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August 29, 1955 ~ May 31, 2018

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, June 2, 2018 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Melanie Ann Gaspard Cavalier, 62, who died Thursday, May 31, 2018 at her residence. She will be buried at a later date in Abshire Cemetery.
Melanie’s friends and family enjoyed her great skill and enthusiasm for home cooking and baking every type of food. She enjoyed gardening, growing flowers, and fruit trees. Loved spending time alongside her husband reading the bible and listening to country music.
Melanie is survived by her husband of 25 years, Mark Cavalier, Sr.; three sons, Rickey Cessac, Jr. and his wife, Christina of Erath, Mark Cavalier, Jr. and his wife Tiffany of Abbeville, and Francis Cavalier and his wife, Simone of Abbeville; two daughters, Christine Cessac and her partner, Keith Segura of Erath, and Raven Keooudone and her husband, Kham Kong of Youngsville; sister, Donna Libersat of Perry; eight grandchildren; and twelve great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Francis Gaspard and the former Edna Marie Castro; two brothers, Mark Gaspard and Francis Gaspard; son, Paul "PJ" Cavalier; and father-in-law, Lucien "LJ" Cavalier.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Saturday, June 2, 2018 from 9:00 AM until time of services.
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.

Jaimie L. Hebert, PhD. has been named provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
An Abbeville High School graduate, Hebert holds a bachelor’s, a master’s and a doctorate – all in statistics – from UL Lafayette. He received his bachelor’s in 1986, master’s in 1988 and doctorate in 1990.
He was most recently president of Georgia Southern University. In that role, he led the University System of Georgia’s consolidation of Georgia Southern University with Armstrong State University.
Before his appointment as Georgia Southern president, Hebert was Sam Houston State University’s provost and vice president of Academic Affairs from 2011 to 2016.
“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Hebert home,” said UL President Joseph Savoie, PhD. “In addition to his solid higher education credentials, he already is familiar with UL Lafayette’s mission and values. He shares our Ragin’ Cajun spirit.”
“I’m thrilled to return to my alma mater, bringing with me 28 years of experience,” Hebert said. “The University gave me my start and to come back to work at UL Lafayette is rewarding for me personally and professionally.
“UL Lafayette is an extraordinary institution. I’m looking forward to working with the faculty and academic administrators to continue the great progress that the University has seen over the last few decades.”
Hebert will replace David Danahar, PhD., who has served as interim provost at UL Lafayette since Fall 2016. He was not a candidate for the vacancy created by the January 2016 departure of James Henderson, PhD.
Danahar will remain at the University as senior adviser to the president.
“I share the appreciation of many for Dr. Danahar’s contributions over the past two years advancing the University,” Savoie said. “I’m pleased he’ll continue working at the University.”
At Sam Houston State University, Hebert was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 2005 to 2011, and chair and professor of statistics in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics from 1999 to 2005. He was an assistant and associate professor of statistics there from 1995 to 1999.
Hebert was an assistant professor of mathematical science at Appalachian State University from 1990 to 1995.
His appointment as UL Lafayette’s provost and vice president for Academic Affairs is effective July 1, pending approval by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.

A business owner in Abbeville thought he had a bright idea by hauling garbage and trash to the side of the road and then putting up a sign “Free stuff” hoping residents will remove the items. Instead, what began as a small pile of garbage turned into a large one when the residents began going through the “stuff” in a disorderly manner. Neighbors began complaining because items were flying on the street. By Tuesday morning, it was cleaned and the items were placed in a storage bend by the business owner. It is against the law to haul garbage to the side of the road and let it fly all over the streets of Abbeville.