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November 30, 1925 ~ May 29, 2022

ABBEVILLE — A Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Catholic Church honoring the life of Gladys Landry Denais, 96, who died peacefully in her home on Sunday, May 29, 2022. She will be laid to rest at St. Alphonsus Cemetery with Reverend Louis J. Richard officiating the services. Pallbearers will be Tony LeGros, Brett Meaux, Shane Landry, and Caleb Russo. Honorary pallbearers are John Sasser, III, Ron Landry, and Jason Landry.
Gladys earned a teaching certificate from Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute (known as SLI and now University of Louisiana at Lafayette). She was a whiz at spelling, loved to do crossword puzzles and could crush you in a game of Scrabble. In her early career she was employed by Riviana Rice and later at Dupre’ Library at UL of Lafayette. Her proudest achievements are her roles as wife, mother, grandmother, sister, Godmother and aunt.
She is survived by her husband of almost 70 years, Larris Denais; children, Diane Sasser (John), and Ruth LeGros (Tony); grandchildren, Brooke LeGros, and Allison Meaux (Brett); two brothers, Leo Landry, and Ralph Landry; and sister-in-law, Nara Landry.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Loreal and Cecile Comeaux Landry; sisters, Beatrice Miller, and Thelma Landry; brothers in-law, Hugh Miller, and Duke Landry; sister-in-law, Kay Landry; nephews, Darrell Miller, Glenn Miller, Mark Landry, and Michael Landry; and niece, Kimberly Landry.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. Saint Charles St., on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 from 10:30 AM until 1:45 PM when the procession will depart for the church. A rosary will be prayed at 12:30 PM.
The family would like to thank the staff of Hospice of Acadiana, nurse Whitney, and sitters Tillie Ross and Esther Ward for their outstanding care.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.

LAFAYETTE, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that four men have been sentenced for their involvement in the theft of 32 firearms from a gun dealer in Maurice, Louisiana. United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced the defendants as follows:
Damien Damon Briggs, 28, of Kaplan, Louisiana, was sentenced to 96 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
Tawaski Tavon Lewis, 32, of Abbeville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 120 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release.
Travon Travel Citizen, 18, of Abbeville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 21 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
The fourth defendant in this case, Dante Citizen, 23, of Abbeville, Louisiana, was sentenced on March 2, 2022 to 14 months in prison, followed by 1 year of supervised release.
Each of the defendants pleaded guilty to theft of firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensee. All four of the men admitted to their involvement in stealing 32 firearms from the premises of Swampland Trading Co., a licensed firearms dealer located in Maurice, Louisiana, on September 7, 2021. All 32 firearms were in the licensee’s business inventory.
“This is a great example of cooperation between federal and state law enforcement agencies,” stated U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “Because of their synergy and cohesion, all 32 firearms were recovered the same night they were stolen, and Swampland Trading Co. was able to properly sell the firearms to customers who had a legal right to purchase them.”
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Nickel.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership

with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

When Mike Guilbeaux retired as North Vermilion High principal in 2008, after 33 years in the public school system, he didn’t plan on another stint in education.
He ended up finding one anyway, one that has lasted a dozen years. So now, Guilbeaux feels the time is right to again head off into retirement.
At the official end of the school year, Guilbeaux will say goodbye to Vermilion Catholic after spending the 12 years at the school, including the past 11 as principal.
“It’s been a good run,” Guilbeaux said of his time at VC. “It’s another journey that has allowed me to grow.”
That journey began in ‘10, after Guilbeaux spent a couple of years working in marketing for Schilling Distributing.
“I probably could have stayed there forever,” Guilbeaux said. “It was a great place, and I enjoyed that time.”
Guilbeaux eventually received an opportunity to join VC as an assistant principal. He said it made sense, as he lives right across the street.
“I had a great 33 years in the public system,” Guilbeaux said. “I enjoyed my time. When I did leave, it was not with the intent of looking for another job in education. I was 56, still young. I came here as an assistant, to kind of help out.
“I was going to stay a couple of years.”
He stayed longer.
“This opportunity has allowed me to give something back,” Guilbeaux said. “That is something that I always wanted to do.”
On Monday, Guilbeaux had the opportunity to speak to his final graduating class. It’s a class that has endured during the past couple of years.
“We had to take them through the COVID(-19) pandemic,” Guilbeaux said. “I like little sayings. When the pandemic started, the saying for the Class in ‘20 was, ‘I believe.’ We believed that we were going to get through it. The next year was, ‘I know.’ We saw the challenges and knew they would be stronger for it. This year was about life lessons, what we learned from it.”
The pandemic affected Guilbeaux’s decision on when would be the right time to leave VC.
“You never know when the right time will be,” Guilbeaux said. “I would think about it. But, then, when the pandemic hit us, I wanted to see it through.”
There were other factors, too. Namely, VC’s acquisition of Mount Carmel, creating Vermilion Catholic, a Legacy of Mount Carmel.
“When we merged with Mount Carmel,” Guilbeaux said, “I felt like I wanted to be a part of that. I wanted to be part of the transition to move forward.”
Guilbeaux is now helping with another transition, that of Dr. Stella Arabi becoming the new principal at VC. That move will be effective July 1.
“That process is going well,” Guilbeaux said.
While that is going smoothly, Guilbeaux admitted there would be some work to do to ease into retirement.
“It will take me a little bit of time to adjust,” Guilbeaux said. “I think one of the things I will miss the most is communicating and planning with others. I will miss talking to kids and talking to parents.
“The people, that is what I am going miss the most.”
Those with whom Guilbeaux has communicated and planned during his 45 years in education is too long to even begin to list.
“Whether it was in Erath, 7th Ward, North Vermilion or VC,” Guilbeaux said, “I have had the opportunity to work with many great people.
“I have made a lot of good friends.”
When he left North Vermilion, Guilbeaux didn’t plan on VC being among his stops. He’s happy he made the decision.
“I have no regrets,” Guilbeaux said. “I have been very blessed.”

Relatives and friends are invited to attend A mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, May 28, 2022 at St. Theresa Catholic Church honoring the life of Marietta Trahan Clark, who passed on Monday, May 16, 2022, at the age of 68.
A rosary will be held at 10:15 a.m. with the Mass immediately following at 11:00 a.m. Following the ceremony, a Celebration of Life will be held at St. Theresa Family Center.
A native of Gueydan and a resident of Abbeville, Marietta never met a stranger. Her zest for life and extremely positive attitude were always in abundance. She always placed everyone’s needs before her own and was always willing to help or take charge, when needed. Her love of travel was evident in her always having a bag packed, ready to go. A talented artist, she donated numerous items to raffle for charities or cherished gifts for family and friends. She was a true friend and will be missed by all.
Upon receiving her education degree, Marietta taught Special Education for numerous years, then completing her teaching career in a traditional classroom at the middle school level. It was during this time she was Co-Director of Special Olympics and served as a volunteer for Special Olympics for over 40 years.
Her love of gardening and landscaping led her to join the Abbeville Garden Club, where she presently served as club president. Also, proud of her Cajun French heritage, Marietta was not only a member of the Confrerie’ de Omelette, she rose to the rank of Chevalier. She enjoyed the game of tennis and the camaraderie of the tennis team.
Marietta is survived by her loving daughter, Meggan Mae Clark St. Amant (Sean); brother, Dennis Trahan; brother, Paul Trahan (Charlene); brother, Leonard Trahan (Marcia); sister, Sherry Guidry (David); and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Manson and Esther B. Trahan Clark and Alday Clark; her brother, Russell Trahan; brother, Troy Clark; and sister, Jennifer Trahan Cunningham.
In lieu of flowers, condolences may be made to the family, or by visiting www.muhleisen.com.