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A Mass of Christian Burial for Barbara Dumesnil Reggie, 91, Crowley native, is set for Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 10 a.m. at St. Michael Catholic Church in Crowley with Msgr. Keith DeRouen celebrating.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, with the rosary to be recited at 6 p.m. and on Tuesday, Oct. 22, from 8 a.m. until 9:45 a.m.
Mrs. Reggie was born in Crowley on Feb. 7, 1928, to Lawrence and Dora John Dumesnil.
She is survived by four daughters, Mary Elizabeth Istre and husband Dennis and Donna Marie Fruge and husband Michael, all of Crowley, Yvonne Marguerite Balentine and husband Garry of Shreveport, and Barbara Anne Hornsby and husband Aaron of Branch. She is also survived by two sons, Samuel J. Reggie and wife Keral and John F. Reggie and wife Susan of Crowley, and two daughters-in- law, Tina Reggie of Lake Charles and Gwen Young and husband Gerald of Broussard; 33 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Reggie is also survived by her sister-in-law Doris Boustany Reggie of Lafayette and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Reggie is preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Samuel J. Reggie Sr. and two sons, Lawrence “Larry” Reggie and Paul Reggie.
She received her formal education at St. Michael School, St. Charles Academy in Lake Charles, and graduated from the Barbizon School of Modeling in New York City. She auditioned for, and was accepted by The Rockettes of Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
She was later owner and artistic director of three schools of dance in Crowley and the surrounding area. She continued her love of dance into her 80s.
Participation in her children’s activities was foremost in her life. She served as an associate and co-chairwoman of the Tulane University National Parents Council, a Cub Scout Den Mother, taught religion for St. Michael Catholic Church and was a Certified Master Catechist for the Diocese of Lafayette with a specialization in Special Religious Education.
For her many years of service to the local and diocesan church, she was invested with the Bishop’s Medal for Devoted Service to the Diocese of Lafayette.
Mrs. Reggie was a member of the Pink Ladies for many years and a volunteer at Ms. Helen’s Soup Kitchen. She served her church parish as an Extraordinary Minister of Communion to the sick and shut-ins, was a Lay Carmelite in the Third Order of Mount Carmel, and was involved in fund raising for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
She was a member of the Catholic Committee on Scouting for the Diocese of Lafayette and was awarded with the Scouting Scroll of Honor and the prestigious Bronze Pelican Award for Meritorious Service.
Her love and devotion to her Catholic faith was manifested in service and recognition. Mrs. Reggie was named a Lady of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem and promoted to the rank of Lady Commander with Pilgrim Shell by Pope John Paul II. She and her husband made annual one-week pilgrimages to Lourdes, France, to assist the handicapped pilgrims.
She was a member of the National Apostolate of Maronites, serving in the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon and participated in the activities of the Holy See’s Catholic Near East Welfare Association supporting Catholic Churches and orphanages in the Holy Land.
Mrs. Reggie felt especially honored to be a Charter Founder of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Foundation.
The family thanks her devoted caregivers, Joella Lease, Kim Simon, Melissa Guidry, Joanne Louvierre, Thelma Hebert and the entire Heart of Hospice Staff.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to either St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Heart of Hospice.
Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.geesey-ferguson.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home, 301 N. Avenue F, Crowley, 337-783-3313.
Saturday saw a gorgeous morning for the crowning of a new International Rice Festival Queen.
Jimi Madison Joubert was crowned the 83rd International Rice Festival Queen.
Jimi is the 20-year-old daughter of John and Kellie Joubert of Opelousas, and she was sponsored by A-Cajun Crawfish House.
She was crowned by 82nd International Rice Festival Queen Victoria Marie Callahan and presented flowers by this year’s Festival Honoree, Thibodeaux Ag Group.
Currently a student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Jimi plans to graduate in May of 2021 with a degree in accounting. She is currently employed as an intern at the CPA firm of Kolder, Slaven & Co., LLC, and manages her parents’ crawfish drive-thru during crawfish season.
She is a pre-member of Beta Alpha Psi, an accounting honor society, and has a 3.4 college GPA.
During her high school years, she placed from local to national levels in 4-H livestock shows and FFA livestock competitions. She also lettered in soccer all four years of high school and won parish and district recognition.
She is a volunteer for the City of Eunice and was a tutor to special education students. She loves being at her family’s crawfish farm and in the kitchen with her mom. She also enjoys doing tax returns, Hobby Lobby trips and decorating for the holidays.
Her goals for the future are to graduate, become a CPA and be a partner in a firm.
Jimi also was selected as Miss Congeniality and presented an engraved silver tray by 2019 Junior Farmer of the Year Jake John Reiners. This honor is voted upon by the contestants themselves.
Selected as first runner-up to the new queen was Amber Marie Lanclos, daughter of Blaine and Jill Lanclos of Franklin, who was sponsored by Star-Tech Marine Electronics.
She was presented an engraved silver tray by 2019 Farmer of the Year Alan Lawson.
Second runner-up was Katelyn Danae LeBlanc, the daughter of Danielle Trahan and Yates LeBlanc of Morse. Representing the City of Crowley, she was sponsored by the Crowley Professional Women’s Club.
She was presented an engraved silver tray by this year’s IRF President, Deborah Nutt Whiting.
A $500 scholarship based on academic performance was awarded to Sarah Marie Robinson.
Rep. John Stefanski and 76th International Rice Festival Queen Sarah Mouton Floyd served as emcees for the pageant.
The International Rice Festival Dance Troupe entertained the crowd while the judges deliberated.
As the 83rd International Rice Festival Queen, Jimi will travel the state of Louisiana attending fairs and festivals promoting the festival and the rice industry.
She will also be presented with cash scholarships and will represent the International Rice Festival at the Washington, D.C., Mystic Krewe of Louisiana Mardi Gras Ball and during the annual Rice Millers Association Convention to be held in Idaho in 2020.
Other contestants included Claire Madison Morgan of Egan, Sarah Marie Robinson of Rector, Arkansas and Skye Elizabeth Wagers of Crowley.
LEFT: Laurie Bellard of Lafayette, right was named the 2019 Chef de Riz at this year's Rice and Creole Cookery Contest. She was congratulated and presented a plaque by contest organizer Letha Vincent, left. RIGHT: Addyson Broussard, right, was selected as the 2019 Jr. Chef de Riz. She was congratulated by Letha Vincent, left. Broussard also won the Tri-Color Ribbon in her division.
Crowned as the 83rd International Rice Festival Junior King and Queen are second-grader Nicholas Shaw Credeur, son of Nick Credeur and Molly Couch, of Egan Elementary School; and second-grader Vivian Elaine Siebert, daughter of Kyle and Heidi Siebert, of Iota Elementary.
The two were crowned the Junior King and Queen, respectively, in front of a large enthusiastic crowd Friday morning to begin Children’s Day at the 83rd International Rice Festival.
The hostesses for the contest, Antoinette Pete and Shelly Godeaux, welcomed the crowd and introduced the 36 contestants. The six judges had the difficult task of narrowing 36 down to 20 — 10 princesses and 10 princes — before finally settling on a junior king and queen.
The royalty also welcomed the court to their royal party with first and second runners-up named.
Chosen as first runner-up were Myles Lafosse and Abigail Vercher.
Lafosse, a student at South Crowley Elementary, is the son of Wendy and Joey Lafosse.
Vercher, a student at Martin Petitjean Elementary, is the daughter of Christina Oubre and Joshua Vercher.
Selected as second runners-up were and Porter Hebert and Amelia Harrell.
Hebert, a student at Iota Elementary, is the son of Katie Trahan Hebert and Brett Hebert.
Harrell, a student at Mermentau Elementary, is the daughter of Kristy and Dustin Harell.
Before selecting the royal court and junior winners, the judges selected their semi-finalists.
Those named as semi-finalists for the young ladies were Lilian Meaux of Branch Elementary, Abigail Vercher of Martin Petitjean, Analice Semar of Egan Elementary, Timmie Grace of Ross Elementary, Tate Fontenot of Mire Elementary, Vivian Siebert of Iota Elementary, Madeline Broussard of St. Francis School, Aria Anderson of St. Michael School, Addilon Gauthreaux of Morse Elementary and Amelia Harrell of Mermentau Elementary.
The 10 junior king finalists were Julian Smith of Ross Elementary, Marlon Fusilier of Richard Elementary, John Lalanne of Evangeline Elementary, Jagger Smith of Estherwood Elementary, Patrick Prevost of Rayne Catholic, Porter Hebert of Iota, Nicholas Shaw Credeur of Egan Elementary, Noah Richard of Church Point Elementary, Conner Romero of Morse Elementary and Miles Lafosse of South Crowley Elementary.
Other students competing this year included Oakley Daigle of Mire Elementary, Estela Zelaya of Northside Christian School, Harrison James of North Crowley Elementary, Kendall Roberts of North Crowley Elementary, Carson Andrus of Branch Elementary, Preslie Welch of Estherwood Elementary, Analiesse Bergeaux of Evangeline Elementary, Nicholas Daigle of St. Michael School, Jacques Stewart of St. Francis, Evangeline Thibodeaux of Church Point Elementary, Beckham Bonnie of Mermentau Elementary, Kambrie Breaux of South Crowley, Marlee Gaultier of Richard Elementary, Allison Reiners of Rayne Catholic and Claude Francis IV of Martin Petitjean.
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Crowley Post-Signal
602 N. Parkerson Ave, Crowley, LA 70526
Phone: 337-783-3450
Fax: 337-788-0949
Rayne-Acadian Tribune
108 North Adams, Rayne, LA 70578
Phone: 337-334-3186
Fax: 337-334-8474
Church Point News
c/o The Eunice News, 465 Aymond St., Eunice, LA 70535
Phone: 337-457-3061