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One question has changed the life of Deyshia Hargrave, a Rene Rost Middle School teacher.
At a Vermilion Parish School Board meeting a few months ago, Hargrave asked Superintendent Jerome Puyau why he thought it was right for him to get a pay raise when teachers have not gotten one in years. A few minutes later, Hargrave was being escorted out of the meeting by Reggie Hiltz, who works for the Abbeville Marshal’s office. Hiltz handcuffed Hargrave, placed her in a police car and drove her to the Abbeville Police Station.
A video of her being escorted out of the meeting and being handcuffed went viral in 24 hours. Hargave became in instant celebrity and interviewed by national media. The video, as of today, has 3.3 million views.
Today, because of the video, Hargrave’s life is not the same as it was before she questioned Puyau’s pay raise.
“My life has changed in the way that people recognize me,” she said. “People all over the world have sent me mail to my house or messaged me to express their outrage and support of me. I have really seen good in the world after having experienced some of the worst treatment by my own employer.”
This past weekend, Hargrave was honored by the Louisiana Teacher’s Association of Educators (LTAE) for how she conducted herself at the school board meeting where she was escorted out of meeting.
She received the Courage Award from the state teacher’s association.
“Courage comes from doing what is right even when everyone else is doing something different,” she said. “I was honored to receive the award of courage. I stood up one day as a mother, taxpayer and teacher to question something that did not seem right to me. That one question has impacted my life in so many ways.”
She added that when she thinks about the Award of Courage, she thinks about a quote hanging in her house in the living room.
“You’ve always had the power my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself.”
“Courage comes from the power we already have as teachers. The power to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves and the power to do what is right everyone else are doing something different,” Hargave said.

Lafayette – Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church for Glenn Arthur Matthews.
Interment will be in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Cemetery in Erath, LA.
Glenn Arthur Matthews was born September 19, 1958 in Lafayette, LA to Mr. Steve Matthews Sr. and Mrs. Joyce Pillette Joseph. He departed from this life on April 13, 2018 at 59 years old.
Glenn was employed with Haliburton Oilfield Services for several years. He was a member of the Mason’s Live Oak Lodge #193. Glenn was a Louisiana State Representative for the National Kidney Foundation where he attended annual conferences in Washington D.C. Most of all, Glenn was a family man, awesome father, son, and brother. Glenn loved working with his hands and created beautiful things and was known as the “Project Man.” He always had a smile that would light up the room and spread joy to everyone he knew. He will be deeply missed.
Glenn was blessed with a loving family. He is survived by Rose Perkins, his loving fiancée of 26 years; his son, Jacolby Matthews of Carencro, LA; his daughter, Natasha Williams of Abbeville, LA; his loving mother, Joyce Pillette Joseph of Erath, LA; six loving sisters, Carolyn Henderson (Raymond) Abbeville, LA, Angela Matthew of Long Beach CA, Mary Morrison (Purvis) of Scott, LA, Cindy Joseph Meyers (Richard) of Lake Havasu City, AZ, Shannon Broussard of Lafayette, LA and Stephanie Brannon (Lawrence) of North Carolina; six loving brothers, Preston Joseph Jr. of Abbeville, LA, Terry Joseph of Abbeville, LA, Whitney Joseph (Rhonda) of Chiefland, FL, Kevin Joseph (Mona) of Cecilia, LA, Terry Matthews (Sheila) of Abbeville, LA and Michael Matthews (Carla) of Abbeville, LA. He also is survived by his four grandsons, two godchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, family and friends.
Glenn was preceded in death by his father, Mr. Steve Matthews Sr.; maternal grandparents, Arthur and Effie Dozier Pillette and his paternal grandparents, Issac Matthews and Gertrude Collins; his brothers, Steve Matthews Jr. and Ronald Matthews.
Glenn will be greatly missed by family and friends alike.
Visitation will be held Saturday, April 21, 2018 at St. Anthony Catholic Church from 7:00 a.m. until time of service. A rosary will be recited at 9:00 a.m.
Sign the guestbook online at www.syriefh.com
Arrangements have been entrusted to Syrie Funeral Home, Inc. of Lafayette, LA.

July 14, 1958 ~ April 4, 2018

KAPLAN — Memorial services will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, April 20, 2018 at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan honoring the life of Robert Allen Broussard, 59, who died on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at Memorial Hermann Medical Center. Reverend Nicholas Dupre' will be officiating the services.
Robert attended Kaplan High School graduating in 1976. He was an avid tennis player and enjoyed gambling. He loved all sports, including Houston Astros Baseball, Saints Football, basketball and all of UL Ragin Cajun sports.
He is survived by his sister, Sharon and her husband, Darrell Hargrave of Houston, TX; one nephew, Chad Hargrave and his wife, Chelsey of Houston, TX; two nieces, Kristie and her husband, Michael Houston of Houston, TX and Kim Hargrave of Houston, TX; two great nephews, Zach Shelton and his wife, Emily and Jackson Hargrave; and four great nieces, Tori Shelton, Mackenzie Hargrave, Emily Hargrave, and Ashlyn Hargrave.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Allen and Joyce Broussard.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., Friday, April 20, 2018 from 11:00 AM until services with a rosary being prayed at 12:00 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 Broussard family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.