It’s not everyday you see a marriage last as long as this Krotz Springs couple, but Mayonce and Mercedese Dupre’ have defied the marital odds proving that true love is timeless.
On this July 17th the couple will be celebrating three quarters of a century together. Mayonce and Mercedese (Desy) grew up together as neighbors living in Grand Prairie. It started out with Mayonce frequently visiting Desy’s childhood home where he would play cards with her father Abey Dupre. As the story’s been told, it was really Mercedese he was likely aiming to see all those times he paid a visit.
The couple got married on July 17th of 1948 in Plaisance as mere teenagers just 14 and 19 years of age. They moved to Krotz Springs where they have lived most of their lives. Mayonce was a sharecropper, farming the land and Mercedese (Desy) was a homemaker for most of her life. They lived off the land for many years raising their 10 children together. The last of Desy’s children were a set of twins and she made the joke that ‘once they started coming in two’s it was time to stop’.
Mayonce was also a bus driver for the school board for more than 20 years before he retired. Mayonce and Mercedes have 29 grandchildren, 59 great grandchildren and 6 great great grandchildren.
While statistically nearly half of all marriages end up in divorce, for this couple it is evident that they took their vows very seriously and have never let life’s trials bring them apart. I spoke with their daughter, Rose Batton, and asked if she could tell me what she believed was the secret to such a long-lasting marriage.
“They have always done everything together. Sometimes when I go to see them I will walk in and find them holding hands. They sit in their recliners right next to each other.’ Rose told me.
The couple still live together in their home in Krotz Springs and will be celebrating their wedding anniversary with their children.
