The Lazenby's Story - Pine Prairie Part 5

In the summer of 1961, our family moved back to Evangeline Parish only a few miles from where we had lived two and a half years before. Louisiana is the only state in the nation to have parishes instead of counties because the originators did not like the county system. Another unique feature is that Louisiana is the only state where the Roman law is practiced. All other states practice the English Common Law.

Evangeline Parish, originally part of St. Landry Parish was created by an Act of Legislature in 1911 when a large group of citizens declared that this area become a separate parish.

Records show that the Evangeline Parish area is one of the oldest inhabited areas of Louisiana, dating back to the early 1700's. The name ‘Evangeline’ was selected as a tribute to Evangeline, the young Acadian lass made famous by the noted poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

The population of Evangeline Parish is composed principally of English and French ancestry of which a large percentage speak Seventeenth Century French. There is a notable sprinkling of Spanish in the Southern or plains portion.

Although Bayou Chicot and Pine Prairie were English settlements, Pine Prairie had more of a French/Spanish influence. The First Baptist Church of Pine Prairie was established in 1918. In a future post, I will delve into the fascinating history of this part of the country.

As I said in the previous post, we were in for a bit of a culture shock with this move.

For the first time we lived where there were more Catholics than Baptists. There were more than two denominational churches in the little town; in fact there were five. There were two grocery stores and even a small restaurant or two. We had an actual post office and fire station. There were streets with names and even a few sidewalks. Gin and I could again walk to school and back. Another big thing was the parsonage was actually a block behind the church. The population was less than 400 and consisted predominantly of white people.

As you no doubt have ascertained by now, the Lazenbys were not affluent by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, we were poor by most standards. Interestingly enough, we never considered ourselves in this way. Although there were people around who had more money, no one lived in any grander state than we did, and if they did, it wasn't important. We were all the same. One of the things our parents and family instilled in us was pride and a sense of integrity and dignity; not from a worldly or self-centered viewpoint, but from a Biblical perspective.

One of the first things of which we were informed after moving in, was that the previous pastor's daughter, who happened to be a year older than me, was a "wild kid" and had evidently created a pretty bad reputation not only for herself but her family as well. Wow, was this ever pressure from the get-go. We all initially felt this information meant "you better stay in line young ladies." After several family discussions, I think Gin and I began to realize the importance of living our faith not only for our own witness, but for our father's ministry and reputation. Using the excuse "everybody else is doing it" was not an argument we would win. I decided it wasn't enough to say I was a Christian without living like one.

This certainly doesn't mean any of us were saints - far from it - but it did mean I knew I had to be different; be the person I knew God wanted me to be. I was going into the 11th grade, Gin the 9th and Sarah the 3rd. Gin and I both had strong personalities and were being faced with new temptations as well as opportunities. Sarah was still sweet and adorable.

Actually, we soon learned that by far the majority of the kids and families in town were just good, hard-working people who also believed in strong family ties and living their faith. Regardless of their religion, they were devout and welcomed us with wide-open arms of acceptance. We quickly made friendships that last to this day.

Dad was having a new challenge of his own. There were a couple men in the church who had evidently always had their way in how the church was run. They had never had Porter Lazenby as a pastor. Dad very diplomatically yet strongly let them know who made the pastoral and leadership decisions. This took a while but they ended up being some of his biggest supporters and we all enjoyed a sweet friendship between our families. Good leadership breeds respect.

Another thing Dad did that had never been done in the history of Pine Prairie, was to make friends with the local Priest, Father Prescott. Needless to say, those previously mentioned men questioned the wisdom of this. Dad and Father Prescott became very good friends and shared a cup of coffee weekly and only they and God know what they talked about. For the first time, there was communication and mutual respect between the leaders of the two largest churches in town. Porter Lazenby wasn't there to convert all the Catholics.

Guess who was the Elementary School Principle. Do you recall in my first post telling you about those two handsome college boys who helped us move in at Bayou Chicot? Cecil Griffith, who had held my heart all those years ago and whose little sister, Edith Pat ended up being one of my best childhood friends, was Sarah's principle. He was forever a prince of a man!

Gin and I both played on the varsity basketball team, I played softball and ran track my junior year, and Gin was an excellent tennis player. I tried playing against her but I swung a racket like a softball bat and lost every time. We were both officers in some of the same clubs as well as class officers in our individual grades.

All three of us were 11th, 9th, and 3rd grade class favorites in 1961.

Gin shared some of her special memories of these times:

"We moved to Pine Prairie the summer before my going into the 9th grade. I quickly made friends and had a neighbor boy, Billy Campbell who became my walking buddy to and from school and my adopted brother. He and I were elected class favorites for several years in high school.

"I was given the opportunity to continue my joy of playing basketball under a wonderful coach. I also loved tennis and did very well. It was here in Pine that Libby and I attended our first Catholic Midnight Mass as well as weddings, funerals and other special services with our friends of different faiths."

Not too long after moving to Pine, Daddy bought a piece of property on Cocodrie Lake in Clear Water, just north of Pine Prairie. He had dreamed of having a camp where he could spend time in nature, fishing, studying and having a place for him and Mother, and the family to enjoy. He spent all the time he could spare buying lumber and other building materials and did all the labor himself. He finally had it complete and sparsely furnished enough that it could be used. It was near another camp that belonged to friends in our church.

He wanted me to drive the motor again for him to check his line one day, but I had lost whatever skills I had once had, plus I was having to maneuver around trees, stumps and marsh instead of a wide open river. I think it was a disappointing time for both of us. That night as we were all sleeping, we were awakened by the most awful scream from what sounded like a woman right outside our windows. Dad explained it was a panther and that they had been seen roaming in the woods.

A few months after the camp was completed, Dad had spent a day there piddling and fishing and roaming the woods. Around mid-night he received a call that his and our friend's camps had been burned to the ground by poachers who didn't like their hunting territory disturbed by outsiders.

This broke our daddy's heart and it took a long time for him to get over this loss. Not only had he lost a dream come true for him and mother, but also all of his tools including the old inherited tools from Mother's father he had treasured since their marriage. This was a hard and painful loss for him. No one was ever charged.

In 1962 I was a senior and it was a full year. As basketball was the big sport in all our schools, we had games and tournaments every week, not to mention daily practice sessions. I'm not sure where homework fit into my schedule, but I do know it wasn't necessarily my first priority.

There was a dear elderly French lady in our church who spoke pure Cajun and very broken English. She lived in a small "shotgun" house near us. Dad suggested that I mow her yard for her which I gladly did. All we had was a push mower that took every ounce of strength my beanpole legs possessed. One day she called me inside the house and told me to choose between three antique pieces of furniture as payment. My insistence otherwise went on deaf ears and I eventually chose the dresser with a piece of Italian marble. These were her family heirlooms with no one to pass them on to. I have treasured this piece of furniture ever since because out of love and a sense of gratitude, she gave all she had.

I had been taking voice lessons from the wife of our basketball coach since early 1961, and had several opportunities to sing for various events, weddings, etc. in and around our community. This is also when Gin and I were the official double pianists for our church. Quite often during a particularly difficult test, my English teacher, Mr. Gaudet, the boys basketball coach would say, "Libby, sing us a song." I would whip out "Some Enchanted Evening", "Summertime" or some other song I knew he liked and never failed a test.

Dad also enlisted me to teach the preschool children in Sunday School. Little did either of us know that it would eventually lead to my serving as a Preschool Director and a Preschool Music Specialist with the La. Baptist Convention Music Department. I worked with preschool choirs in almost every church Dick and I served for more than 40 years.

The Senior Play was always a big thing to look forward to in Pine and the entire community came out for that. We practiced so hard on getting every line and action just right. There was a particular favorite section that we enjoyed rehearsing over and over. The night of the play I came in too quickly on one of the funniest lines in the show. Unfortunately, it belonged to my Homecoming King and boyfriend. That almost ended a really good friendship.

There were also talent shows where we participated and one especially when Gin and I sang a duet that we both refuse to relive again.

Danny and I were chosen as Homecoming King and Queen and I was voted as FFA Sweetheart yet again. This time I was entered into the State FFA Sweetheart Competition held on the LSU Campus in Baton Rouge. It was my first ever beauty type pageant and I was scared to death. I didn't win but had a good time and somehow made my local club proud.

After graduating from H. S. I enrolled at LSU at Alexandria, then a two-year commuter branch of LSU as an Education Major.

My freshman year, to my amazement, I was nominated for the Miss LSUA title and even more amazed when I won. There were some much prettier and better known girls in the competition, so I still wonder how it happened.

One of the honors I had as Miss LSUA was to cut the ribbon opening a new road that connected the school with our previous community, Riverview. Unofficially, it has always been known as "Libby's Road" to our family.

The following year I moved in with a lovely lady, Mrs. Mary who lived near the campus. She had another girl also living there, Floyanne. We became fast friends and great roommates and are still close today. This move also put me where I needed to be in order for God to continue working His plan for my life.

In 1964, I was a finalist for the Miss Cenla (Central Louisiana) Pageant. During this year I sang in the State Baptist Student Union Choir and was appointed a state officer. My position was editor of the State BSU yearbook. Only with God's help was I able to have it completed on time and it was the first BSU yearbook with color and graphics. I am still proud of the accomplishment.

Also, in 1964, I was selected to serve as Miss Rapids Parish. Thankfully, this was a talent based competition and not swim suit or the outcome would have been very different. Incidentally, I made the lined suit I wore to be crowned. Mother's teaching and four years of Home Economics had finally paid off.

In 1962 and '63 Gin and Billy were 10th and 11th grade favorites. Sarah was chosen as her class favorite those same years.

During her high school years, Gin continued to excel in sports and academics and was everyone's favorite in school. Her senior year, she was treasurer of the Beta Club, class secretary and on the yearbook staff. She and her best friend, Lynn were chosen "Most Likely to Succeed" and crowned Homecoming King and Queen of Pine Prairie High School. She graduated in '64 with many recognitions and honors. She also attended LSUA for a while but ended up going to work and eventually moved to Baton Rouge. She bought her first car, a new '64 Corvair Monza Super Sport for $2,400. Imagine that! It was beige with black interior and bucket seats and it suited her to a tee. While working in B. R. she lived with several girls who became life-long friends. She also met her husband-to-be.

Sarah completed grades three through eight in Pine. She made friendships there that have lasted all these years later and her love for animals only grew.

She started playing basketball in elementary school and only continued to improve. It was also then that she began to show signs of eventually outgrowing Gin (who had already passed me) in height. In middle school she had developed as a leader on the basketball court, not to mention academically. She was selected to play on the H. S. varsity team as an eighth grader. She told me that one of the highlights for her during that eighth grade year was playing in a regional tournament at Louisiana College in Pineville, La. This said so much about her skill of the game.

In early February 1965, Floyanne and I made a bus trip to New Orleans where I knew I would meet the man I was to marry. It was through the daughter and son-in-law of the lady I lived with, Mrs. Mary, that this arranged blind date was made. I told you God was working His plan, and I was right; he was the one.

Yes, I made the dress I'm wearing.

On Sept. 4, 1965, Dick and I were married at the First Baptist Church of Pine Prairie following a whirlwind, distant courtship after having met on that blind date in New Orleans. He was in his final year of receiving a Masters Degree in Church Music at the N. O. Baptist Theological Seminary. And the rest is for another story and another time.

In 1967, after six years of fruitful ministry, rearing and releasing two teenage, now young adult daughters, and a third daughter still in the home, the Lord did the strangest thing. He actually called Mom and Dad back to where this story began, as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Bayou Chicot.

And that is where this story will pick up next Monday.