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April 18, 1933 ~ June 19, 2019

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, June 21, 2019 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Harris Kenneth LaPointe, 86, who died Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at his residence. He will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Deacon Cody Miller officiating the services. Pallbearers will be Luke LeBlanc, Justin LeBlanc, Aaron LaPointe, Chris Meaux, Brandon Pursiful and Stephen Pursiful.
Harris was a graduate of Abbeville High School. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force who served our country during the Vietnam Era, having been stationed in New Mexico, Lake Charles, Bermuda, North Dakota and Texas. He enjoyed square dancing with his wife, Helen, also enjoyed woodworking and working in the yard.
Harris is survived by his two daughters, Cheryle Meaux and husband Steve of Abbeville, and Diana LeBlanc and husband Randy of Crowley; two sons, Kenneth LaPointe and wife MJ of Lenoir City, TN, and Al LaPointe of Abbeville; grandchildren, Chris Meaux and wife Rebecca of Abbeville, Allison Meaux of McKinney, Tx, Jessica Pursiful and husband James of Greenwell Springs, LA, Luke LeBlanc and wife Amber of Denham Springs, LA, Justin LeBlanc and wife Ashley of Baton Rouge, Jason LaPointe and wife Jessica of Atlanta, GA, Jeremy LaPointe of Atlanta, Danielle LaPointe of Lafayette, and Aaron LaPointe of Abbeville; twenty-one great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; and sister, Mary Landry of Abbeville.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Broussard LaPointe; brother, Jimmy Garber; great grandson, Kyren Balderaz; mother, Beulah Garber; and step-father, Henry Garber.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Thursday, June 20, 2019 from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM; Friday, June 21, 2019 from 9:00 AM until time of services.
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.

Elise LaFleur’s interest in politics began while taking civics as a sophomore in high school.
For the now 21-year-old Abbeville native, that interest has grown into opportunities that have brought her to Baton Rouge, Washington, D.C., and England.
LaFleur, the daughter of Cecile and Ricky LaFleur, is currently a junior at The Catholic University of America in Washington D.C., where she is majoring in politics with a concentration in American Government. She will graduate in May of 2020.
LaFleur recently had the honor of being named as a Fellow for the 2019 Lamar Louisiana Governor’s Fellowship Program.
“Being selected as a Fellow for the 2019 Lamar Louisiana Governor’s Fellowship Program has been such a huge privilege and opportunity for me,” LaFleur said. “I was so excited when I got the call to be a part of this cohort because I knew the experience would be invaluable. Being placed in the Governor’s Office for my cabinet assignment has been
rewarding because I am seeing state government in action every single day with the policy team. The issues we are working to address and the people we are striving to support are so important.
“Being a Governor’s Fellow is allowing me to serve those most in need of assistance through helping to bring to fruition policies that make our great state even better.”
Through the program, LaFleur is part of the day-to-day operation on the state’s capital.
“I work with the policy team to address the most critical issues facing our state,” LaFleur explained, “by helping to write memos for the Governor, attending department and cabinet meetings with the policy team, and researching the governor’s policy priorities for the duration of his term.”
This is not LaFleur’s first time working closely with a high-profile office. She worked as a congressional intern for U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise.
“Working as a congressional intern for Rep. Steve Scalise on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. was one of the best experiences of my college career,” LaFleur said. “It was an honor to work in an office where I was respected for my contributions and allowed the chance to observe and witness some incredible events and historic moments.
“I enjoyed being a part of Team Scalise for two semesters last year.”
Earlier this year, LaFleur traveled across the Atlantic to join a different team. She spent January to May as part of a spring internship with the British Parliament.
“Studying abroad in London through Catholic University and working for Parliament in the House of Commons for an MP was one of the most unique opportunities I have had the chance to experience thus far in my life,” LaFleur said. “Diving into the British government and their legislative process was fascinating and interacting with staff in various offices throughout Parliament was very insightful. Witnessing politics in action at the national level of another government and more importantly, one of the United States’s significant allies is something I never will forget.
“It was truly a special experience.”
At 21, LaFleur already has plenty of experience in the vital role of working behind the scenes for political offices. Will that translate to her stepping to the front and center of one?
“I would be interested in running for public office one day in Louisiana,” LaFleur said, “but I have a lot to learn before then. Additionally, I believe that we have a serious problem with the underrepresentation of women in both national and state government, and I hope to work to alleviate that issue in the future.
“We need more women at the table, making decisions because all voices are important.”
If and when LaFleur takes her place at that table, she can look back to the desk in her civics class at St. Thomas More as the place it all started.
“That experience in addition to serving as a page in the Louisiana House of Representatives the two summers before I went to college really broadened my understanding of what it meant to get involved and active within government,” LFleur said. “I decided to study politics in college because the government affects almost everything in our society, and I believe it is important to stay aware and in tune with that.
“I am passionate about making positive change an attainable reality in our state, and I believe that my experience outside of the classroom and my politics degree from Catholic University will help me to do just that.”

1931-2019

Barbara J. Griffin, 88, passed away June 14, 2019.
She was born in Miami, Florida, on March 8, 1931. After the death in 1993 of her husband of 44 years, Harold C. Griffin, she moved to Abbeville, Louisiana, where she lived until retiring to Florida in November of 2017 to live with her youngest daughter, Vicky.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Eugene Parker, and her brother, Donald P. Parker.
She is survived by daughter, Diana L. Cortright, son, David L. Griffin, daughter, Janice L. Griffin, and daughter, Vicky A. Westbrook (Garry). She also leaves four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Barbara was a member of First Baptist Church in Abbeville, Louisiana, and of the Abbeville General Hospital Volunteers Association, the latter for over 17 years of service. While serving with the First Baptist Women’s Mission group for many years, Barbara volunteered to personally create birthday corsages/boutonnieres for each resident of two local nursing homes, presenting them faithfully each month on the designated Birthdays of the Month celebration dates.
She enjoyed sewing, gardening and playing with her beloved cats, Jet, Tiger and Timmy. She will always be remembered as a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to many. Her kindness to all God’s creations and welcoming smile will be missed by all who knew her.
Services will be held on Friday, June 21, 2019, at 10 a.m. at Dobbs Funeral Home, 430 N. Kirkman Road, Orlando, Florida, with interment immediately following at Dr. Phillips Cemetery, 5398 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando, where she will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband, Harold.

August 13, 1925 ~ June 18, 2019

ABBEVILLE — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, June 20, 2019 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church honoring the life of Leona Graffeo LeBlanc, 93, who died Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at Pelican Pointe Healthcare and Rehabilitation. She will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Reverend Gary Schexnayder officiating the services. Pallbearers will be Shade LeBlanc, Juan Carlos Gonzalez, Mike Stokes, Clint Stokes, Jacob Stokes and Philip Verret. Honorary pallbearer will be her brother, Paul Graffeo.
Leona is survived by her son, Ricky F. LeBlanc and wife Bonnie of Abbeville; two daughters, Patricia L. Gonzalez of Lafayette and Christine LeBlanc of Abbeville; five grandchildren, Jill LeBlanc, Shade LeBlanc, Katie Rodriguez, Daniella Gonzalez and Juan Carlos Gonzalez; one great grandson, Greysen Simon; brother, Paul Graffeo of Abbeville; and two sisters, Rosalie G. LeBouef and husband Gerald of Abbeville, and Frances G. Stokes and husband Murrell of Lafayette.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Willard LeBlanc; son, Michael LeBlanc; parents, Frank Graffeo, Sr. and the former Lena Corona; three brothers, Angelo Graffeo, Frank Graffeo, Jr. and Roy Graffeo; and sisters, Jennie Schroder and Cosima Wimberly.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Thursday, June 20, 2019 from 11:00 AM until 1:45 PM when the procession will depart for the church. A rosary will be prayed at 12:00 PM.
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.