Together, we got this!
December 6, 2017
Emelda Trahan
December 6, 2017
The first official week of the 2017 Christmas season had barely begun when multiple tragedies claimed lives and altered those of the people left behind in the Bayou Region.
But in the wake of a fatal wreck in Terrebonne and two incidents involving gunfire — none of them connected — caring communities banded together to ease the pain of the left behind, and affirmed the strength of good.
The toll began Friday morning, the day after Thanksgiving, when Thibodaux great-grandmother Grace Owens was shot in the head for unknown reasons, allegedly by a neighbor with whom other neighbors have had disagreements.
Monday morning at about 7 a.m., on La. 311 near Fletcher Technical Community College, a wreck claimed the life of 61-year-old Larry Landry of Thibodaux, and the occupants of another vehicle, 31-year-old Timothy Cleary and 45-year-old Jessie Bethancourt Sr. of Houma. A half-hour later 59-year-old Tony Fontenot’s life was ended by a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Thibodaux.
“A day like today is a reminder of the brevity of life, the uncertainty of life,” said Pastor Rene Monette of Living Word Church in Houma, to which Fontenot, Bethancourt and Cleary had strong ties.
The task of comforting and mourning, then, fell heavily on members of Monet’s church.
“I didn’t personally have a relationship with any of them,” said Julie James Falgout of Houma who like, others in the large but tight-knit congregation, was overwhelmed by word of the deaths. “I knew Jessie, and everybody knows Tony, and I knew people who were close to them and we are all a family. And when one of your family members if hurt the others are hurt. This family has pulled together to just love and encourage each other.”
A church community played an important role after the first local tragedy of the Christmas season.
St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church hosted a candlelight vigil last week in honor of Grace Owens, dedicated to all people in the greater community who had lost loved ones to violence. Thibodaux has seen a spate of violence over the past two months.
The Nov 24 shooting of the 75-year-old woman, allegedly by 41-year-old Kai Williams, was a shock to family members. Their grief was intensified by the knowledge that after she was shot in the head Williams allegedly tried to set her on fire.
The vigil gave some comfort, family members said, and a feeling of closeness to the rest of the community at large.
“St. Luke does that very well,” said church secretary Debra Pilot, who described the vigil as well-received and successful. “We try to help out community in all kinds of ways.”
Grace’s family was left with the memory of a blessed Thanksgiving that they were able to share with a cherished elder, which gave comfort as well.
Miles away, in Terrebonne Parish. Other families had passed a pleasant holiday.
At the home of Jessie Bethancourt Sr. there was much to be thankful for. An oilfield worker who was seen as a jack-of-all trades, Jessie Sr. worked for Tetra Offshore. The father of three had done the lion’s share of preparation for his family’s Thanksgiving meal.
Relatives said he was a talent in the kitchen, and after the main course — which included his signature rice dressing — they were treated to his peanut butter fudge, a dessert that was a family favorite.
Prior to the meal Jessie Sr. led the family in saying an extemporaneous grace.
“He was very in tune with praying and would always pray from what was moving within,” his eldest son, Jessie Jr., said.
Things were not always easy for the family, consisting of Jessie Jr., his mother, Cotina, and two younger brothers, Zachary, 13, and Remington, who is 12-years-old.
Jessie Sr. had struggled with addiction, his son confirmed, but was able to overcome its issues. He passed on what he had learned through Living Word’s recovery community, A Place of Restoration.
The program includes an intensive residential treatment that melds traditional recovery methods with scripture and Christian principles.
Jessie Sr. was active with others who sought relief through A Place of Restoration, and spent a great deal of time there, as well as with other recovery-related activities, his son said.
A Place of Recovery alumnus, Timothy Cleary of Orlando, was staying with the Bethancourts. On Monday, Nov. 27, Jessie had driven his 2007 Toyota truck, driving Timothy to his job, as was their custom. Neither was weating a seatbelt.
They were on La. 311 northbound when a 2002 Silverado driven by Larry Landry, headed south, inexplicably crossed over to their side of the highway and struck them head-on.
According to Trooper Jessie LaGrange of Louisiana State Police Troop C, Landry received fatal injuries.
Impairment was not suspected, and LaGrange said police are awaiting autopsy results, theorizing that Landry may have been stricken ill while driving, causing him to enter the oncoming lane. The family of Landry, who lived in Thibodaux, was contacted by The Times and said they would call back but did not do so.
He was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the wreck.
With Jessie Sr. at University Hospital suffering grievous injuries, family members rallied as did the church community at Living Word. In particular, people who over the years came to know him through A Place of Restoration, stepped forward to assist.
Many of those who wished to help gave blood — Jessie needed multiple transfusions — and others helped in different ways.
Through Living Word and the greater community, Jessie Jr.’s aunt, Tina Trosclair, organized a massive blood drive.
“She just kind of took the reins on that,” said Jessie Jr., whose own circle stood ready to help as well.
A nursing student at Nicholls State University Jessie saw his school family step forward.
Another nursing student, Michelle Domangue, who also works as a nurse technician at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center, sprang into action.
“She got with some of the clinical coordinators and the nursing teachers at Nicholls and they helped her get everything set up,” Jessie Jr. said. “They replaced the blood unit for unit and it would put an additional $10 into my dad’s account.”
Medical bills are going to be overwhelming, the family said. But contributors have generously been donating to a GoFundMe account in Jessie Bethancourt’s name. Blood donatons in his name are also still being taken.
Living Word’s pastor was out of town Nov. 27, but received a phone call shortly after the wreck occurred, notified that one of his church family had died and that another was critically injured. He prayed, and made mental notes of what would be needed.
Such tragedies are unwelcome, but sadly expected for spiritual shepherds. What he did not expect was a call informing him of another tragedy just a short time later.
Tony Fontenot was a fixture at Living Word Church, a member for 25 years.
People described him as happy, joyful, and quick with a Boudreaux and Thibodaux joke. He distinguished himself as a champion of veterans, and was quick to aid community fundraisers and help anyone he could.
His “Castin’ Cajun” show appeared on television stations throughout Louisiana and neighboring states. The show’s website has 9,310 subscribers. The Ville Platte native married his childhood sweetheart, the former Julie McCollum, in 1977.
On the morning of Nov. 27 he walked into Thibodaux Regional Medical Center and entered a restroom near the emergency room. To the horror of people nearby, a gunshot was heard. Tony was found dead and Thibodaux police said the wound was self-inflicted.
Family friends said he had managed his affairs despite bouts of depression that few saw. But there were no known indications that suicide was in the cards.
“Maybe there were some signs that we missed, something we could have done, maybe we could have reached out to him,” Pastor Monette later said. “I think everybody did everything they could.”
At Tony’s services, where the pastor spoke those words, mourners testified to the goodness and charity of a man they had come to love.
“He could charm the birds out of the trees,” one mourner said.
A nephew said he probably wouldn’t be here today if not for Uncle Tony.
“Uncle Tony has always reached out to me,” he said.
“We never really never know what is going on in the heart and mind of that person next to you,” Pastor Monette said in his sermon. “We think we know somebody and do we really? Tony had an infectious smile, smiling all the time. We all struggle. That’s the truth. We all have hard times.”
The pastor told mourners that he had no doubt Tony was in heaven, “rejoicing with the Lord and the savior that he loved.”
Monday night mourners gathered again at the same church, for Jessie Bethancourt’s services.
Once more, members of the congregation will be reminded of the fragility of life, and the importance of community. •
