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Jon Luke Broussard
A son, Jon Luke Broussard, was born on Friday, November 13, 2020, at Abbeville General to Makayla Renee Richard and Jeren Joseph Broussard of Erath.

Carson Reign Landry
A son, Carson Reign Landry, was born on Thursday, November 19, 2020 at Abbeville General to Paige Lachelle Landry and Henniya Aubriel Austin-Cain of Abbeville.

Kade James St. Germain
A son, Kade James St. Germain, was born on Sunday, November 22, 2020 at Abbeville General to Amanda Virginia Istre and Kevin James St. Germain of Abbeville.

Abel Adam Breaux
A son, Abel Adam Breaux, was born on Friday, November 27, 2020 at Abbeville General to Mr. and Mrs. Beau Adam Breaux of Erath. The mother is the former Lynda Irene Ann Lester.

Edward Joseph Garrick, Jr.
A son, Edward Joseph Garrick, Jr., was born on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at Abbeville General to Khadijah Raygine Bernard and Edward Joseph Garrick, Sr. of Kaplan.

Jamie Jakel Davis
A son, Jamie Jakel Davis, was born on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at Abbeville General to Astassia Ja’kell Laviolette and Jamie David of Abbeville.

Jimin Taylor Block
A son, Jimin Taylor Block, was born on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, at Abbeville General to Mr. and Mrs. Kristopher Jesse Block of Kaplan. The mother is the former Deseree Nicole Gaspard.

This year has been full of challenges for everyone.
That is certainly true for teachers, who are working to do things that have never been done.
Something that is done every year by the Vermilion Parish School System naming Teachers of the Year. Seventh Ward’s Angie Detraz has been named the Vermilion Parish Elementary School Teacher of the Year. Erath Middle’s Nicole Toups has been honored as the Vermilion Parish Middle School Teacher of the Year and Gueydan High’s Sheri Istre has earned Vermilion Parish High School Teacher of the Year.
“Congratulations to our Vermilion Parish Teachers of the Year,” Vermilion Parish Superintendent Tommy Byler said. “Congrats to all our winners at the school and parish level.”
Byler and members of the central office traveled to each school to surprise this year’s winners.
“I feel very excited and humbled by receiving this award! It was such a nice surprise to end my school week!,” Detraz exclaimed.
Detraz, who has taught for 25 years, and has been at Seventh Ward since 2017, is right where she wants to be as a Pre-K teacher.
“I love teaching Pre-K and feel privileged to be part of their introduction to learning,” Detraz said. “My goal each year is to make sure each child in my class feels safe, special and experiences success daily.
“I’m always looking for new and fun ways to keep the children motivated and excited about learning.”
Istre couldn’t believe it when Byler and the groups walked into her classroom to deliver the good news.
“Winning Vermilion Parish High School Teacher of the Year is surreal!,” Istre exclaimed. “In the seven years I have taught in the parish, I have met and worked with some of the best teachers in the state of Louisiana; teachers I look up to and admire for their dedication and innovative thinking.
“To be selected to represent these teachers and our school district is the greatest honor I have received in my 21 years as an educator.”
There are traits that Istre has developed in those years that helped bring her to this level.
“I believe the traits that helped me win this award,” Istre said, “are having empathy and compassion for my students, an unwavering dedication to my school, and a strong sense of community here in Gueydan and Vermilion Parish. I strive to keep a positive attitude and be proactive in all that I do. Also, having extremely dedicated, motivating, hardworking leadership at both the school and parish level have inspired me to work hard to be the best educator and person I can be.”
Being an educator is a mission for Istre.
“Teaching is not a job in which you fill students’ heads with facts and figures,” Istre said. “It is a calling in which we strive to help our students become successful, contributing, responsible members of society.”
Like her peers, the presentation of the award caught Toups pleasantly off guard.
“Being named Vermilion Parish Middle School Teacher of the Year has been quite a surprise!,” Toups said. “I am honored and humbled by my peers for first selecting me at the school level, and then to be chosen at a parish level has been just surreal. My VPSB superiors pulled off this announcement perfectly. I was totally caught off guard and overwhelmed with emotion. Thank you to all involved with the selection and awarding processes! I am so appreciative and blessed beyond measure.”
Toups said she gets to interact with some pretty cool kids and grow with the best coworkers and administrators in the parish! Over the years, I’ve been truly privileged to teach her favorite subject in the entire world: American History.
“My love for our country’s history, along with being a military mom, only intensifies my passion in relaying our nation’s past through various voices and interpretations,” Toups said.
In addition, Toups said working in her profession throws much prospective on how a person can positively or negatively navigate the success of others.
“For me personally, Toups said, “this has been my mission for my students, as well as, relationships with my coworkers. Keeping a positive outlook, lending a compassionate ear, and offering words of encouragement have always helped my students in wanting to strive for success!”
Every morning, when she enters her classroom, Toups tries to recite her favorite Maya Angelou poem:
“I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas lights. I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life. I’ve learned that making a “living” is not the same thing as making a “life” . I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I’ve learned that whenever I decided something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one. I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”. ~Maya Angleou
“The last sentence is my classroom mantra,” Toups said. “Building respect, relationships, and communication have always worked for me, and I intend to continue do so. If my students feel like they can come to me for any reason, be it school or personal, then I’ve succeeded in my mission! Teaching middle school is difficult for both teachers and students- It’s a time period of change, transition, and evolution.
“Showing the kids that I care and that I’m invested in their growth both go a long way.”

Phallie S. Sellers Fund, in collaboration with the Vermilion Foundation, an Affiliate Community Foundation of Acadiana granted $10,000 to Keep Abbeville Beautiful.
Vermilion Foundation Advisory Board Member Dr. Jacob Sellers said that “though the Foundation is in its early beginning, it is starting to have an impact in the Parish with several grants being awarded within Vermilion Parish.”
On Tuesday, Nov. 17, Phallie S. Sellers and members of the Vermilion Foundation Board, Fred Hoyt and Arlene Collee, presented a check to City of Abbeville Councilman Brady Broussard and Councilwoman Terry Broussard. The donated funds will be used to pay for planters and a community garden in the City of Abbeville.
“Keep Abbeville Beautiful and The Abbeville Garden Club have always talked about creating a community garden in the city,” said Charlene Beckett, Main Street Manager for City of Abbeville “this grant gets us one step closer to accomplishing our goal.”
The community garden location is at the corner of Martin Luther King and Lamar Street. Community Gardens are beneficial to the environment, provide beautification for a neighborhood, and a place for people to gather and share in the experience of gardening while creating community pride.
The second project will include an addition of planters which will be added at the south corners of Pere Megret and South Washington Streets, enhancing the already attractive improvements to the sidewalk project.
Vermilion Foundation, an Affiliate of Community Foundation of Acadiana, has a local advisory board made up of members from Vermilion Parish including Richard Broussard, Arlene Collee, Jim Doyle, Dr. Jack Gupta, Frey Hoyt, Earl Landry, Pat Patout, Dr. Jacob Demary Sellers, and Charles Sonnier.
CFA is one of south Louisiana’s premier philanthropic organizations benefiting our region, with a focus on the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Mary, St. Martin and Vermilion. CFA’s core purpose is to build legacies and improve communities by connecting generous people to the causes they care about. Since its inception in 2000, CFA has realized cumulative gifts exceeding $290 million and has made cumulative grants of more than $150 million. You can learn more at www.cfacadiana.org.

August 18, 2010 ~ December 10, 2020

ABBEVILLE—A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, December 13, 2020 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church honoring the life of Kaylee Abigail McLain who earned her angel wings on December 10, 2020 and entered eternal life at the innocent age of 10. She will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Reverend Louis J. Richard officiating the services. Concelebrants for the funeral mass will be Fr. Donald Bernard and Rev. Neil Pettit.
Kaylee was born on August 18, 2010 in Crowley, Louisiana.
Kaylee was a well-loved fourth grade student at Mount Carmel Elementary in Abbeville, where she earned the honor of being named “Child of Carmel” for the 2019-2020 school year, and was elected as Mount Carmel 4-H Secretary for 2020-2021. She enjoyed spending time outdoors, playing soccer, working with her 4-H pig, Pearl, swimming, and baking gluten free deserts. Kaylee was a past member of Southwest Louisiana Tumble and Cheer where she competed with Louisiana Voodoo Allstars.
She exemplified all that a true Christian child is through her love of God as well as her kind, giving, and loving nature. True to her happy, free spirit, Kaylee never met a stranger, and lit up any room she walked into. She brought constant joy to all those around her. Kaylee had a deep love and affection for her family that was evident in all she did. She enjoyed being an alter server at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Abbeville with her two older brothers.
Anyone who knew Kaylee knows her favorite shoe style was “no shoes” at all. She loved being barefoot most - no matter if she was running through hot rocks or cold ice straight out of the cooler after a big fishing trip on her Grandpa’s boat. One of Kaylee’s favorite treats was the special fruit-filled Jell-O that her great-grandpa Poly would make for her.
Kaylee had a deep love and strong bond with all of her cousins especially those who she could carry around and mother. They each adored her.
Kaylee leaves behind to cherish her memory her parents, Erin Webb McLain and Allen Boyd McLain, Jr. of Abbeville, Louisiana; two brothers, Allen Boyd McLain III and Luke Michael McLain; paternal grandparents, Allen Boyd McLain, Sr. and Laura LeBlanc McLain of Abbeville; maternal grandparents, Darla Oliver Webb and Kenny Michael Webb of Egan; paternal great-grandfather, Roland Francis LeBlanc, Sr. of Abbeville; maternal great-grandmother, Earline Andrepont Oliver of Egan; paternal aunts and uncles, Julie McLain Ward and Evan James Ward of Pearland, Texas, Michelle McLain Whitney, and Aaron Kyle Whitney of Abbeville, Patricia McLain Redifer and Daniel Grant Redifer of Oceanside, California, Elizabeth McLain LeBouef and Corbett Joseph “Chip” LeBouef IV of Maurice, John Patrick McLain and Leah Broussard McLain of Abbeville, and Christopher Ryan McLain of Abbeville; as well as maternal aunts and uncles, Adria Webb Faulk and Joshua Layne Faulk of Indian Bayou; and Kimberly Webb Stewart and Jamie Coleman Stewart of Indian Bayou.
Kaylee also leaves behind her biggest fans, her cousins, Declan, Alexander and Ainsley Ward, Parker, Mallory and Westin Whitney, Evelyn, Jackson and Ethan Redifer, Corbett and Samuel LeBouef, Leann McLain, Carter, Jack and Eli Faulk.
She is preceded in death by her paternal great-grandparents, Maxine Landry LeBlanc of Abbeville, and Cecile Smith and Allen Argo McLain of Abbeville; maternal great-grandparents, William Joseph Oliver, Sr. of Egan, Beatrice Webb Laughlin of Crowley, Joseph Webb, Sr. of Crowley, and Fred Laughlin of Crowley.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Saturday, December 12, 2020 from 3:00 PM until 8:30 PM with a rosary being prayed at 7:00 P.M. Sunday, December 13, 2020 from 9:00 A.M. until 1:30 P.M. When the procession will depart for the church.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Kaylee McLain Memorial Fund at the Bank of Erath to benefit children like her, attending Mount Carmel Elementary School.
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.