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February 13, 1937 ~ November 20, 2021

ABBEVILLE —Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Joanne Butaud. With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Joanne Butaud, our loving and devoted grandmother, mother, and friend to all whose lives she touched, on November 20, 2021. She left us peacefully at her granddaughter’s home in Broussard, LA. She was 84 years old. She will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Reverend Louis J. Richard officiating the services. Serving as pallbearers will be Paul Broussard, Brett Broussard, Beau Broussard, Carl Romero, Jace Frederick, and Bradley Broussard 
She was born February 13, 1937, in Henry, LA, to the late Anna Mae and Alcibiade Butaud.
Joanne lived a full life as a wonderful mother and grandmother. She was a strong, determined and fiercely independent woman. For several years, she owned and managed The Anchor Inn, which was a restaurant, seafood market, and bar in Delcambre, LA. After the restaurant closed, she began her work of sitting with the elderly, which she enjoyed very much.
She loved good food and visiting with family and friends. She had a kind heart and always made you feel welcome. Joanne loved to talk on the phone and would keep you talking for an hour if you let her. She wanted to know everything going on in the lives of her loved ones and friends. Never a complainer, she would tell you about her achy shoulder or knee but was always more concerned with how everyone else was doing. We will miss those long phone calls and miss her every day.
Joanne was the beloved mother of Christine Pedigo (Pat), Tommy Cunningham, Glenda Cunningham and Carl Romero (Ty Hanes). She was a loving maw maw to Aimee Cunningham Broussard (Paul), Sean Luke Cunningham; and her great grandchildren, Brett and Beau Broussard. She is also survived by her sister, Evelyn Landry.
She was preceded in death by her sisters, Jewel Huff, Anna Mae Conques, and Betty Vincent; and granddaughter Jennifer Cunningham.
The family expresses appreciation to Kent and Heather with Heart of Hospice for helping maw maw pass in comfort and supporting them as she passed.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 from 9:00 AM until time of services. A rosary being prayed at 12:45 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.

Shootings in the city of Abbeville continue to cause anger and sadness among officials and citizens.
Those concerns again reached the table during Tuesday night’s regular City Council meeting, only three hours after the shooting of a juvenile. A family member told KATC-TV on Wednesday that the 15-year-old is doing “as well” as can be expected. The item regarding shootings had already been placed for discussion on the agenda late last week.
“The shootings are taking over our city,” Councilwoman Terry Broussard said. “It’s really, really bad. People are afraid.”
Broussard said she represents a district that has been hit hard by these acts, where those fears are palpable.
“With the young man getting shot today,” Broussard said with emotion in her voice, “I am troubled by that. Homes of innocent people are being shot into.
“What do we say to people?”
Broussard said there have been several instances when city officials have reached out to people in the community.
“We’ve had meetings in the past,” Broussard said. “Those meetings have been attended by the mayor, city council and chief of police. We’ve all put forth an effort to go out to the community. In the beginning, the first two or three meetings were full. After a while, people slacked off on attending. We had a meeting at McKinley Scott Park, and only seven people showed up.”
Councilman Francis Plaisance said this is a problem that will take a community effort.
“Some how, some way,” Plaisance said, “we have to, as a community, find a way to find a solution to this.
“When you have a (juvenile) shot like this, now we’re getting down to where you can lose a child.”
Rita Marks, an Abbeville resident, has grandchildren. She said a stern approach is needed when warning young people about the realities of becoming involved in the wrong situations. She said it also takes everyone being involved.
“Police officers have a job to do and parents have a job to do,” Marks said. “The solution to this problem is teamwork. We can’t point the finger at the police department. We can’t point the finger at the sheriff’s department. We can’t point the finger at the school system. It takes (every) entity to make one good resolution. We’re not going to generate new businesses with the reputation that you can do anything you want in Abbeville. We can solve these problems, but we have to go back to basics. I raised my children as a single parent, and I did not spare the rod.
“Finger pointing is not going to solve any problems.”
Councilman Brady Broussard Jr. agreed wholeheartedly with Marks.
“It starts in the home and can be fixed in the home,” said Broussard, who thanked Marks after the meeting for speaking up.
Chief of Police William Spearman spoke to efforts being taken by his department. He said the department is working with the Violent Crimes Task Force, has placed cameras at numerous locations in the city and has officers working overtime to patrol. Spearman said members of the community can be a vital asset in arrests being made, and can do so anonymously. ​Anyone who has information regarding any crime can call the “Tips” line at 892-6777. All callers may remain anonymous. Citizens may also send anonymous tips through CrimeStoppers of Vermilion by calling 740-TIPS or the P3 app.
“We have made arrests,” Spearman said of recent shootings. “In some of these other shootings, the person who was shot has thrown us out of their hospital room and did not want to talk to us.”
Councilwoman Roslyn White credited Spearman and his officers for the job they do, and acknowledged the difficulty of that job. However, echoing an earlier thought from Councilwoman Broussard, White said people in the community want to hear from the chief.
“I think people are looking to hear publicly the measures you are taking to protect them,” White said to Spearman during the meeting. ‘They don’t want to hear it from (anyone on social media). They want to hear it from you. I am just asking you to be proactive in that message. I think it would go a long way to rebuild trust.”

MONROE - Things were not looking too good for the Abbeville Wildcats at halftime despite the score being 14-14.
When the Wildcats came out of the locker room to start the second half, they walked onto the field with no emotion. Wossman, on the other hand, was jumping up and down like they were winning and had the game in control.
Wossman, the higher seed at No. 17, had upset on its mind at the start of the second half.
They held Abbeville to 70 yards rushing in the first half and had AHS tailback Blake Saddler in check.
But while the AHS offense was struggling to put a drive together, the Wildcat defense did what it has been doing all season, playing lights out football.
In the third period, the defense had two interceptions and a partially blocked punt.
Jaysen Shelvin had an interception and partially blocked a punt that gave AHS decent field position at midfield.
Saddler, who finished with 151 yards rushing, broke a 49 yard run for a touchdown, and Zaylun Williams kicked his third straight extra point to put AHS up 21-14 in the third period.
The AHS defense came through again when Broderic Fletcher intercepted a pass on the AHS 20 yard line, killing any chance of Wossman tying the game. That was Fletcher’s second interception of the season.
The outcome of Friday’s game was put on the shoulders of Abbeville’s defensive backs because Wossman loves to throw. They completed eight passes and none longer than 22 yards.
“It feels amazing to win,” said Fletcher. “This is the first time in 20 years to be going to the third round. We are bringing this program back.”
The Wildcats’ only mistake in the second half was on a punt when the snap sailed over the punter’s head into the end zone and Wossman fell on the ball for a touchdown.
They went for two points, and AHS defense stuffed it.
In the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, the Wildcats’ offense responded and drove 57 yards in five plays. Running back Tresean Green carried the pigskin three times on the drive for 53 yards. He finished the game with 65 yards.
The biggest run of his season occurred when he ran up the middle for a 38-yard touchdown run. Williams kicked his fourth straight extra point to put Abbeville ahead by eight points with 10 minutes left in the game.
With 6:36 left in the game, Moy gambled on a fourth down on Abbeville’s 42-yard line. The Wildcats were three yards away from a first down, and Moy went for it. However, Saddler only gained two yards and Wossman had the football at the AHS 42 yards line.
After the game, Moy was asked about going for it on fourth down.
“I can not tell kids I am always going to bet on them and then punt when the chips are down,” Moy explained. “I have to stay true to my word on what I say all of the time. If it does not work, we are betting on our defense. The chips are going to go to the middle of the table with the chips, betting on our kids.”
Wossman marched down to Abbeville’s 30-yard line but got negative yards because of a blitzing AHS defense.
Outside linebackers Jason Alvarez and Shelvin had a sack on the series, pushing the ball back 20 yards.
On fourth down and 20 from the 50, Abbeville defensive back McKensey Nicholas knocked down a pass to kill Wossman’s threat.
Moy said Friday’s win was a team effort win.
“We stayed together. After the bad snap, no one pointed fingers at each other. If we can stay together in tough times, we could win. That is what did it for us.”

May 9, 1928 - November 17, 2021

NEW IBERIA — A Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, November 22, 2021, at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia for Rudolph Charles Miller, 93, who passed away on Wednesday, November 17, 2021.
Interment will follow in the Gates of Prayer Cemetery in New Iberia, with Military Honors by the Acadiana Honor Guard.
Rabbi Barry Weinstein will officiate.
A gathering of family and friends will Monday from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm at Pellerin Funeral Home.
A native of Philadelphia, PA, Rudy moved to Chicago, IL, at the age of two. He built a home in Northbrook, IL and lived there until 1982. Rudy and his family then relocated to Abbeville, LA where he opened his first McDonald's Restaurant. A veteran of the US Navy and the US Marines, he proudly served our country during WWII aboard the USS Fond du Lac. Rudy was a member of the Congregation Gates of Prayer Jewish Temple and his involvements included Catholic High of New Iberia, Kaplan High School, the University of South Alabama, and the Boys and Girls Club. He was also a recipient of the LA Cattle Festival Restauranteur of the Year Award.
Survivors include his sons, Larry Miller (Denise) of New Iberia, and Stewart Miller (Naomi) of Lafayette; daughter, Pam Miller of Abbeville; grandchildren, Haley Miller (Anthony Taylor), and Jordan Miller (Michaela); and a brother, Seymour Miller.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Freda Feuer Miller; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Miller; and several siblings.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Congregation Gates of Prayer, ATTN, Stephen or Leah Lahasky, 1620 Elm Street, New Iberia, LA 70560, or to the Ronald McDonald House, make checks payable to RMHC of South Louisiana, ATTN Fund Development, 4403 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70119.
Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace, New Iberia, LA 70560, 337.365.3331.