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The City of Abbeville is partnering with Louisiana Economic Development (LED) to build an Economic Development plan for Abbeville.
The Louisiana Development Ready Community (LDRC) program is designed to identify the strengths and weaknesses of Abbeville and provide community leaders with clear direction on specific resources needed to foster successful economic development while increasing collaboration between municipal, parish, regional and state economic development practitioners. Upon completion of this process, the LDRC certification will put Abbeville in the forefront for businesses looking to invest in Louisiana.
“I believe in taking a proactive approach to attracting and retaining businesses in Abbeville.” Committee Chair Councilwoman Roslyn White said, “Through the LDRC program, we will build a plan to improve our business climate and better leverage ourselves to grow our economy.”
LED identifies twenty indicators to gauge the economic development readiness of a community, and identify a community’s stage of development as emerging, developing, or achieving. Once readiness is determined, the LDRC team will collaborate directly with the Abbeville team to identify potential improvement opportunities and to utilize resources available to strengthen economic development capacity. 
The first step toward achieving certification is to complete a comprehensive community assessment that Abbeville can later use for strategic planning. Next, LED surveys the community to gauge where the city currently is and identify areas that Abbeville should focus on improving.
Mayor Mark Piazza says, “I hope that businesses and the citizens of Abbeville take the time to fill out this survey. We are hoping to get a complete survey that renders opinions throughout all segments of the population and businesses. This survey is important moving us forward and making long range plans for our future.”
Once the survey is complete, LED will analyze the results and present possible goals. The city will then host a town hall meeting to gain feedback from the community. LED will take all information gathered and write a strategic plan for economic improvement. This will be the city’s “Roadmap for Progress.” Finally, the City of Abbeville will get to work executing the steps to grow a sustainable economy in Abbeville. LDRC communities can show progress from year to year because of developed measurements identified in their plans; much like mile-markers on a roadmap.  
If you would like to help plan the future of Abbeville, please complete the community survey at www.SurveyAbbeville.com. It takes about 15 minutes to complete. Please know that your input is valuable, and your participation is greatly appreciated. 

December 24, 1950 ~ July 21, 2021

KAPLAN — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, July 23, 2021 at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church honoring the life of Delta Mae Hebert Seaux, 70, who died Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at her residence, with Reverend Matthew Barzare officiating the services.
Delta was loved by many and the true definition of an angel on earth. Many obstacles were placed along her journey in life, but never once did she ever complain. She was everyone’s go-to person, if she could not do it she found someone who could, but you better believe she made sure everyone had what they needed. Delta was a woman of such strong faith and strength, definitely a warrior in our books. She was a volunteer with the Cursillo movement, which she earned the rank of Cursillo number two. She also volunteered at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church and Hospice of Acadiana. She said many rosaries for families at their residences and at the funeral home. She was an amazing caregiver and now she is our angel and we are “Seaux” blessed. She loved going to the casino and dancing, but now she is running in the streets of Heaven. Go rest high on that mountain sweet lady.
She is survived by by her husband of 53 years and the love of her life, Earl Joseph Seaux. Together they have four children who they have raised to be very strong unique individuals, Corey Dale James Seaux and his wife, Karisa, Stephanie Rae Seaux Nerren and her husband, Guy, Kelly Renee Seaux Roden and her fiancé, Raphael Higginbotham and William Jerome Seaux and his wife, Cassie; grandchildren, Josh Hardy and his wife, Tiffany, Cody Seaux and his fiancée, Sammie, Clay Seaux and his fiancée, Carmen LeMaire, Lexi Harrington and her husband, Blake, Ty Joseph Nerren, Matthew Hansen Roden (Londen Hebert), Emily- Grace Lovinia Roden, Enzley Kamille Roden, Krystian Joseph Sonnier and Madilynn Rae Seaux; great grandchildren, Madison Claire Hardy, Rylan Jude Hardy, Gracie Claire Seaux, Layton Marcus Seaux, Saige McKenna Seaux, Everly Kate Seaux, Camille Elise Harrington, Catherine Ruth Harrington, and Levi James Roden arriving in December; sisters, Louella Touchet, Lorraine Roy, twin sister, Velta Meaux; brother, John Loycie Hebert; sisters-in-law, Christine LeMaire and Gail Blackburn and her husband, Rusty; brother-in-law, Shane Myers and his wife, Rachel; mother-in-law, Emily Romero; father-in-law, Arestile “Dado” Seaux; and many nieces and nephews that loved Taunt Delta. She had two sisters in Christ, Carol Marceaux and Jerry Abshire who have been lifelong friends to our whole family.
She was preceded in death by her siblings, Adles “Joe” Hebert, Lucy LeMaire, Lena LeMaire, Flavie Dartez and Chester Paul Hebert; and her parents, Ovey and Lovinia Hebert.
The family would like to thank Father Mark Miley and Deacon Billy Vincent and his wife, Melissa for all the prayers and rosaries prayed and also everyone who has reached out to our family. A special thanks to Concepts of Care, especially Christy Guidry and Zack Mire; Hospice of Acadiana; and the ICU Nurses at Abbeville General Hospital. In lieu of flowers please arrange that Masses be said in memory of Delta.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Thursday, July 22, 2021 from 4:00 PM until 10:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 7:00 PM; Friday, July 23, 2021 at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Curch, 602 Church Ave. from 9:00 AM until the time of the services at 11:00 AM.
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 Seaux family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.

St. Mary Magdalen Church in Abbeville will celebrate the Feast Day of their patroness on Thursday.
The feast will begin with a Mass at 6:30 a.m. with Fr. Louis Richard, pastor, presiding. The morning Mass will be followed by a reception of Madeline cookies and Coffee, hosted by the Ladies Altar Society.
This year, the parish will also host another celebration of St. Mary Magdalen in the evening with the performance of a new play called “In the Garden.”
The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m.
The play will feature parishioner Rebekah Bourgeois in the role of St. Mary Magdalen.
“In the Garden,” written by former associate pastor Fr. Michael Richard, is a journey with St. Mary Magdalen from the evening of Good Friday after Jesus was laid in the tomb to the morning of Easter Sunday when she encounters the Resurrected Lord.
All four Gospel writers state that Mary Magdalen was the first to encounter Jesus after the resurrection and that she runs to tell the Apostles that Jesus has risen.
Fr. Louie Richard explained, “Mary Magdalen is rightly called the ‘Apostle to the Apostles’ in the tradition of the Church, for she was the first one sent by Jesus to proclaim the resurrection to the others. Our annual celebration of our patroness is an opportunity to reflect on the love of this faithful woman as well as an opportunity to respond to the Lord’s call to each of us today. This year’s play will give us another moment to meditate on the power and the reality of Jesus’ resurrection through the eyes of St. Mary Magdalen.”
The evening celebration will begin with the recognition of this year’s Bishop’s Medal recipients, Mike & Edith Russo, for their many decades of generous service to the Church and to the community.
The play, “In the Garden,” will be accompanied by music from members of the Voices of St. Mary Magdalen, and the play will conclude with a brief period of prayerful meditation and praise.
Fr. Michael Richard stated that he was encouraged to write this play as he thought of the many parishioners who have passed away over the years.
“For me, every funeral in this Church became a moment to sit with Mary Magdalen through the pain of grief and loss and to come to the strength of faith and hope in the resurrection. As Mary Magdalen sat in the garden with the tomb of Jesus, she experienced the emotions of loss and was gifted with an encounter with the Resurrection Himself.”
He added that the hopes the play is an opportunity to get to know Mary Magdalen better and to walk with her into the garden where we experience the power of Jesus’ resurrection.
Acting alongside Rebekah Bourgeois are parishioners Hannah Bourgeois, Aneliese Hebert, Matthew Glafcke, seminarian Haden Coleman, and Fr. Seth Lemaire.

Velta Frederick Dartez passed away on Monday, July 19, 2021. She was born on February 17, 1930 in Maurice, Louisiana.
Velta was a devoted wife to her husband Harold who preceded her in death; a devoted mother to Michael (Phyllis), Alice (Kim) and Matt (Michelle); and loving grandmother to 9 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. She leaves behind a sister, Jane; a brother, Dale and sisters in law Emma and Louise; and many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents Elier and Nemese Frederick; brothers Lully and George; and sister Loul.
Velta worked for the telephone company for a while then settled down to a life on the farm. She loved cooking and baking and you could always find something to eat at her house. Her grandkids always knew there would be gumbo on the stove, tarts on the counter and Frosted Flakes in the freezer. She could often be found playing cards or drinking coffee with friends if she wasn’t working in her flower beds.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home - Maurice on Thursday July 22, 2021 from 9:00 AM until 12:15 PM. A rosary will be prayed at 12:15 PM on Thursday afternoon in the funeral home. Visitation will continue until the time of service. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Reading from scripture will be Christopher Stewart and Monique LeMaire.
Burial will take place in St. Alphonsus Mausoleum.
Pallbearers will be Joshua Dartez, Christopher Stewart, Kevin Stewart, Bryce Dartez, Brayden Dartez and Hayden Dartez, and honorary pallbearers Colin and Carson LeMaire and Reid Dartez.
The family would like to thank Heart of Hospice and the wonderful staff at Pelican Pointe for their care and compassion.
Personal condolences may be sent to the Dartez family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com.
Delhomme Funeral Home, 200 Chief H. Fred Road, Maurice, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements.