Democrats Salute Honorees
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
Five St. Landry residents whose lives have included deep community service and involvement, were recognized on Thursday night as 2026 St. Landry Parish Democratic Party honorees.
The annual program and banquet hosted this year before a near capacity audience at the Yambilee Building, recognized parish residents Anthony Standberry, Lucretia Hertzock, Dale Fontenot, Celina Richard and Jarvis Claiborne.
Nick Albares, Jaimie Davis and Gary Crockett, who were included on the program, were introduced as U.S. Senate Democratic candidates in the May 16 primary.
Anthony Standberry
Standberry, who currently represents District 1 on the St. Landry Parish School Board, recalled learning to serve others at an early age, when his parents would send him on errands that included gifting food to neighbors.
A veteran career educator in both St. Landry and Lafayette parishes, Standberry has continued providing yearly scholarships for high school seniors, cooking Thanksgiving turkeys and leading charity poker runs on motorcycles.
Standberry reminded the Yambilee Building crowd about the need to vote.
“There have been too many people who went through sacrifices in order to provide us with the opportunity to vote. If you don’t vote, the result is on you,” Standberry said.
Lucretia Hertzock
A Palmetto native, Hertzock has spent her entire career in child nutrition and food management.
In addition to working as supervisor of food services for the St. Landry School District, Hertzock has been employed in similar positions in Georgia, Texas and other state school systems.
Hertzock is credited with starting the first mobile feeding program in St. Landry in addition to being recognized for her food service career during a ceremony held in the Obama White House.
“I tell the adults that I feed the children. I tell the children that I am the head lunch lady,” Hertzock said.
Hertzock added that she is aware of instances where some children experience hunger issues.
“Some of them suffer greatly and we address that with our summer feeding program. Child nutrition is my passion,” Hertzock added.
Dale Fontenot
Fontenot has spent practically all his life in the northern portion of St. Landry and since 1990, he has been pastor of the New Life Church of God in Palmetto.
His ministry has included creating community food banks that feed 400 families and providing youth programs and crisis counseling that affects about 50 children in the Palmetto, LeBeau and Morrow communities.
“My message is one of hope, I like to say when things become seemingly hopeless, that’s when hope comes alive,” Fontenot said.
Celina Richard
Richard spent 40 years teaching in the St. Landry school system, primarily at North Elementary in Opelousas.
Her community outreach efforts have included serving in administration for the J.K. Haynes Foundation under 2017 Democratic honoree Clifton Lemelle in addition to working on numerous local campaign committees.
Richard also has experience working inside numerous volunteer organizations, sororities and churches.
Jarvis Claiborne
Claiborne has worked as an Opelousas attorney for 40 years, with nearly half of that as a public defender.
While growing up on Perry Lane near the Trash Pile area of Opelousas, Claiborne learned from his parents that he and his seven siblings should become involved in helping others.
The community involvement for Claiborne has included coaching and organizing youth sports participation in several spots, while politically Claiborne is an at-large member of the parish Democratic Committee.
“I think about my parents all the time. They stressed service to the community. I enjoy helping people, I’ve been a defender for 20 years. Everyone deserves representation,” Claiborne said.
