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Happy birthday Sunday to Zachary, we miss you and glad we got to see you … Happy birthday Saturday to Ashley Ruffin, Sunday to Yolanda Pham and Monday to Paulette Skinner from family, friends and Ira … Congratulations to our newest, youngest and prettiest engineer of the family — 23-year-old Ayana P. Allen (daughter of Phillip Allen and Jewel Howard Smith) — for obtaining your bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering today from Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge (Ayanna is also a MCHS class of 2016 honor graduate), with love and may the good Lord continue to bless you, all your family and friends.

Gregory Broussard, 64, a native of Morgan City and resident of Baton Rouge, died Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021, at the Carpenter House in Baton Rouge.
Visitation will be Saturday from 11 a.m. until services at 1 p.m. at Jones Funeral Home in Morgan City. Masks and social distancing required. Burial will follow in Morgan City Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Deb’bra L. Broussard; two children, Gregory Lindsey and Damon Lindsey, all of Baton Rouge; siblings, Eddie Broussard Jr., Lance Broussard, Edward Johnson, Sheila Johnson, Deborah Jones and Shelly Broussard; stepbrothers and sister, Lawarence Brooks, Theron Brooks and Sherrie Brooks-LeMelle; one grandchild; and a host of other relatives.
He was preceded in death by parents, two brothers, and maternal and paternal grandparents.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Roger Dale Boutte, 71, a native of Patterson and a resident of Channelview, Texas, died Dec. 5, 2021.

The campaign trail that leads to the Governor’s Mansion has many pitstops, including but not limited to the annual Washington Mardi Gras celebration.
Candidates have long sported tights alongside other parading Krewe members and navigated the packed confines of the 65th Parish bar.
hey often bring their teams as well to help spread the word, whether that means hanging branded beads from hotel doorknobs or simply ensuring the right people — like donors — get the right tickets to the right events.
Next month, however, the tradition will be slightly altered. With new COVID-19 rules being enforced by the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians and families and businesses back home still rebuilding after two years of hurricanes, some of the potential candidates for governor are either skipping the expensive shindig or adjusting their plans.
The decision-making process of each of the potential candidates offers us an early preview of who these politicos are, how they think and, most importantly, what their campaigns might look like.
No one has officially announced for the big 2023 contest, but that will change sooner rather than later.
Attorney General Jeff Landry, who has yet to meet a vaccine rule he likes, has no plans to attend Washington Mardi Gras right now.
That’s going to be an adjustment for some diehard conservatives who look forward to attending Landry’s annual fundraisers at the Trump Hotel.
Landry’s decision mirrors that of Congressman Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette, who said he opposes the “oppressive mandates” and new vaccine and testing protocols approved by the Mystick Krewe.
Higgins, who is not expected to be a candidate for governor, said the event’s leadership “has apparently determined that free Americans are unable to be trusted with their own medical decisions.”
Over the years, newspapers have been critical of Washington Mardi Gras, since the event jams special interests, lavish spending and elected officials underneath one roof for what now seems like an entire week, rather than a weekend. In other words, some good government folks question the ethics involved in such a swanky party.
Higgins’ decision to boycott, though, had The Advocate’s editorial team singing another tune.
In an “Our Views” editorial, the paper suggested Higgins’ snub was “unhinged from reality” and “we dare to say that the party will be a lot more fun without him.”
Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser is also skipping Washington Mardi Gras next month. “I gave up my box and decided not to attend after Hurricane Ida,” said Nungesser.
“I can’t go up there for that while we’re still trying to rebuild across the coast. I’m working with groups that are still serving meals right now.”
Nungesser added, “My job is to promote Louisiana and to get people to come here, and everyone at Washington Mardi Gras is already from here.
"Now, I did go to New York last week for our float in the Thanksgiving parade to promote Louisiana. That was different. That was work.”
State Sen. Rick Ward of Maringouin and state Rep. Richard Nelson of Mandeville, who are also considering a run in 2023, said in interviews they plan to be in Washington for the January event, but will probably skip the posh events organized by the Krewe.
They both described it as a personal choice, not a political one.
Then there’s Treasurer John Schroder, whose own passion for Mardi Gras is rivaled only by the likes of Krewe legends like late U.S. Sen. Russel Long
He’s a longtime member of Endymion and set a goal for himself — even before elected office — to eventually ride with every parading krewe in Louisiana. So it comes as no surprise that Schroder is planning to attend. “For now,” he added.
He’s not the only one. According to Senior Krewe Lieutenant Tyron Picard, tickets for the various functions and rooms at the Washington Hilton are sold out.
The annual gathering kicks off Jan. 27 at the Washington Hilton.
[Full disclosure: If you’re planning to attend, I will see you there.]
For more Louisiana political news, visit www.LaPolitics.com(link is external) or follow Alford on Twitter @LaPoliticsNow.