Santa and Mrs. Claus took time out of their very busy schedule to drop in on the Christmas lighting ceremony held Saturday in the City of Franklin. More photos in Wednesday's edition.
Photo by CASEY COLLIER
FUNDRAISER
St. Mary Council on Aging selling dinners Saturday, Dec. 9 and 16, 10:30 to 12:30 p.m., cost $8. Dec. 9 is pork chops and Dec. 16 is barbecued chicken. To order tickets call 985-395-4800 for Patterson Senior Center or 985-384-3324 for Morgan City Senior Center.
TREASURES
St. Mary Council on Aging Treasures Under the Oaks, 304 Iberia St., Franklin, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 6, 9, 13, 16, 20 and 21.
BRUNCH
New Mount Esther Baptist Church hosting a Jewels for Jesus Christmas Brunch at 10 a.m. Dec. 9. Guest speaker Linda Sam, Baldwin Christ of God in Christ United.
CHRISTMAS DRAMA
“A Visit of the Wise Men” presented at New Zorah Baptist Church, 604 Julia St., Morgan City, 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10. Public welcome.
PUBLIC SURVEY
A quality of life survey is underway until Dec. 15 to receive community input on economic development, transportation, recreation, education, and more. Go online to www.stmarychamber.com and scroll down the page to the survey. The chamber urges area residents to participate.
NEW ZORAH
Baptist Church, 604 Julia St., Morgan City, holding Holy Communion and Candlelight Service at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17. Guest speaker the Rev. John Doyle, Seventh Street Baptist Church, Port Arthur, Texas. Public welcome.
MISSION THRIFT
Store, 200 Stable Rd., Suite 2, Patterson, closed Dec. 25-26, and Jan. 1, 2018.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus is home to more than 2,000 trees and large shrubs. Earlier this month, one was declared a champion.
About 40 students and members of the faculty and staff attended a brief ceremony Nov. 16 celebrating the addition of the campus’ sole Montezuma bald cypress to the Louisiana Forestry Association’s Directory of Champions.
The association judges native and naturalized trees on their height, circumference and crown spread to determine which make the championship cut.
UL Lafayette’s Montezuma cypress will join the list in 2018. It stands 60 feet, and has a circumference of 16 feet. Its branches spread 80 feet. By comparison, the largest Montezuma cypress in the United States is 70 feet tall and 28 feet in circumference, and spreads 90 feet. It’s in San Benito, a small city in southern Texas’ Rio Grande Valley.
“This is the largest Montezuma cypress in Louisiana,” said James Foret, an instructor in the School of Geosciences. “There may be a bigger one out there somewhere that we don’t know about, and we’ll get bumped off the list, but for now, it’s the largest.”
Whether the Montezuma’s reign is long or short, the University is planning royal accommodations.
The tree, which is behind Billeaud Hall, is boxed in by a parking lot, a greenhouse and a maintenance building. The university plans to remove four parking spots and build a deck with seating around the tree’s base.
That will alleviate the pressure of concrete on its root system, and enable the cypress to receive more water, oxygen and nutrients to improve its long-term viability.
“It’s a very positive step for the health of the tree,” Foret said.
This month’s ceremony satisfies one of the requirements for the university to maintain its status as a Tree Campus USA.
The Arbor Day Foundation coordinates the program, which designates colleges and universities for sound management of campus trees.
UL Lafayette has held the designation since 2010, said Gretchen Lacombe Vanicor, director of the University’s Office of Sustainability.
“This tree is pretty magnificent,” Vanicor said, looking up at the Montezuma cypress’ drooping branches carpeted with green, feather-like leaves.
“It’s incredible. We want to do what we can to preserve it.”
The 2nd Annual Spirit of Homes Tour took place Saturday and showcased homes in Berwick and Morgan City while raising money for St. Mary Outreach.
Marine Corps Band New Orleans held its "Santa Meets Sousa" concert Sunday night at Morgan City Municipal Auditorium. Marine Corps League-St. Mary Detachment collected toys before the concert that will go to its Toys for Tots program to provide Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the parish.
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PRAYER SERVICE
Mount Zion Baptist Church, 507 4th Street having Pre-Communion Prayer and Praise service Tuesday, Dec. 5, 6 p.m. Music by Minister of Music Darryl McPherson, Thibodeaux. Public invited.
November 10, 1930 — November 29, 2017
Geraldine “Gerrie” Broussard Breaux, 87, a resident of Berwick, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017, at Patterson Healthcare Center.
Gerrie was born Nov. 10, 1930, in New Iberia, the daughter of Leon and Agnes Thibodeaux Broussard.
Gerrie was always the person who would make a grand entrance into any room she entered. She never met a stranger and her house was always open to anyone. If you met Gerrie, you knew that you met her, you would never forget meeting her. She was a wonderful cook and seamstress, always cooking and sewing for her family. She loved her children and grandchildren immensely, but above all else, she loved her Lord and Savior.
She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by five children, Reed Breaux and wife Wendy of Berwick, Carla Venissat of Lake Charles, Cindy Breaux of New Iberia, Rick Breaux and wife Nancy of League City, Texas, and Ray Breaux of New Iberia; nine grandchildren, Eric Breaux, Jonathan Breaux, Brandi Earl and husband Joshua, Erin Guillory and husband Brian, Leslie Venissat and wife April, Rachel Breaux, Nicholas Breaux, Justin Breaux and Jenna Breaux; seven great-grandchildren, Abbigail, Vivian, Jorgia, Corinne, Luke, Jude and Gabe; and one sister, Mable Pennison of Weatherford, Texas.
Gerrie was preceded in death by her parents, Leon and Agnes Thibodeaux Broussard; husband, Huey Anthony Breaux; and one brother, L.J. Broussard.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, at Twin City Funeral Home with Pastor Nell Lamury officiating. A visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until the time of the service; after funeral services, Gerrie will be laid to rest next to her husband in the Berwick Cemetery.
Nicess “Griffin” Templet, lifelong resident of Pierre Part, passed away Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017.
Griffin was the founder of Griffin A.G. Food Mart and a pillar of the community. Griffin was on the Assumption Bank Board of Directors, member of the Knights of Columbus, U.S. Army Veteran during WWII, member of the American Legion, charter member of the Pierre Part/Belle River Volunteer Fire Department, liaison for the Social Security Administration in Pierre Part, honorary member of the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association, and a member of the Council on Aging. He gave of himself and was instrumental in numerous humanitarian contributions.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Thelma Crochet Templet; three daughters, Carol Templet Aucoin (Jeff), Evelyn Templet Mabile (Tony) and Elaine “Nonnie” Templet (Curtis Stevens); three sons, Benson Templet (Linda), Nathan Templet (Wanda) and Randall Templet; grandchildren, Cherie Aucoin Roger, Enjolie Aucoin Domingue, Danielle Brady Hagedorn, Angelle Brady Landry, Michelle Brady Shank, Jonathan Templet, Bennett Templet, Geniene Simoneaux Mitchell, Adrianne Simoneaux Speer, Claire Simoneaux, Caroline Simoneaux Matherne, Rebecca Templet Adams, Andrew Templet, Maria Templet, Christopher Templet, Nicole Templet, Jean Paul Templet and Andre Templet; and he was blessed with an abundance of great-grandchildren, which he loved dearly.
Griffin was preceded in death by his parents, Surville and Julie Berthelot Templet; sisters, Elise Templet and Viola Templet; brother, Dudley Templet; and a grandson, Robert “Robbie” Brady.
Visitation will be at Ourso Funeral Home, Pierre Part on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial to follow at St. Joseph Church, Pierre Part at noon, Rev. Al Davidson officiating. Entombment to follow in the church mausoleum.
Pallbearers will be Jonathan Templet, Bennett Templet, Andrew Templet, Christopher Templet, Jean Paul Templet, Andre Templet, Ethan Owens and Seth Hagedorn.
Honorary pallbearers will be Kaleb Domingue, Isaac Roddy, Foster Shank, Grant Roger and Wyatt Speer.
We would like to extend our deepest appreciation and thanks to all family, friends, and health care providers who have lovingly cared for him.
Ourso Funeral Home, 134 Houmas St., Donaldsonville, is in charge of arrangements.
Sandra Skipper Batiste, 65, a native and resident of Morgan City, died Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2017, at Teche Regional Medical Center.
Visitation will be Saturday from 10 a.m. until services at 1 p.m. at Lee Chapel AME Church in Morgan City. Burial will follow in Morgan City Cemetery.
She is survived by four sons, Damon Skipper and Kevin Batiste, both of Morgan City, Troy Batiste of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Toby Batiste of Ville Platte; three daughters, Tiffany Lockette of Jeanerette, Casey Denham of Lafayette and Kendra Cook of Tyler, Texas; four brothers, Samuel Skipper Jr. of Houma, Raymond Skipper of Hyattsville, Maryland, and Joseph Skipper and Walter Skipper, both of Patterson; six sisters, Odessa Frank and Elnora Reyes, both of Morgan City, Leona Dixon of LaPlace, and Windey Skipper, Antionette Schmidt and Wyiona Burrell, all of Norfolk, Virginia; 25 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, two brothers and a granddaughter.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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