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Lisa Claire Choate, 58, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, December 12, 2019. Graveside services will be held Saturday, December 21, 2019 at 11AM at Bancker Cemetery in Henry, LA. A reception will be held immediately following graveside services at The Cultural Alliance and Visitors Center.
Lisa was born on June 9, 1961 to Jimmy and Maudrey Choate. She was a native of Abbeville and often spoke of her childhood there and with family in Henry and her grandparent’s rice farm. She became a lifelong resident of Lafayette.
In her last decade she was so happy to study art and art education at U.L.L. She achieved her goal of teaching art classes, at Achilles Art Studios, and showing her work in the associated Frame Shop Gallery in the Oil Center. She was very proud to have gotten into the studios and become a member of the group of artists at “The Hallway” on Garfield Street in Freetown. Lisa achieved her goal of painting murals. She painted with Robert Dafford Murals initially on the huge Lafayette Consolidated Government building murals project and then in Ohio, West Virginia, Louisiana, Kentucky, Canada and France.
She will be dearly missed by her children, Brannon Michael Trahan and wife Dana of Lafayette and daughter Ashley Michelle Trahan; grandchildren, Julien Broussard of Broussard, Scarlett Richard of Maurice, Greyson Richard of Maurice, and Kamryn Trahan of Lafayette;
Her significant other Robert Dafford; father, Jimmy Choate of Abbeville; brothers, Corey Choate of Abbeville, Brady Choate and wife Jennifer of Lafayette, Marlon Choate and wife Pamela of Abbeville and former husband, Michael Trahan.
She is proceeded in death by her mother, Maudrey Choate; grandmothers Marie Stelly and Mary Choate; grandfathers, Wilford Stelly and Hiram Choate.
Family and friends who choose to express their condolences with flowers or memorial gifts please send them to The Cultural Alliance and Visitors Center 200 Magdalen Square Abbeville, LA by 10AM on Saturday, December 21, 2019.
Share your condolences and words of comfort with the family of Lisa Choate Trahan by visiting www.lafuneralservices.com
Lisa Choate Trahan and her family were cared for and entrusted final arrangements to Louisiana Funeral Services & Crematory of Broussard (337) 330-8006.

Superintendent Jerome Puyau era has ended with the Vermilion Parish School Board; however, he will still be employed with the Vermilion Parish School system and will be collecting a $12,000 a month salary for the next nine months.
At Thursday’s meeting, by a vote of 8-0, the school board has agreed to accept an offer ironed out between Puyau’s lawyer and the school board lawyer.
Bob Hammonds, the school board’s attorney, read to the public what the settlement agreement is.
First, Puyau has to submit two letters to the school board in the next three days. One letter will say that he is resigning as the Vermilion Parish School superintendent immediately. The second letter will say that he will retire from the school district on Sept. 28, 2020.
Here are the terms the school board and Puyau have agreed on:
• Puyau will step down as the superintendent of the parish, but he will continue to be employed by the school system until Sept. 28, 2020.
• Puyau will continue to draw his salary of $12,000 a month until Sept. 28, 2020 (the date he can retire with 30 years), and remain in the state retirement system. His newly created job title will be “Consultant to the new superintendent.” He will assist the new superintendent for the next nine months.
• Puyau will be paid by the parish school system $15,600 for a vehicle reimbursement that he never got when he signed his new contract two years ago.
• Puyau will also receive $20,000 from the school district to help pay his attorney fees.
• By agreeing to these terms, both parties agree not to sue one another in the future.
• All the lawsuits between Puyau and the school board will be dropped.
• If Puyau signs the agreement, it will become official, immediately.
The total cost to the Vermilion Parish taxpayers to hire Puyau as a “consultant” for the next nine months will be $108,600.
Puyau was not at Thursday’s school board meeting.
The School Board and Puyau released a statement that was read by Hammonds.
“Superintendent Puyau and the school board members have decided it would be in everyone’s interest to resolve our differences in an amicable fashion to better focus our attention and the resources of the school system educating public school children in the parish.”
The statement also said no school members or Puyau would not comment about the agreement reached Thursday night.
Paul Hebert will act as the superintendent until the position becomes open.

On Dec. 18, detectives with the Abbeville Police Department made two additional arrests stemming from the investigation conducted for the homicide of Jacoby Lee which occurred on August 21, 2019.
A grand jury indictment was handed down against Amanda Nicole Rice and Jontae Marie Kelly, both of Abbeville. Rice and Kelly were officially charged with Accessory to 2nd Degree Murder by harboring a known fugitive. Bonds for both Ms. Rice and Kelly have been set at $75,000 each.
Kelly has a child with the victim of the homicide, Jacoby Lee. Rice is the mother of Ms. Kelly.​
Since the investigation has started, officers have made four arrests relating to this homicide investigation. In addition to the two arrests made today, officers have arrested the following:
• On September 6, 2019, Andrew Matthew Granger of Abbeville was arrested and charged with 2nd Degree Murder.
• On October 7, 2019, officers arrested Jamie Vallery of Abbeville. Vallery was charged with Accessory to 2nd Degree Murder.
The homicide investigation is ongoing. Due to the ongoing nature of this investigation, no other information regarding this investigation is being released at this time.
Chief of Police William Spearman would like to commend his officers for a job well done. Chief Spearman would also like to thank the citizens of Abbeville for their support and help they provide to the Abbeville Police Department.
​Chief Spearman would also like to remind all of the citizens that we are there, 24 hours a day, to serve you. We encourage all of our citizens to stay vigilant and contact us if you need. In addition to dialing 911, you can contact us at 893-2511. You may contact our “Tips” line at 892-6777. All callers may remain anonymous. Citizens may also send anonymous tips through the Tip411 system at the department’s Facebook page @ www.facebook.com/AbbevillePolice Department/, the official web page @ www.abbevillepd.com by clicking on the “Submit a Tip” link provided or through the official Abbeville Police Department app, which can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

February 21, 1940 ~ December 17, 2019

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, December 21, 2019 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Betty Gayneaux Trahan, 79, who died Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at her residence. She will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Deacon Francis Cao officiating the services. Pallbearers will be Devin Trahan, Jonathan Trahan, Ashley Trahan, Kale Trahan, Cadon Lege and Adam Brent LeBlanc. Honorary pallbearers will be Gerryl Delcambre and Andy Callahan.
Betty is survived by her son, Jonathan James Trahan and his wife Crystal of Abbeville; four grandchildren, Devin Trahan, Ashley Trahan, Kale Trahan and Ember Trahan; two great grandchildren, Maisie Trahan and River Trahan; brother, Russell Dale Gayneaux of Abbeville; and daughter-in-law, Nancy Trahan.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Nolan Trahan; parents, Galva Gayneaux and the former Vernice Marie Mire; son, Kenneth James Trahan; and brother, Lester Joseph Gayneaux.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Saturday, December 21, 2019 from 9:00 AM until time of services. A rosary being prayed at 10:00 AM.
Our family wishes to thank Acadian Hospice for your kindness and support.
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.