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UPDATE: As of sundown on Saturday, July 13, Barry is now a strong tropical storm once again with 65 mph winds with the storm's center of circulation headed straight through Acadia Parish.

Barry made landfall mid-day on Saturday as a Category 1 hurricane packing 75 mph winds, but the scattered storm was quickly downgraded to a tropical storm once the eye made landfall.

Acadia Parish remains under a flood watch as up to eight inches of rainfall is expected through Sunday.

Life-threatening rainfall of 10 to 15 inches with locally higher amounts is still possible for parts of south central and south east Louisiana throughout the night into Sunday evening.

Storm surge of 3 to 7 feet is expected for coastal sections of Vermilion, Iberia, and St. Mary Parishes. This includes Intracoastal City, Erath, Delcambre, Henry, Cypremort Point and Burns Point.

Damaging winds has and will continue to cause scattered to numerous power outages, trees blown down and damage to homes and businesses across southwest, south central and central Louisiana.

Isolated tornadoes are possible in rain bands in south central and central Louisiana.

Please keep in mine that Acadia Parish has a parish-wide curfew from 10 p.m. Saturday (July13) and 6 a.m. Sunday morning.

Charles Ragland Godchaux (December 27, 1930 - July 10, 2019) of Abbeville — avid fisherman, great outdoorsman and philanthropist — passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, July 9, 2019.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 12, at Graceland Cemetery in Abbeville.
Reverend Madge McLain of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will officiate.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Charles Payne, Nelson Payne and Julian Payne, Tom Spence, and great-nephews, Stephen Wieck, Joel Derby and Gus Godchaux.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 32 years, Wilma Monypeny Godchaux; as well as by his parents, Frank Area Godchaux Jr. and Mary Ragland Godchaux; and brothers, Lawrence Putnam Godchaux and Frank Area Godchaux Ill.
He is survived by his wife, Dolores Nunez Godchaux; daughters, Theresa Polk Godchaux of Jackson, Wyoming, Rebecca Ragland Godchaux of Marathon, Florida, and adopted daughter Dorothy Margaret Clyne of New Orleans; four grandchildren, Charles Ragland Godchaux Payne (Abbey) of Lafayette, Rebecca Lawrence Payne Spence of Adams, Tennessee, George Nelson Payne (Charlotte) of Denver, Colorada, Julian Brooks Payne of New York, New York; and two great-grandchildren, Avery Parker Spence and Hartley Blythe Spence.
Charles attended Sewanee Military Academy and Vanderbilt University where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Following his graduation from Vanderbilt he joined the US Navy.
Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy, Charles returned home to Abbeville to begin his career in the family rice business — Louisiana State Rice Milling Company, where he ultimately became chairman of the board. When the company merged with River Brand Rice Mills to become Riviana Foods, Inc., Charles served as vice president, while also named vice president of the USA Rice Division and vice chair for Worldwide Rice Operations.
Charles’ other activities included director of The Rice Council for Market Development; president of The Rice Millers’ Association as well as serving on its board of directors and executive committee. After forming the Abbeville Family Partnership with his brother in 1994, he focused his attention on his pursuit of philanthropic endeavors.
In his role as philanthropist Charles served as a trustee of the Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation and was an active member on the board of trustees and executive committee for the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana. In addition, he served as a director of the National Audubon Society and a trustee and president of the American Friends of the Game Conservancy. He was a trustee of the Louisiana Nature Conservancy as well as the National Nature Conservancy Board.
Closer to home, he served as a trustee of the Vermilion Parish Library Board. Charles was an avid and enthusiastic outdoorsman and sportsman and nothing was more special to him than Live Oak Plantation, which has been the heart of the family for six generations.
Charles and his brother led the way creating an integral habitat for native and migratory species of waterfowl and other wildlife. His dedication and love of Live Oak encouraged the younger generations to continue to act as devoted stewards of the land and its resources. The family has maintained active farming and wildlife preservation initiatives.
Charles was known as an avid shooter, golfer and fisherman. His shooting career offered him the experience of coming in runner-up in the National Skeet Shooting Championships in Mexico City. His love for golfing left him with an incredible legacy of eight hole-in-ones.
Charles was also a world-class fisherman who was well loved by guides all around the world.
Charles took great pride and enjoyment in his family. He loved sharing and spreading his love of the outdoors with all of his grandchildren and greatgrandchildren through both his storytelling and experiences — from fishing in his ponds to shooting skeet at the farm.
Lastly, he was a man who was not perfect, but stood by his work, took care of his family and friends without expectation of acknowledgement and through his actions enriched the lives of many.
The Godchaux Family would like to extend our gratitude to Eula Broussard, Charlotte DuBose, Steve Meador, Alvin Willis, Glenn Guidry, Jackie Harrison and caregivers, Mike Bowden, Brenda James and Senior Helpers caregivers.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 101 E. Vermilion St., Abbeville, LA 70510; Ochsner Health Systems, 1514 Jefferson Hwy, Room 1E617, New Orleans, LA 70121; or to the charity of one’s choice.
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.