Jeff Crouere
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Friends and family join Christopher “Tipper” Esponge (middle) after his victory to
become Delcambre Mayor-elect.
Christopher “Tipper” Esponge
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ABBEVILLE – Funeral Services for Mrs. Shirley Mae Theresa Green Campbell, 71, will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at Lighthouse for Jesus Church with Pastor Donnie Bolden, Sr. officiating.
Interment will follow at Pleasant Green Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Lighthouse for Jesus Church in Abbeville beginning at 9 a.m. until the time of Service at 11 a.m.
Where do we begin?
It would take a great deal of time to put in words the life of Shirley; that much time we do not have, so in a brief summary, let’s begin.
To start off, Shirley was a great woman of God. Her actions, intentions, personality, character, attitude and words reflected the Word of God! A woman that did not complain about anything.
She was soft spoken, yet her words carried heavy wisdom and conviction. Shirley was a very organized and clean person; she was a hard worker who would not settle for anything other than the best. She raised her children in the Lord and with the word of God.
Shirley was married to Pastor Donald Campbell for 51 years!
She was faithful to her husband, her children, and her duties as a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Shirley was a woman of honesty, integrity, commitment, and joy. Shirley was a praying woman. She modeled the terminology ‘prayer warrior’. Shirley would spend countless hours per week praying, reading her bible, and seeking God. Shirley’s attitude was abnormal. She had a golden, diamond, and priceless attitude. She lived this life with joy, faith, and peace. Shirley came from a big family raised in the country of Erath.
She was one of 15 siblings. Again, this is just a brief small sample size summary of the life of Shirley. Shirley’s legacy has been etched in eternity.
She was a great example of what a woman of God should be inside and out. To God Be The Glory For The Life Of Shirley Mae Theresa Green Campbell! Amen & Amen!
She is survived by her husband of 51 years Pastor Donald Campbell, Sr.; two daughters, Bethany Nichols and her husband Lonnie, and Alanna Campbell and her fiance’ Keithan; three sons, Arlyn Campbell and his wife Darvina, Christopher Campbell and his wife Bridget, and Wendel Campbell and his wife and Rochelle; a step-daughter, Vanessa Barquet and her husband Bernard; a step-son, Donald Campbell, Jr. and his wife Erika; eighteen grandchildren, Azariah, Orion, Caden, Abigail, Aireyonnah, Erron, Hosea, Zachariah, Aireyelle, Michael, Kailani, Tyler, Bryce, Elijah, Charity, Gracious, Dylan, and Cameron; nine step-grandchildren, Brandon, Brianna, Fabian, De’Asiyah, DeLaiyah, Donald, James, Leroy, and Donavan; eight great-grandchildren, Clements, Jr., Kamari, Daniel, Maeleah, JaMichael, Zahan, Faith, and Isaiah; three brothers, Martin Green, Sr. and his wife Phylis, Scottie Green and his wife Ethelyn, and Randy Green and wife Jenny; and nine sisters, Betty Campbell, Margaret Green, Linda Green, Brenda Brailey, Dorita Cole and her husband Willard, Juanita Perro, Leona Antoine and her husband Harold, Veronica Green, and Gustavia Green.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Loulda Green; and two brothers, Norris Green and Loveless Green.
Serving as pallbearers will be Christopher Campbell, Arlyn Campbell, Wendel Campbell, Larry Wilson, Eugene Campbell, and Timothy Bourque.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Scottie Green, Randy Green, Tyler Campbell, Hosea Campbell, Bryce Campbell, Erron Jenkins, and Elijah Campbell.
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.org
Frioux-David Funeral Home of Abbeville at 2600 Charity Street (337) 893-3777 will be in charge of the arrangements.
Mary Cade Stockmeyer, age 92, peacefully passed away on October 17, 2024.
She was born in Abbeville, LA on November 18, 1931 and attended SLI (ULL) in Lafayette before moving to New Orleans in 1950, where she met and married her beloved husband, Carl Frederick Stockmeyer, Jr. of New Orleans.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband and parents, Hannah O’Quin Burks and John Elliott Cade, her daughter, Mary “Cade” Stockmeyer Beach, of Maplewood, NJ, and sisters, Carol Cecile Cade of Abbeville and Hannah Cade Cassidy of Jennings.
She is survived by her children, Carl III (Jenny), Ann Roberts (Bill), Jane Lane (Chuck), Tommy (Pat), John (Joy), Sally Banta (Mark), a son-in-law, Rick Beach, as well as thirteen grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are a brother, John M. Cade (Lambrini), and sister, Kathryn C. Strayton (Bob), and many nieces and nephews.
She was a sustaining member of the Junior League of New Orleans and Life Member of LePetit Salon and the Orleans Club.
Mary, a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, was known for her love of family and friends, her dogs, bridge, and all things New Orleans, her home for 73 years.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass in the chapel of Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. in New Orleans, on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 12 p.m.
A visitation will be held at the funeral home beginning at 10 a.m. The interment will be private. A repast will follow.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Mary’s memory to the Louise S. McGehee School, the Junior League of New Orleans, or a charity of your choice.
Her family invites you to share thoughts, fond memories, and condolences online at www.lakelawnmetairie.com.
ABBEVILLE, La. – A Mass of Christian Burial for Mrs. Bertha Marie Williams Turner, 74, was held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at St. Theresa Catholic Church (101 N. Leonard Avenue) with Rev. Francois Sainte Marie, Celebrant officiating.
She was laid to rest in the Mausoleum of St. Paul Cemetery (515 Jacqulyn Street) in Abbeville, LA.
She was born on December 22, 1949, to the union of the late Noah John Williams Sr. and Dorothy Brailey Williams. She departed this life at 1:34 a.m. on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at Our Lady of Lourdes Heart Hospital of Lafayette, LA.
Bertha was a devout Catholic who was a member of St. Theresa Catholic Church. She graduated from Kaplan High School and furthered her education at University of Southwestern Louisiana (now UL) where she earned her Bachelors and Master +30 Degree in Education. She was an educator for the Vermilion Parish Public School System.
She leaves in God’s care to cherish her memory, one sister, Maxine Levine of Abbeville, LA; one great-aunt, Anna Brailey Greene of Abbeville, LA; four godchildren, Goliatha Yeggins of Houston, TX, John Guidry of Kaplan, LA, Tamela H. Lewis of North Las Vegas, NV, and Norman Levine Jr. of Abbeville, LA; two sisters-in-law, Gloria Williams and Alice S. Williams; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, church family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Chawanna Oranna Turner Alicea; her parents, Noah John Williams Sr. and Dorothy Brailey Williams; three brothers, Noah Williams Jr., Willie John Williams and Joseph Navarre Williams; three sisters, Betty Lou Chambers, Mary Catherine Floyd and Ellen Marie Walker; brothers-in-law; Allen Chambers, Norman Levine Sr., Albert Walker and Theodore Floyd; sisters-in-law; Ruth Williams and Emma Jean Williams; her former husband, Oran Turner; her in laws, Mr. and Mrs. Everette Sr. and Mary Turner, Louis Herbert and Marval O’Brien.
The active pallbearers are Patrick Chambers Jr., Lance Chambers, Darrell Chambers, Norman Levine Jr., Troy Williams, and Kenneth Jones.
The honorary pallbearers are Patrick Chambers Sr., John Guidry, Goliatha Yeggins, Sherwood Levine, Jonathan Benjamin, Zachary Bernard, and Larry Broussard.
Condolences can be expressed to the family at www.fletcherfuneralhomes.org
Arrangements are entrusted to Fletcher Funeral Home (337-369-3341) 609 W. Admiral Doyle Drive, New Iberia, LA 70560.
Erath running back Mason Hebert escapes an Abbeville High defender.
ERATH - Outright football district titles only come around sometimes at Erath High School.
It has been 62 years since a Bobcat football team won an outright district title.
That drought has finally ended.
The Bobcats beat the Abbeville Wildcats 48-28 on Friday, giving Erath the title.
The Bobcats achieved a 2-0 record in the district, securing victories against Kaplan (17-14) and Abbeville. The scheduled district game against St. Martinville was canceled due to a shooting incident prior to the game.
It is also Erath’s first district title since 2019. The school has won six district championships in its history.
“The district title was motivational all week leading up to the game,” said EHS head coach Eric LeBlanc.
LeBlanc has been the head coach at EHS for seven years. At that time, he won an outright district title and was co-champs in 2019.
The Bobcats are also ranked higher than ever in the Non-Select Division III Power rankings. According to GeauxPrep.com, Erath enters the playoffs as the No. 2 ranked team. The top four ranked teams get a bye in the first round.
Whenever the playoff brackets are released, and Erath is ranked No. 2, the Bobcats could play the winner of the No. 15 Loreauville (4-6) and No. 18 Marksville (5-5) game in the second round.
On Friday, the Abbeville Wildcats (0-10) gave the Bobcats (8-1) all it could handle in the first half.
With seven minutes remaining in the first half, the two teams were tied at 14-14.
The Bobcats, however, scored 14 points in the final seven minutes of the first half to head into the locker room ahead 28-14.
Erath defender Jahlil Charles fell on an Abbeville fumble in the end zone for six points and a few minutes
later, Erath marched downfield, and Mason Hebert scored a touchdown on a three-yard run to make 28-14.
After the fumble recovery in the end zone, the Bobcats scored three straight touchdowns to seal the victory.
“I thought we did many good things in the game,” said LeBlanc. “What we were afraid of happening happened. Abbeville’s quarterback (Kody Vital) is a good athlete. I thought we put a lot of pressure on him. When we got to him, we did not break down. We could have ended many drives but did not finish the tackles.”
In the game, Hebert had touchdown runs of 5 yards, one yard and three yards. He finished with 13 carries for 58 yards and 3 TDs.
Aiden Bourque had 10 carries for 56 yards and one score.
Passing, Jack Landry completed nine out of 11 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown.
Johnathan Goodrich had four catches for 46 yards and a touchdown.
Cameron Soirez had two for 54 yards.
VC's Jyrin Bessard catches a pass and heads for the end zone.
VC’s Allen McLain III (16), Gabe Boudreaux (53) and Joe Langlinais (20) give the Westminster ball carrier a ride. Photo by Rosco Harrington
The No. 1 Vermilion Catholic Eagles completed their third-consecutive 10-0 season Friday with a 49-7 thumping of the Westminster Christian-Lafayette Chargers.
The Eagles (10-0, 4-0) have now won 35-straight regular season games. While that’s a remarkable feat, VC head coach Broc Prejean is focused on his present team and what they’ve accomplished.
“This year’s team going 10-0 is special,” Prejean said. “The kids have been consistent from week one to week 10, and really, dating all the way back to June when we got in the weight room. It’s a remarkable accomplishment, especially when you add up what we’ve done in previous years. This team has been super special to watch.”
The Eagles are now district champions for the seventh straight year.
VC jumped ahead 7-0 only 15 seconds into the game when Allen McLain III fielded the opening kickoff and raced 96 yards down the sideline for the score.
The Chargers then went on a clock-eating 18-play drive that had the Eagle defense on its heels. The defense stiffened in the red zone and forced a turnover-on-downs at the 16-yard line.
“When you go up against the veer and you’ve never seen it, it’s tough to get your feet wet and really understand it,” Prejean explained. “We knew those first couple of drives were going to be tough. Kudos to the defense for keeping them out of the endzone.”
While the defense found its footing, the VC offense struggled to move the ball after watching most of the first quarter and were forced to punt.
VC senior defensive back Jyrin Bessard, who was seeing his first action since week two due to an injury, set the house on fire when he intercepted a Chargers’ third-down pass and took it back 55 yards for the touchdown. The pick-six put the Eagles ahead 13-0 with 10:10 to play in the first half.
“The ball went through the receiver’s hands and came straight to me,” Bessard said. “It had to be mine and nobody was catching me.”
After the Eagles’ defense forced a three-and-out, VC quarterback Jonathan Dartez took the first snap 59 yards for the touchdown. He also ran in the two-point conversion to make it 21-0 with 7:21 remaining in the half.
On the Chargers next possession, Bessard struck again. His second interception gave VC first-and-ten at the Westminster 39-yard line.
On first down, the Eagles went to their bag of tricks. Dartez took the snap and pitched the ball to Will Simon who ran to his right, stopped, and launched a pass to a streaking Bessard for the touchdown to put VC ahead 28-0 with 6:54 left in the half.
“It’s been hard,” Bessard explained. “It’s my senior year and I had to wait eight weeks. I had some steam built up. I had to let it all out tonight.”
The Eagles offensive explosion continued as they scored two more touchdowns before the end of the half. Dartez hit Hudson Hebert from 38-yards out to make it 35-0, and then took it himself from 17-yards out to give the Eagles a 42-0 halftime lead.
Dartez led the Eagles’ rushing attack with 114 yards and two touchdowns on only six carries. He completed five-of-seven passes for 110 yards and three scores.
Hebert led the Eagles’ receivers with two catches for 47 yards and a touchdown. Bessard also had two catches for 39 yards and a score. McLain III added a 24-yard touchdown reception.
Now the Eagles turn their attention to the playoffs. They are the number one seed and will enjoy a first-round bye. According to Prejean, that’s where the road to the dome begins.
“It starts with having a good bye week,” Prejean said. “For us that means getting rested, getting healthy, and fine tuning some things. Once we find out who we play, it’s giving them that total respect and focus. That’s what it’s going to take for the next five weeks.”
Abbeville defender Joseph Davis intercepts a pass in front of Erath receiver Talen Landry.
Abbeville quarterback Kobe Vital outruns the EHS defenders on the two point play.
Abbeville receiver Cameron Samuels does a head stand after he scores a touchdown. Samuels received a penalty for the head stand.
When the game was over, and Erath won 42-28, Abbeville Wildcat assistant coach Brandon Johnson summarized the outcome of Friday’s football game between Erath and Abbeville.
“We made them earn it,” Johnson said proudly to the Wildcat players after the game.
The Wildcats did precisely that.
Abbeville entered the game against Erath with a 0-9 record, and they were playing for nothing but pride. They were not going to the playoffs.
The Bobcats, on the other hand, were playing for an outright district title with a win against Abbeville. They are in the Top 2 of the power rankings, and a loss could drop them to No. 5, kissing a first-round bye in the playoffs away with a loss.
The Wildcats threw for more than 230 yards, which is a season-high.
Abbeville head coach Jonathan Zenon stated that his young players are finally beginning to understand the system.
“This is the same team; we just had to get it out of them,” said Zenon. “It took 10 games for them to understand everything.”
The Wildcats, normally a running team, changed up their offense and entered the game with the idea of throwing the football.
They put that chore in the hands of newfound quarterback Kobe Vital. For at least five games, Vital was not on the team. He was a basketball player for AHS.
Vital walked up to Zenon in the gym and asked if he could play quarterback. Zenon invited him to try out. Vital has been a pleasant surprise for the last four games.
“We knew he was a basketball player, but he had so much athletic ability,” said Zenon. “He kept telling me he could play quarterback and wanted to try him out. I gave him an opportunity. He now gives us another dimension. He can run and throw the football. Plus, he thinks on the go.”
On Friday, with the AHS coaches opening up the offense, Vital threw for a career-high 230-plus yards. In the first half alone, Vital completed 7 out of 11 passes for 157 yards. He had long completions of 70 yards, 40 yards and 26 yards in the first half.
The Wildcats and the Bobcats were tied 14-14 with 7:33 to play in the second quarter.
Two big plays changed the outcome of the game.
The Bobcats drove down the field and were 35 yards from the end zone. AHS sophomore defensive back Joseph Davis intercepted Erath quarterback Jack Landry’s pass and fell on the AHS 10-yard line, stopping Erath from scoring.
An excited Wildcat team had ambitions of going downfield and scoring or eating up the clock, and they went into halftime tied 14-14.
But that all changed in a matter of seconds. The Wildcats fumbled the ball in the end zone on Abbeville’s first play after the interception. Erath defender Jahlil Charles fell on the football in the endzone, killing Abbeville’s momentum and giving Erath six points.
A few minutes later, the Bobcats scored again on a three-yard run by Mason Hebert, making it 28-14.
So, in seven minutes, the Wildcats went from tied at 14-14 to being down 28-14 at halftime.
“We shot ourselves in the foot,” said Zenon about the turnover. “We wanted to go into halftime tied 14-14. At least it would have been a more competitive game in the second half.
“I am very proud of our team and of my seven seniors,” said Zenon. “We had several seniors who stuck it out.”
Zenon said he is also proud of his team for showing up and playing their hearts out against Erath.
‘We came in here and wanted to show everyone what the future holds for Abbeville. We are a young team loaded with sophomores and freshmen. We will be a team to reckon with next season,” Zenon said.
The VC Eagles were hoping to find out this weekend who they may be playing in the playoffs. Because of a restraining order filed by University High School, the LHSAA will not be release the playoff brackets on Sunday.
One Vermilion Parish football coach is not panicking after learning the LHSAA will delay the release date of the postseason brackets.
The brackets are usually released on Sunday morning but may be available until Wednesday at the earliest.
North Vermilion head coach Roderick Moy said he is not worried about the delay.
“We are going to begin preparing for our next opponent based on the power rating,” Moy said Friday night.
According to GeauxPrep.com, the top 28 make the Non-Select Division II playoffs.
According to Geaux Prep, the Patriots have a power rating of 23. If they remain No. 23 after Saturday, they could play No. 10 Bell Chase (8-2), No. 9 Iota (8-2), or No. 11 Northwest (8-2).
The delay won’t mess up Vermilion Catholic and Erath because they both have byes in the first round.
According to Geaux Prep.com, VC is ranked No. 1 in the Select Division IV power ranking and received a bye in the first round.
VC could be playing the winner of No. 16 Westminster Christian (7-2) and No. 17 Delta Charter (7-2) in the second round.
Erath, in Division III Non-Select, is No. 2 and will also get a bye in the first round.
Erath could play the winner of the No. 15 Loreauville (4-6) and No. 18 Marksville (5-5) game.
Kaplan is No. 8 in Non-Select Division III and may be playing No. 25 North Webster (3-7) at home in the first round.
The LSHAA released a statement explaining why the delay.
The LHSAA’s statement is below:
“The Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) will delay the release of the 2024 postseason football brackets due to ongoing litigation with one of our member schools. This situation could affect all 307 schools that participate in football across the state. Given the possible repercussions of the decision made, the LHSAA will withhold all eight postseason brackets until the legal process is concluded and the matter is fully resolved. We appreciate the understanding and patience of our member schools and fans as we work through this important issue.“
No reschedule date has been announced.
The Advocate reported that the school involved in the ongoing litigation is University High in Baton Rouge. U-High initiated a lawsuit in the 19th Judicial District Court of Baton Rouge on Friday morning, which led to the suspension of playoff brackets.
University High has been mandated to forfeit seven victories due to two players being deemed ineligible. In response, University High is seeking a temporary restraining order to contest the ruling made on Monday.
A hearing is set for Nov. 18, and the playoffs will come after the case is settled. The LHSAA is actively looking to facilitate an earlier court date. The timeline of the hearing could potentially impact Caesar’s Superdome being the host of state championship games.
Kaplan's Coy Terro (8) prepares to get tackled on a kickoff return.
Kaplan running back Daylon Landry looks for running room. Landry scored a touchdown on this run.
KAPLAN - Now the Kaplan Pirates (8-1) sit and wait.
What are they waiting for?
See how well or not well other high school teams do on Friday. A win here and a surprise win there could affect where the Kaplan Pirates are ranked in the Division III Non-Select power point standings on Saturday morning.
Before the St. Martinville game on Thursday, the Pirates were ranked No. 7 in the Division III Non-Select Power rankings.
After the 32-0 win over the Tigers, the Pirates are still No. 7 in power rankings.
The outcome of Friday’s high school games will likely affect the Pirates’ power ranking. The good news is the Pirates have a first-round home playoff game on Friday no matter what happens.
Kaplan could climb to No. 6 if specific teams on its schedule win. The Pirates could drop to No. 8 or No. 9 if teams on their schedule lost.
Now that the season is over, the coaches and players are starting to focus on the playoffs, which begin on Friday.
“We will figure out where we finish and who we match up with,” said Kaplan head Stephen Lotief. “We think we could drop in power rankings, depending on what other teams do on Friday.”
The Pirates could play No. 25 North Webster (3-6), No. 26 Oakdale (3-6), No. 27 Patterson (1-7), or No. 28 Vidalia (2-7).
“I am not worried about who we are playing,” said Lotief. “I worry about us and how we practice that week.”
The Pirates are coming off a tough road loss to Erath High last Friday. The Bobcats won the game on a last-second field goal.
Lotief said the Pirates were out-coached and outplayed against Erath.
This past Thursday, he made sure that did not happen again.
The Pirates scored eight points in the first quarter and then 18 in the second quarter to lead 26-0 at halftime.
Mother Nature opened the clouds when the game began, and rain fell for most of the first quarter.
The Pirates, due to the wet conditions, kept the ball on the ground.
The Pirates shined in the first quarter.
On the Tigers’ first drive, defensive lineman Carter Petry had the first of his three sacks.
Kaplan took its first possession and marched 37 yards behind the running of Wyatt Hebert, who had four carries on the drive. Scoring for the Pirates was Daylon Landry on a four-yard touchdown run.
Hebert converted the two-point play that made it 8-0 at the 2:43 mark in the first quarter.
The Kaplan defense had a big play on St. Martinville’s next possession. KHS linebacker Jacob Devoltz had a fumble recovery on the Tigers’ 30-yard line.
It took the Pirates nine plays to go 30 yards for a score. Hebert ran into the end zone from the two-yard line and made the two-point play, which put Kaplan in front 16-0.
The Kaplan defense came up big once again.
Kaplan linebacker Taven Housend had an interception to set up Kaplan’s third touchdown.
It took Kaplan on three offensive plays after Housend’s interception, to score. Daylon Landry ran 23 yards for a touchdown to make it 24-0 with 6:04 to play in the first half.
The Kaplan defense was not finished making big plays in the first half.
The Pirates’ defense pinned St. Martinville back to its goal line. On third down, St. Martinville’s quarterback saw linebacker Jacob Devoltz in his face. St. Martinville’s quarterback threw the pass out of the end zone to avoid the sack.
The referees ruled it intensional grounding in the end zone, which resulted in a safety and two points for Kaplan.
The Pirates led 26-0 at halftime.
Kaplan had success running the football. Hebert finished with 131 yards on 26 carries, scoring twice. Dayon Landry had 11 carries for 125 yards and scored twice.
Bradyn Bear had seven rushes for 36 yards.
Quarterback Sabe David completed one pass for 10 yards.
The Kaplan defense held the Tigers’ running game to minus 22 yards and 64 yards passing.
318 N. Main St.
Abbeville, LA 70510
Phone: 337-893-4223
Fax: 337-898-9022
219 North Cushing Avenue
Kaplan, LA 70548