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ABBEVILLE – Funeral services for Mildred Briggs Haynes is scheduled for 11:00 A.M. Friday, October 20, 2017 at Briggs United Methodist Church – 13528 Community Road (Mouton Cove) – Abbeville, LA. Interment will be in Briggs UMC Cemetery. Rev. Darrel Briggs, Sr. will be officiating and Rev. Donald Lewis will deliver the Eulogy.
Mildred Birdell Briggs Haynes was born November 6, 1948 in Abbeville, LA, the second child of the late Cornelia Hardy Briggs and Kynette McKay Briggs. She passed away Tuesday, October 17, 2017 at her residence surrounded by her loving family.
Mildred joined Briggs United Methodist Church in 1963, thus beginning her ministry in Christ’s Kingdom. On June 1, 1991, she married Rev. James F. Haynes and together with her husband they served at Briggs United Methodist Church (Abbeville, LA); St. Mark UMC (Baton Rouge, LA); Cornerstone UMC (New Orleans, LA); and currently St. James UMC (New Iberia, LA).
Mildred retired from the Vermilion Parish School Board in 1995, after 20 years of service, culminating as Accounting Supervisor.
Mildred is survived by her husband, Rev. James F. Haynes, brothers; Johnny M. Briggs (Zandria), Rev. Darrel W. Briggs, Sr. (Susie) of Abbeville, LA; sisters; Hildred B. Lewis (Rev. Donald) of Lenexa, KS; Marjorie Casimere (Donald) of Pinole, CA; Delphine Lyons (Abbeville, LA); Kathalee (Douglas) of Lafayette, LA; Kinetta Briggs of Abbeville, LA; and Shirley Griffis (Bill) of Fremont, CA. One step-son, Jerel F. Haynes (Rene’) of Opelousas, LA; Sisters-in-law Edna LaPread, Jessie LaPread, and brother-in-law Jerry Haynes all of Clearwater, FL, and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, as well as numerous relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents Kynette and Cornelia H. Briggs; brother, Hayward Donald Briggs; and sister, Margaret B. Victoria.
Mildred loved the Lord with all her heart, and loved ministering to and serving others. We will miss our precious “Millie B!” We loved her so very, very much, but God loved her more.
There will be a gathering of family and friends at the church (Briggs UMC) Friday, October 20, 2017 from 9:00 A. M. until time of service.
Kinchen Funeral Home – 218 N. St. Valerie Street – (337) 898-9595 is in charge of final arrangements. Additionally, condolences to the family may be expressed on our website at: www.kinchenfuneralhome.com.

What has been a fixture in the lives of so many in Vermilion Parish for nearly nine decades will be taking a leave at the end of October.
The owners of Vermilion Oaks Country Club in Abbeville, formerly the Abbeville Country Club, have announced their intention to suspend operations on Oct. 29, 2017. The duration of the suspension has not been set.
The course originally opened in 1929 as a nine-hole course, expanding to 18 holes in 1996.
The Broussard family took over operation of the course in 2015. Outside factors have had an impact during the past couple of years.
“Our business is heavily dependent on weather and economy,” said Roslyn White, Director of Operations for the 88-year-old club. “Those two things have not worked in our favor since taking over operations in April 2015. We are not alone, as most of the courses in our area have struggled the past few years.”
There is still time to go hit the course before the end of the month.
“The course is in great condition and will remain open during the month of October,” White said. “Hopefully our community finds time to enjoy it before the 29th.”
Vermilion Oaks is currently on the market. It is listed through Sunrise Realty in Abbeville for $1.8 million. The course covers 105 acres.
James Noel of Sunrise Realty said the Broussard family has made tremendous improvements to the course, including upgrades in the kitchen, swimming pool and course operation. Noel agreed with the point that weather and the economy have greatly impacted the overall operation of the course.
“As far as the golfing side of the operation since it was purchased,” Noel said, “we have had the most consistent rainfall in parish history which has brought play on the course down to a minimum. The complete shutdown of oil activity in the area has also brought us to this point.”
Noel said the course has been important to Abbeville and Vermilion Parish and it would be disappointing for the area to be without a course in the future.
“Having been a member for the past 57 years,” Noel said, “I feel it is a real bad blow to Abbeville and Vermilion Parish. Vermilion Oaks is the only golf course in Vermilion Parish. At the present, there are 25 municipal courses in Louisiana. Our neighboring Lafayette Parish has three municipal courses that are very active.
“With everything Abbeville and Vermilion Parish has to offer its people, it would be a shame to see the only golf course gone,” he said.
All holders of gift certificates and golf credits should use these before the end of the month. They may be used to purchase rounds of golf, food, beverages and pro shop items.

Delcambre High School announced Karlie Crochet as the 2017
Homecoming Queen during halftime of Friday’s football game.

Two were inducted into the Abbeville High Athletic Hall of Fame on Thursday.
They were also honored at Friday’s football game at halftime.
Inducted were Bernadette Dawson Benoit, 1989 AHS graduate, and Don Chauvin, who was inducted for the work he did to make Abbeville High athletics better and was also one of the founding fathers of the AHS Athletic Hall of Fame.
Benoit was a two-sport (basketball and track) athlete. Her freshman year she quit track but came back strong, the following three years.
Her events were in the 400, relays and high jump. She won state her senior year in the high jump and finished second in the 400 meter dash.
At state, she placed second in the 400 with a personal time of 59.54 and after several passes at increasing height in the high jump she cleared the winning height with her first jump to win the state title.
She went on to win the Roddy Menard Memorial Award, on of the highest honors bestowed upon an Abbeville High athlete.
Benoit, who is married and has five children, had family and friends attend the banquet. Saying a few words about Benoit was her former AHS track coach Joyce Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux, who is now retired from teaching, remembered an interview Benoit did with William Weathers, then sports writer of the Abbeville Meridional. Benoit said in the interview after a track meet, that she wanted to make a name for herself because it was her senior year.
“Making a name for yourself is happening tonight,” said Thibodeaux. “You will be among the great athletes and individuals who have walked the halls and competed loyally as a Wildcat for Abbeville. Seven women have come before you and are enshrined forever as members of this elite group.”
Benoit held back tears as she thanked everyone for making her who she is today. She praised her parents, Elbert and Jenny Dawson. Elbert attended every track meet and stood by the fence yelling advice to his daughter. Jenny always cheered her daughter on from the stands.
“I am really, really honored,” said Benoit. “I remember walking through the halls of Abbeville High and seeing the wall with all of those great people (in the hall of fame) and saying as a high student, ‘One day, I want to be in there.’ At that time, there was no women in the hall of fame. I wanted to be the first one. That was my goal.”
She was not the first, but she was the seventh. She was happy to be named one of the women. She praised God, her family and friends for making her who she is today.
Chauvin, who is an honoree selection, played football at AHS and was second team all-district. It was not what he did in high school that landed him in the hall of fame, it was what did after high school.
When he learned he was selected into the hall of fame, it caught Chauvin off guard. “I was speechless for about 10 seconds,” said Chauvin. “I am humbled that they saw fit to honor me with this presentation.”
Chauvin was asked by then head football coach Mike Conlin to create the AHS Athletic Hall of Fame. Serving on the first committee were Donald Toups, Harris LeMaire and Barbara LeMaire.