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July 16, 1953 ~ January 13, 2019

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, January 18, 2019 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Barbara Ann Gaspard Richardson, 65, who died Sunday, January 13, 2019 at her residence. She will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Deacon Cody Miller officiating the services.
Barbara is survived by her son, James Richardson and his wife Brandi; daughter, Nichol Thibodeaux and her husband Robert; two brothers, Donald Gaspard and his wife Charlotte, and Paul Gaspard and his wife Yvonne; sister, Susan Vincent and her husband Laxcy, Sr.; five grandchildren, Taylor Thibodeaux, Lilley Bowen, Scott-Michael Richardson, Jacob Richardson, Blake Richardson and Andrew Richardson.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Nathan Dale Richardson; parents, Joseph Wilson Gaspard and the former Eugenie Blanchard.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Thursday, January 17, 2019 from 10:00 AM until 9:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 7:00 PM; Friday, January 18, 2019 from 8:00 AM until time of services.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the family to help defray funeral expenses.
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.

August 3, 1930 ~ January 15, 2019

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, January 17, 2019 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Loisy Jane Duhon Hebert, 88, who died Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at Lafayette General Medical Center. She will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Deacon William “Billy” Vincent officiating the services. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Brett Hebert, Jacob Hebert, Ethan Hebert, Aaron Privette and Andre Privette and cousin, Randy Leger.
Loisy is survived by her two sons, Glynn K. Hebert and wife Marilyn of Abbeville, and Jaimie Hebert of Lafayette; two daughters, Bennie Sue Hebert of Abbeville, and Johnette H. Privette and husband Warren, Jr. of Opelousas; one sister, Doris Toups of Hendersonville TN; seven grandchildren, Brett Hebert and wife Kristin, Jacob Hebert and wife Natalie, Ethan Hebert, Emily Hebert, Sarah Hebert, Aaron Privette and Andre Privette; and three great-grandchildren, Kambry, Tanner, and Finley Hebert.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John “Eraste” Hebert; parents, Claude Duhon and the former Edia Abshire; and one sister, Delores Duhon.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Thursday, January 17, 2019 from 9:00 AM until time of services. A rosary will be prayed at 1:00 PM with services immediately following.
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.

Since becoming executive director of the Vermilion Economic Development Alliance (VEDA) in late 2014, Anne Falgout and 15 volunteer members of the board have worked to bring business and growth to Vermilion Parish.
With ‘18 in the review, Falgout spoke last week to members of the Kiwanis Club of Abbeville about some of the things this year has in store. Falgout said meeting with groups like the Kiwanis Club helps create a better view of what the community needs.
“Economic development is not just in a silo,” Falgout said, “where we decide what communities look like, and then we go out and do that. We really like to collaborate. We have representatives from every municipality, different government entities and the business community on our board.
“We really care about what all the groups in Vermilion Parish want and putting that together to build a bigger vision.”
An import part of building that vision is having a plan, something Falgout said is done piece by piece.
“When a sports team begins a season,” Falgout said, “they don’t anticipate the headlines with the trophy raised above their heads at the end of the season. It’s really about the process. It’s about the workouts, learning the plays and really coming together as a team.
“That’s the way we look at it. It’s about putting things together in a very planned, methodical way, so that we can see what works.”
Much of that planning goes into VEDA’s number one concern, business development.
“We look at that as two different things,” Falgout said. “That’s helping entrepreneurs start businesses, creating an environment for that, and attracting people to fill in the gaps where there might be some. The other piece is community development. This is how our organization might be a little different from other economic development organizations in the area. Rural communities need a lot of support, not just in the traditional business assistance, but also creating a place that people want to be, live and work.”
Falgout referenced the City of Kaplan’s effort to become an official retirement community.
“Kaplan told us that they want to be designated a retirement-ready community,” Falgout said. “We are helped them to figure out what the economic benefits were. We helped with the application (through the state). We’re waiting to see what the lieutenant governor says.”
If the process goes through, Falgout said it would offer a great tool to help growth in the city.
“We could start marketing Kaplan,” Falgout said, “as a place for people with the means to retire, and want a quint place to retire, should do it there. We couple leverage that to get grants for cultural improvement and attract businesses that target retirees.
“It all happens in tandem.”
It’s similar in the way VEDA is moving forward with its funding. Initially funded largely from municipalities and government entities in the parish, Falgout said private funding is playing a role. Falgout said several businesses have pledged support, whether its a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars.
“They have bought in and are putting up their hard-earned money,” Falgout said. “They want to make sure that businesses like theirs succeed.”
Falgout said VEDA has secured $44,500 in public and a $20,000 commitment from the Vermilion Parish Police Jury. The organization also received a $60,387 in USDA funds for technical assistance provided. Falgout stressed that theses funds are there to help make anyone who has a stake in the economic success of Vermilion Parish.
“People always ask me how much are our services,” Falgout said. “I tell them that they are complimentary at point of service. You pay taxes to government entities, who have helped fund us and are partnered with us. You have paid for us, so you might as well take advantage of all our services.
“Don’t leave the money on the table.”