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Friends of country music fiddler and Abbeville native Wade Benson Landry will hold a fundraiser on Sunday, May 23 to help cover medical bills Landry has incurred after being diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver.
Dealing with the condition — scarring of the liver — can be quite costly, but Landry said his health is improving after treatment and working to improve his health and lifestyle, including stopping drinking.
“It’s not as bad as they used to say,” said Landry, 60. “They used to say you had one foot in the ground if you had it.
“It took a couple of months (of treatment), but I’m feeling really, really good right now.”
The fundraiser, which is celebrating Landry’s 50 years of fiddling, will be held at Cowboys in Scott starting at 2 p.m. Another event held in Nashville, where Landry lives with wife Teresa Bowe Landry, a vocalist, also helped raise funds, with a guitar autographed by country superstar George Strait netting $5,000 at auction.
The event at Cowboys will feature several south Louisiana musicians such as VJ “Boo Boo” Boulet and TK Hulin. Musicians are always there to help each other out in times of need, Landry said.
“It’s a blessing from God,” he said. “It’s a good feeling when you see some of your frieda get together to help you.”
Landry began playing fiddle at age 10 and moved to Nashville in 1980, starting his professional career with Mamou native and longtime country music singer-songwriter Jimmy C. Newman, taking Rufus Thibodeaux’s place in Newman’s band.
Landry continued his career working with a string of country music legends. First was George Jones, followed by Tammy Wynette. He recorded a No. 1 record with the Oak Ridge Boys and worked with Dottie West after that.
After Nashville became more of a corporate headquarters town than a country music town, Landry then moved to Branson, Missouri, and had his own show there for seven years.
At one point he got a job with Mel Tillis, for whom Landry’s brother Chuck was a drummer, and moved back to Nashville. Chuck Landry died in a tragic house fire in 2015.
“He will be missed (at the fundraiser),” Landry said.
Landry does look forward to the food in south Louisiana, one thing in particular.
“Crawfish is going to be a blessing from God too, boiled crawfish,” he said.
Merchandise will be sold at the fundraiser, including T-shirts and CDs, and items will be auctioned off. Landry hopes to have another autographed guitar for the auction from a country music artist.
“My wife Teresa also will be singing with us,” Landry said. “And a special shout out to my sister, Denise Ardeneaux, who will be there also and who will make her stage debut with us that night. I’m looking forward to that.”
Landry said his sister inherited his parents’ musical talent, like Landry and his brother did, but was hesitant to perform before.

July 19, 1936 ~ April 21, 2022

KAPLAN — Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, April 25, 2022 at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan honoring the life of Jimmy L. Herring, 85, who died Thursday, April 21, 2022 at his residence. He will be laid to rest at Abshire Cemetery. Russell Herring, Michael Kyle Herring, Ray Zamora, Matthew Parker, Tristan Landry and Caiden Herring will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Timothy King, Reynold Landry, Charlie Carroll and David Macip.
Jimmy was born in Noodle, TX, on July 19, 1936. After graduating high school in 1953, he was asked to play professional baseball for the Oklahoma A's. He turned down the opportunity to play and was soon drafted into the Army. He served his country from 1955-1962. While serving in the Army he continued to play baseball and turned down another opportunity to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1962, while stationed at Fort Polk, he met the love of his life, Betty Dubois. They were married in 1963 and moved to Lafayette, LA in 1964. Jimmy worked in the oilfield for 29 years and retired from Transco Exploration. After retiring, he worked as a Senior Drilling Foreman consultant for Norcen Exploration and Marathon Oil. First and foremost, Jimmy was a Christian man. He enjoyed gardening and sports, but most of all he loved spending time with his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Betty Herring; two daughters, Pamela Zamora of Abbeville and Sandra Landry and husband, Reynold of Kaplan; two sons, Russell J. Herring and wife, Catherine of Loreauville and Michael Kyle Herring of Lafayette; one brother, Rickey Herring and wife, Marilyn of Victoria, TX; one sister, Patsy Thompson and husband, Duke of Potosi, TX. He is also survived by nine grandchildren; one great granddaughter; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene Willis Herring and the former Louise Grover; one brother, Eugene Willis Herring, Jr.; and five sisters, Erma Lewallen, Betty McBay, Marie Bryant, Bessie Fortune and Rutha Miller.
The family of Mr. Herring would like to thank Dr. Geoff Mire with MDVIP, Anika Marie Moore with Gulf Coast Family Services, VA Support, Leslie Reulet-Carrere and the staff of Nursing Specialties Home Health, and also Holly Carlson, Amy Sanchez and the entire staff of Heart of Hospice for their care and compassion.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Sunday, April 24, 2022 from 2:00 PM until 10:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 6:00 PM; Monday, April 25, 2022 from 9:00 AM until the time of the services at 1:00 PM.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan, (337) 643-7276 [Service Information 225-5276]. Condolences may be sent to the Herring family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.

LAFAYETTE – SkillUp, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping displaced workers land in-demand jobs in high-growth industries, has awarded their first nationally-competitive grant of up to $100,000 to South Louisiana Community College. This grant is designed to aid low-income students as they navigate the road to workforce readiness.
The SkillUp Coalition launched its first statewide career navigation portal in Louisiana in 2021. Because of its strong coordinated efforts, like the 55 by 25 initiative, the Acadiana region was one of three regions where SkillUp focused its efforts. SkillUp engaged regional economic development agency One Acadiana to connect partners and facilitate collaboration.
“One Acadiana is proud to have served as regional intermediary for the SkillUp Louisiana initiative,” said Troy Wayman, One Acadiana CEO. “We are pleased SLCC was able to secure this grant funding to provide job seekers with flexible financial assistance for in-demand training programs. SLCC’s rapid retraining programs have proven outcomes for getting job seekers quickly retrained and reemployed in high-wage, high-demand jobs.”
Anthony L. Baham, SLCC’s Interim Vice President or Workforce & Economic Development, has identified the three qualifying programs that this grant will target based on industry demand and projected growth in accompanying career sectors. According to the Louisiana Workforce Commission, professionals in these “4-star jobs” typically earn between $40,000 - $60,000 per year and can take as few as three weeks of training.
“This grant will provide direct support for the students in the Commercial Vehicle Operations (CDL), Power Lineman, and Basic Industrial Scaffolding programs through December 31st. Career opportunities abound in these fields, and this process will ensure that these students can achieve success in the classroom while preparing them for the workforce,” Baham said.
The grant funding is a part of the Rapid Reskilling Grant Fund and requires SLCC to screen students for eligibility, deliver training, and monitor progress. Eligible recipients will receive a $1,000 scholarship to defray tuition costs. Participants accepted into one of the three programs must be 18 years or older, have an income of no more than $40,000, and have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree. They must also register on the SkillUp platform.
Prospective participants can visit SLCC’s Continuing Education page online at www.solacc.edu and select Contact Us to get information on any of the eligible programs.

ABOUT ACADIANA’S
COMMUNITY COLLEGE

South Louisiana Community College is a comprehensive community college that operates campuses in Abbeville, Crowley, Franklin, Lafayette, Morgan City, New Iberia, Opelousas, St. Martinville, and Ville Platte. The college serves more than 15,000 students annually and offers an array of academic programs. Students earn associate degrees, technical diplomas, certificates, and industry-based certifications. It is ranked 14th among the Top 100 Associate Degree Producers as determined by Community College Week.

ABOUT SKILLUP

SkillUp is an upskilling non-profit coalition built to help America’s laid-off and furloughed workers access the training and employment opportunities they need to secure a place in the economy of the future. SkillUp gives workers the opportunity to build new skills that are suited to in-demand jobs with promising career paths through partnerships with 60 organizations including training and education providers, tech firms, employers and philanthropies.

A West Virginia family with Delcambre ties is doing its part to try and help combat veterans from south Louisiana.
Melissa Campbell Grimes is a 1987 Delcambre High graduate. Chris Grimes and Melissa live in Circleville, West Virginia.
Melissa’s husband just retired from the Navy after 22 years of service. Fifteen of those 22 years were spent with Navy Special Ops.
Melissa is now a retired teacher.
They live in a 119-year-old six-bedroom farmhouse located on 100-plus acres in West Virginia. The house belonged to Grime’s family.
Before moving into the farmhouse, the Grimes lived in Virginia Beach, West Virginia, because Chris was still in the Navy.
The old house was only used as a getaway for the Grimes and their military friends.
“Friends wanted to go out there to get unplugged from the noise of life,” said Melissa. “They played cards or in the yard because there was nothing to do.”
The two retired in June of last year. It was not until Brian Campbell, her brother from Delcambre, visited the Grimes in Virginia Beach and pushed the Grimes to figure out what they wanted to do with the old home. Their choices: live there, or turn it into a bed and breakfast.
They knew they did not want to turn it into a bed and breakfast facility. So instead, they moved into the home and then decided they wanted to share their home with combat veterans who served or serving.
The plan lets combat veterans and their families stay with the Grimes for seven days at no cost to the family.
The Grimes would feed and house them and give them a tour of the mountains.
“So many veterans have gone overseas, been in combat and had to deal with combat, and that affects them,” said Melissa. “It also affects the family they are with. We want to see a family unplug and take time to build a family bond. We want them to take that home with them and make memories such as bonding as a family.”
Because Melissa is from South Louisiana, she wants to invite combat veterans from Cajun Country to visit their home in West Virginia.
The Grimes created the non-profit foundation called “Mountain-Cajun Getaway.”
The Grimes have hosted a Vermilion Parish combat veteran family, which was their first. Blake Luquette, his wife Heidi, and their children, Hudson and Layla, stayed for seven days with the Grimes over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
Blake won the trip at a fishing rodeo in Grand Isle. After that, he and his family went to West Virginia, not knowing what to expect.
Blake is a 2000 VC graduate who spent six years in the Marines after high school. He experienced combat in Iraq and participated in one of the battles of Fullujah, Iraq in 2004.
“It was very relaxing,” said Luquette about his stay in West Virginia. “It was good for the family to be together. It was a stress-free week. We loved it. We had so much fun.”
Blake praised the Grimes for creating a stress-free environment. The Luquettes hiked trails in the mountains, hunted deer in a deer stand and saw plenty of wildlife.
“I love the vision they have. I fully support their idea,” Blake added.
He said when soldiers return home from their service overseas, they join the workforce, marry and never get to relax. So the week in West Virginia gave him a chance to unwind.
It also gave Blake a chance to talk to Chris, a veteran.
“I was able to get a lot off my chest,” said Blake. “Chris was able to understand. So that was good for me.”