circumstances,” and provides them food and Christmas gifts. Their partners include local churches, sororities, fraternities, social groups and city and parish officials.
The Banner-Tribune/CASEY COLLIER

Smith: 'I was very much at peace'

Wed, 12/12/2018 - 9:18am

Sheriff-elect Blaise Smith said he was calm Saturday night.
That’s different than in the first round, when he said he was much more anxious.
“The one thing about it, when we were sitting there Saturday when it started, I was very much at peace,” Smith said. “It could have went either way, and I was at peace with it.”
He said when absentee votes came in, showing some 70 votes ahead in favor of incumbent Sheriff Scott Anslum, “I felt comfortable with that since that wasn’t a big margin.”
Smith said that sense of calm came from knowing he had done all that he could do at that point. “I just offered myself to the parish and to the citizens,” he said. “Apparently my message was something they heard, and they wanted.”
He will be sworn in on Dec. 18 pending final promulgation of the votes.

Holiday entertaining in small spaces is an art

Wed, 12/12/2018 - 9:16am

By KATHERINE ROTH, The Associated Press

For those in small homes, holiday entertaining can feel daunting, or even impossible. But with a little planning, that needn’t be the case.
“I don’t think anyone who enjoys hosting should stop themselves from entertaining just because of space constraints,” said Sarah Carey, editorial director of food and entertaining for Martha Stewart Living magazine.
There is an art to small-space entertaining, and a few things to keep in mind to help things go smoothly.
“In a small space, it’s important to keep it simple. Make it easy on yourself by having everything prepared and in place before guests arrive, so that you can enjoy yourself with them. If you’re having fun, your guests will likely have fun, too,” Carey said, adding that, particularly in close confines, a stressed-out host risks ruining the party.
The most common mistake, she said, is thinking that more is more. Less is definitely more.
“Just be realistic about what you can do and provide. You can be a very generous host without going overboard,” she said.
CLEAR THE DECKS AND SET THE MOOD
Preparing your space ahead of time is especially important when entertaining in a small home, said Stephanie Sisco, home editor at Real Simple magazine.
“Focus on the powder room, entryway and kitchen, making sure the clutter is cleared off countertops, personal items have been removed from the bathroom, and you’ve made room for coats and scarves,” she said.
She suggests putting an essence-oil infuser near the front door to set the mood, and having a fan going, since small spaces tend to warm up quickly. And it’s nice to have a playlist at the ready.
SPREAD OUT
When laying things out ahead of your event, consider where people will be congregating so that the drinks are separate from the food area, if possible, and people aren’t blocking the entryway, Sisco suggests.
COOK AHEAD OF TIME
“Make-ahead food is great because you aren’t cooking in the kitchen at the last minute, and you can utilize that space for entertaining,” said Carey. “Putting a few last-minute touches on things as people are arriving is OK, but you don’t want to be in full production mode.”
Think crudite and aioli, or hummus, or maybe spiced olives as a cold appetizer. Also, “casseroles are back in fashion and are always crowd-pleasers,” said Sisco.
MAKE A STATEMENT
“A large centerpiece adds focus to a party. A ham, Gravlax or smoked salmon platter . are all great make-ahead ideas,” said Carey. “Make one or two and place them in a few different spots — maybe one on the kitchen counter, one on the dining table or sideboard — to spread out the ‘revelers’.”
SIGNATURE DRINKS
Instead of a full bar, set out a couple of punches, one with and one without alcohol, and a couple kinds of wine.
“A full bar is not something you can do in a small space, so keep it simple and people will know what to do,” said Carey.
SEND THEM HOME WITH A TREAT
“Make a cookie or two — no need to go crazy — but make them super special. Our Meyer Lemon Wreath cookies make a splash, and gingerbread espresso crinkle cookies are a great twist on a classic,” suggests Carey. “Box them up as a reminder of a sweet evening spent with friends.”