Former Abbeville mayor Brady Broussard passes away

A memorial mass to celebrate the life of former Abbeville Mayor Brady Broussard will be held at St. Mary Magdalen Church on Tuesday, November 18 at 10 a.m.
He passed away peacefully surrounded by his children in his apartment at Eastridge Assisted Living Center on Thursday November 13, 2014 at the age of 82 after a long battle with cancer.
In his final act of generosity and thinking of others before himself, he donated his body to science at the LSU Health Science Center Department of Anatomical Study. He was well known for many things during his life, and that includes serving as Mayor of Abbeville from 1986 to 2002 when he retired for health reasons.
Friends, relatives and his children remember him for his kindness, compassion, generosity and his unconditional love for his family and the people of Abbeville.
He was instrumental in starting the Boys and Girls Club in Abbeville. He was appointed to, and chairman of, the Environmental Board LRRDA, by the Governor. He was the chairman of the Abbeville Fire and Civil Service Board and a board member of the Louisiana Municipal Association. The Governor also appointed him to the Louisiana Firefighters Investment Board and the State Commerce and Industry Board. Mayor Broussard was also chairman of the Vermilion Parish Library Board and appointed to a Federal Environmental Board.
Mayor Broussard and his administration moved into the new City Hall downtown in what was once the Audrey Hotel, and accomplished major beautification to downtown Abbeville’s Magdalen Square. He started the Abbeville downtown Christmas lighting program, and twinned with French speaking Lasne, Belgium.
He was a parishioner and Eucharistic minister at St. Theresa Catholic Church and was a faithful participant in the annual Grand Coteau retreat that he attended for several decades with many of his local friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife Bonnie Gwendolyn Richard and his parents Marcus A. Broussard and Muriel Brady Broussard.
He is survived by his children Brady Broussard Jr and his wife Reba, Darby Champagne and her husband Elton, Delany Broussard and his wife Carla, Lance Broussard and his wife Alecia and Scott Broussard and his wife Julie, 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Flo B. Guidry and his brother, Marcus A. Broussard Jr.
He was educated at Abbeville High School and Northwestern State University, where he excelled in football and track, and also served as AHS student body president and elected into the Abbeville High School Athletic Hall of Fame, inducted in 1982.
In his later years he was honored to be named a Living Legend by the Acadian Cultural and Heritage Foundation. He also supported many charities and persons in need.
In his spare time he enjoyed his fruit trees and gardens and especially his dog “Molly” that brought him great joy for many years. He was known for and will always be remembered for the big wave, hugs and warm smiles he shared with all he met.
He was an accomplished athlete that remained passionate about cheering his favorite LSU Tigers and New Orleans Saints, but it was his family that he adored and treasured until the end of his life.
The family would like to thank the large number of well-wishers that genuinely loved and cared for our father. It’s comforting to know how many people he affected in a positive manner during his life.

His family would also like to thank Dr. Ronald Lahasky, the compassionate nurses Timori, Shelley, Jodi, Heidi, Leslie, Paula and Tanya at Acadian Homecare-Abbeville, Louisiana Hospice and Palliative Care and Eastridge Assisted Living for the level of care they each provided that allowed him to be as comfortable and active as possible.
In his memory, please consider donations to The Christian Service Center, Vermilion Catholic High School, Mt Carmel Elementary or the American Cancer Society.