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ABBEVILLE – Funeral services for Joseph Walker, Sr. “Mr. Blue” is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. Saturday, September 23, 2017 at Faith Hope Christian Fellowship – 407 Duroq Street with burial in Hills-Rudd Cemetery. Bishop B. K. Stevens will officiate the service.
Joseph “Mr. Blue” Walker, Sr., who was a long-time resident of Abbeville that God called home on Sunday, September 17, 2017 at his home.
“Mr. Blue” was a very loving husband; father, brother, uncle, godfather and friend. He was a caring, kindhearted and thoughtful man. He was truly a servant to all and will always be remembered for the wisdom he shared with others.
Joseph Walker, Sr. was baptized at Mt. Triumph Baptist Church at an early age. He later became one of the founders of Faith Hope Christian Fellowship where through the years he served on the Usher Board, Deacon, and Finance Board.
He leaves to mourn yet cherish his memories his lovely wife, Beulah Ann Walker of Abbeville, LA; his sons, Joseph Walker, Jr. of Wisconsin; L. J. Lewis (Dorothy) of Concord, CA; Eugene Lewis (Natalie) of North Carolina; Gregory “Keith” Walker, Carl Lewis, Ronald Darby (Gaynell) all of Abbeville, LA; and Robert Darby (Trudy) of LaPlace, LA; his daughters, Vanessa Gilbert (Joseph), Latasha Richard (Wilson) and Elaine Broussard (Kenneth) all of Abbeville, LA; two sisters, Elnora Walker and Mary Small both of Abbeville, LA; one brother-in-law, Victor Joseph of Abbeville, LA; one maternal aunt, Gracie Parker of Abbeville, LA; four godchildren, Cheryl Joseph, Derick Harris, Evette Antoine of Abbeville, LA; and Moniek Brown of Kileen, TX; a long-time friend, Albert Shelvin, Sr. (Steelhead), and his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, also a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Felix and Mary Sawyer Walker; one daughter, Carol Lewis; one brother, Rev. David Walker; one sister, Ruth Watt; one paternal uncle, Jonah Walker; six maternal uncles, Esau, Eanus, James, Isaiah, Jonas, and Loveless Sawyer; four maternal aunts, China Sawyer, Anginas Jones, Augustine Cooper and Lizzie Walker.
Visitation will take place Saturday, September 23, 2017at Kinchen Funeral – 218 N. St. Valerie Street (337) 898-9595 from 9:00 A.M. until 1:45 P.M.

ABBEVILLE – Funeral Services for Tracy Harris, Sr. is scheduled for 11:00 A.M. Saturday, September 23, 2017 at Faith Hope Baptist Church –407 Duroq Street – Abbeville, LA with burial in Pleasant Green Church Cemetery. Bishop B. K. Stevens will officiate the service.
Tracy Harris, Sr. (53) a resident of Abbeville, passed away Monday, September 11, 2017 at University Medical Center in New Orleans, LA.
He leaves to mourn his passing, his mother and father, Roy Jay Harris and Ethel Rankin Harris of Abbeville, LA; three children, Tracy Roy Harris, Jr, Rashanda Boudoin and LaToya Boudoin of Abbeville, LA; his siblings, Dyna Cole, Sherwin Fruge, Stephanie Rogers, Elaine Turner, Vera Fruge, Sherylyn Fruge, and Cecil Fruge all of Abbeville, LA; his grandchildren, Darius Campbell, Lonnie Faunteleroy, Jaylee Faunteleroy, and Jaylon Baudoin all of Abbeville, LA; an uncle, Herman Rankin of Gulfport, MS; three nephews, Trent Guidry (Darlene), Christopher Cole, Sr, LaShawn Fruge, and Brent Fruge; two nieces, Trista Decuir (Ricky) and Devin Stewart of San Antonio, TX; and a host of great nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his sisters, Elaine Turner, Vera Stewart, and Sherlyn Fruge, a nephew, LaShawn Fruge; grandparents, Jankin Rankin, Ann Rankin, James Harris, Sr, and Mariah Harris; aunts, Grace Lassin, Willie Mae Senegal, Lorraine Dyson, Ella Mae Lee, Mary Mitchell, Alberta Harris, Merline LeBlanc, Earline Harris, and Adel Nolan; Uncles, Leroy Rankin, Elton Rankin, Sr. Lloyd Harris, Floyd Harris, and James Harris, Jr.; brother-in-laws, Wilbert Cole, Jr., Nathaniel Stewart, Columbus Rogers, and Edward Chadwick.
Pallbearers are: Tracy Roy Harris, Jr., Milton Hardy, Jr., Craig Joiner, Willie Jones, Jr., Terry Plowden, Sr., and Christopher A. Cole, Sr.
Honorary Pallbearers are: Roy Jay Harris, Sherwin Fruge, Trent Guidry, Cecil Fruge, and Kenneth R. Lee.
Visitation will be at the church (Mt. Triumph) Saturday, September 23, 2017 from 8:00 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.

A special ceremony was held a year later to the date of the death of Erath Chief Police Gerald Hebert.
Hebert died on Sept. 20, 2016 after a battle with cancer. He was 59 years old. Hebert was chief for nine years.
Erath Police Chief Anna LaPointe arranged the ceremony at the newly renovated Erath Police Station, that Hebert helped design.
In attendance were Hebert’s three children, along with grand children, six out of his 15 brother and sisters, plus, friends, aldermen and Mayor John Earl LeBlanc.
Before LaPointe unveiled a plaque that is now hanging in the police station, family members and friends remembered Hebert. The plaque was donated by VFW Post 3798
Mary Hebert, his former wife, thanked everyone for showing up and she thanked the community of Erath for all of the prayers they said while Hebert became ill the final two months of his life.
“I do believe Chief Hebert was an extraordinary man,” said Hebert. She explained that he was born in the mid 1950s and did not grow up surrounded by money. His father was a sharecropper and Gerald’s parents had the task of raising 15 children. Gerald was the last child.
“His up bringing was in poverty and lack of opportunity,” Mary Hebert said. “People who have known him, have asked that if him growing up in poverty has marked him in anyway? I told them yes. It marked him with ambition and the determination to succeed.”
His drive to do well pushed him at a young age because when he entered the oil field, he did well, she said. He rose through the ranks and by his mid 30s, Gerald was in management in the oil field industry. He worked for one company for 25 years.
“His true passion in life always was law and the people he serves,” said Mary. “When he decided to run for chief the first time, I had no doubt in my mind that if the citizens of Erath would hear him and listen to his message, he would take an ordinary job and make it extraordinary. I do believe he did that.”
She told the crowd that Gerald loved being the chief of Erath and really loved influencing the children in a positive way.
“He never once saw his position as chief as one of great power. Instead, it was one of great privilege,” said Mary.
Mary Hebert Cordwell, a sister, explained that her brother spent the last nine years of his life loving his job in Erath.
“It was not job to him,” said Cordwell. “This position was so much. Gerald told me how lucky he was to find something he loved so much, and loved being the chief of Erath. At the end of his life, he was able to look back and he knew he helped so many people.”
Cordwell ended by thanking the people of Erath for accepting her brother into their lives and making the final nine years of his life outstanding.
“I thank y’all,” she said.

CLASS 5A
Rec Pts PV
1, West Monroe (6) 3-0 114 1
2, John Curtis (3) 2-1 103 2
3, Evangel (1) 1-1 99 3
4, Rummel 2-0 90 4
5, Acadiana 3-0 80 5
6, Scotlandville 3-0 74 6
7, Barbe 3-0 60 8
8, Zachary 2-1 50 9
9, Covington 3-0 42 NR
10, Destrehan 2-1 26 NR
Others receiving votes: Ruston 15, Catholic-BR 12, John Ehret 6, Sulphur 4..

CLASS 4A
1, St. Thomas More (6) 3-0 114 1
2, Warren Easton (3) 3-0 108 2
3, McDonogh 35 2-1 92 4
4, Benton (1) 3-0 81 8
5, Plaquemine 2-1 60 3
6, Vandebilt Catholic 3-0 59 10
7, Carencro 1-1 54 5
8, Karr 2-1 51 7
9, Lakeshore 3-0 47 NR
10, Teurlings Catholic 2-1 32 6
Others receiving votes: Neville 23, Parkview 20, Rayne 11, Carver 8, Lutcher 7, Ouachita 3, North DeSoto 3, Woodlawn2.

CLASS 3A
1, De La Salle (8) 3-0 116 1
2, West Feliciana (2) 3-0 105 2
3, University 3-0 103 4
4, St. Charles Catholic 3-0 89 3
5, Sterlington 3-0 83 5
6, Iowa 3-0 67 6
7, St. James 3-0 59 7
8, Jena 3-0 48 8
9, Jennings 2-0 39 9
10, Berwick 3-0 37 10
Others receiving votes: Richwood 20, Northwest 6, Union Parish 4, Donaldsonville 3, Eunice 1.

CLASS 2A
1, Notre Dame (9) 3-0 119 1
2, Amite (1) 3-0 106 T3
3, Catholic-New Iberia 3-0 91 5
4, Riverside 1-2 89 T3
5, Many 2-1 76 2
6, Welsh 2-0 74 6
7, Ferriday 3-0 68 7
8, Mangham 3-0 48 10
9, Kinder 2-1 45 9
10, Ascension Epis. 3-0 27 NR
Others receiving votes: St Helena 17, Northeast 12, Dunham 8.

CLASS 1A
1, Logansport (8) 3-0 118 1
2, Kentwood (2) 2-1 99 4
3, Opelousas Catholic 2-1 80 6
4, Haynesville 1-2 75 3
5, Lafayette Christian 3-0 72 8
6, Oak Grove 2-1 68 2
7, Ouachita Christian 2-1 51 7
8, Oberlin 2-1 47 5
9, Elton 2-0 43 10
10, Covenant Christian 3-0 35 NR
Others receiving votes: Cedar Creek 34, St. Mary’s 24, Ascension 17, Varnado 13, Central Catholic 3, Catholic-PC 1.