Notes:

Obituary:

Rayne lost another of its loved 'senior citizens' this past week when death claimed Miss Mary Ella McBride, 84, member of one of Rayne's first families who dated back to the days of Poupeville, Miss McBride passing away at the Rayne Guest Home on Friday at 11:30 a.m. after a long illness.

Funeral services were held Saturday morning at 9 a.m. from St. Joseph Catholic Church, with Rev. Emery Labbe officiating. Interment followed in the family plot in the old St. Joseph Cemetery with Gossen Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers were Sidney McBride, Warren McBride, Harold Leleux, Jr., Harold Leleux, Sr., Tony Privat and Edwin "Butch" Ousse.

Miss McBride was a native of Rayne and a lifelong resident here. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Walter Scott McBride, her mother being the former Aurelia Perres, and member of one of the pioneer families in this area. Mr. and Mrs. McBride resided in Poupeville, and were among the settlers of that section who moved with the entire Poupeville community up to the railroad tracks in the 1880's when the settlement of Poupeville was renamed to Rayne.

She was educated in local schools and later joined her brother, the late Walter J. McBride in the operation of what was originally McBride's Confectionery, then later became McBride's Drug Store. She was an important part of this business firm, and served the public faithfully over a long span of years, assisting her brother, and, in her quiet, sweet manner, making many friends for the drug store. For some time, this was also the offices for the Greyhound Bus lines and she handled the ticket office operation. She remained with the firm until Walter's retirement, when she also retired and devoted the remainder of her days to enjoying members of her family and her many friends.

She had been in ill heath for some time, and had been a resident at the Guest Home for several years where she was a loved part of the group of friends there.

"Miss Ella" will always be remembered fondly by her family and by the many friends of long standing who were intimate as only friends from childhood on can remain. She was an interesting part of Rayne's earlier business life, and she contributed much, along with her brother in providing one of Rayne's well known business establishments, located next to today's Gene's Shoe Store. Much of the original McBride's building was torn down in recent years to make way for the present Rayne State Bank parking area.

Her brothers and sisters have all preceded her in death, and she is survived only by numerous nieces and nephews who were very dear to her. Among these are Tony Privat, Warren McBride, Sidney McBride, Edward McBride of Maryland, Harold McBride of Germany, Glenn McBride of Brownsville, Texas, Tom and Joe McBride of Lake Charles, Mrs Edwin Ousse, Mrs. Dan LeLeux and Mrs. A.E. Raymond, Jr. all of Rayne, Mrs. Harold LeLeux of Estherwood, Mrs. Gabe Alandin of Connecticut and Mrs. Howard Duran of Lake Charles.

(Published in The Rayne Acadian Tribune on June 18, 1970)

Walter married Aurelia Perres Aurelia (daughter of Auguste Perres and Calisse Zelonise LeBlanc) was born 13 Jan 1855, Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, USA; died 23 Mar 1936, Rayne, Acadia Parish, Louisiana, USA; was buried , St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery #1 - Rayne, Louisiana, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Obituary:

Pioneer Woman Of Rayne Dies Sunday

St. Joseph Catholic Church at 9 a.m., Monday, March 23, Father H. Lerschen officiating. during his sermon, he spoke of the many virtues which Mrs. McBride possessed, stressing her motherhood and life of love for her children, which was made the more impressive by the tear stained faces of these same "girls and boys" who surrounded her during the funeral. At the close of the last rites, the funeral procession continued on to St. Joseph's cemetery, where the remains were laid to rest in the family vault.

Pallbearers included Mrs. McBride's four sons: Walter, Edward, Henry and Anderson, and two nephews, Felix Perres and O.T. McBride.

The well conducted arrangements were in charge of the Ardoin Funeral Home.

With Mrs. McBride's death, one of Rayne's most colorful characters has passed on. With her went a wealth of history and lore of this community since she was one of the first residents of Rayne and the former Poupeville. Her father, August Perres, Sr., came to this section of Louisiana from France, and was one of the first to make his home in the vicinity of what is now known as Rayne. He married a Miss LeBlanc who was in turn a daughter of a Miss Broussard, the family line being direct descendants of Longfellow's famous "Evangeline". Mrs. McBride's mother was originally from what is now the Church Point community, but after her marriage, she and Mr. Perres moved to this section. Mrs. McBride was born on one of the largest tracts in the State at that time, owned by her father and located in and around Poupeville, near the present John Servat farm. The settlement gradually grew and the present St. Joseph Church was established near there some 70 years ago. Later, with the passing of the Southern Pacific Lines, the entire settlement was moved up to the tracks and renamed Rayne, Mrs. McBride moving into town 65 years ago she married Walter Scott McBride of the Church Point section and since that time, has made her home continuously in Rayne.

To talk with her was a rare treat, for she had the customs and history of the community at her fingertips and with her many experiences in the early days, she was a source of unusual and accurate information. During her girlhood and early wife-hood, the families had to spin their own cotton and weave their cloth for wearing apparel. All of their cooking was done in chimneys, and hardships were plentiful. Mrs. McBride was one of the few of these Louisiana pioneers who lived to see electricity become universally used along with thousands of other inventions and improvements, and she kept in touch with the wide progress of the world during her last years.

Her keen mind and active sense of humor, made Mrs. McBride a constant source of pleasure to her family and hundreds of friends, these faculties even seeming to improve with the advancement of years. She recognized everyone immediately and always had a friendly greeting for all.

In her last illness, around her bedside were gathered her "boys" and "girls", always girls and boys to her although they have grown to mature years with homes of their own. The life so long interwoven with theirs, they watched with grief-stricken hearts, while it slowly but surely passed over. The love of a mother for her children passes all human understanding and just such a love did this mother have for her family. We feel confident that in coming years the memory of her unselfish devotion will be for them a guiding star and an ever present inspiration. Although fully aware that her "four score and ten" had long since passed, this mother had no fear of death. She talked with members of her family about the past and planned for the present and future. Her last words were of love for her children, and that quiet closing scene has left with them the indication of that wonderful peace to which she has been claimed after her long years of service and labor on this earth. A true Christian, Mrs. McBride practiced the precepts of her early teaching faithfully, and was prepared when the last summons came.

Tribune bows its head in grief at the passing of so loved a figure, and it is with sincere regret that we add our words of condolences to those who have been voiced by the scores of friends throughout this section.

Surviving Mrs. McBride, former Miss Aurelia Perres, are six children: Anderson of Rayne, Henry of Port Arthur, Miss Ella McBride, Walter, Edward, and Mrs. Jos. Privat, all of Rayne. In addition she is survived by one adopted daughter, Mrs. G. Besse of Port Arthur; four half-sisters: Mrs. Sylvestre Boudreaux, and Mrs. John LeBleu of Rayne and Mrs. Adam Talbot and Mrs. Felix Royer of Port Arthur; and one half-brother, Anatole Clement of Rayne; seventeen grandchildren, and one niece, Mrs. Lucille Jeanmard of Lafayette and one nephew, Felix Perres of Rayne. Her only brother, August Perres, Jr., preceded her in death a number of years ago.

(Published in the Rayne Acadian Tribune on March 27, 1936)

Auguste married Calisse Zelonise LeBlanc 20 Jan 1854, Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, USA. Calisse (daughter of Calliste LeBlanc and Marie Cleonide Broussard) was born 4 May 1838, Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, USA; died 28 Jul 1903, Rayne, Acadia Parish, Louisiana, USA; was buried 29 Jul 1903, St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery #1 - Rayne, Louisiana, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Obituary:

Rayne, La., July 28. - Mrs. Don Louis Clement died this morning at 10 o'clock, at the advanced age of sixty-seven years. She will be buried at the Catholic Cemetery here tomorrow morning. She leaves two sons and four daughters.

(Published in The New Orleans Times-Democrat on July 29, 1903)

Calliste married Marie Cleonide Broussard 30 Apr 1821, St. Martinville, St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, USA. Marie (daughter of Benjamin Louis Broussard and Marie Magdeline Hebert) was born 16 Jan 1805, St. Martinville, St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, USA; died 1876, Rayne, Acadia Parish, Louisiana, USA. [Group Sheet]