Former Eunice mayor E. Lynn Lejeune was named to the St. Landry Parish Women Hall of Fame at an induction ceremony on Nov. 7 in Opelousas.
“I’m very honored and quite surprised to have received it,” Lejeune said.
The five honored have spent years trying to make their community better, she said.
Lejeune has served in a variety of leadership positions in St. Landry Parish is now executive director of the Port of Krotz Springs.
The award ceremony is a fundraiser for the Old Governor’s Mansion in Opelousas. The building burned in 2016.
The award is framed with wood from the old capitol used in the 1860s.
About 300 people attended the event at the Delta Grand Theater in Opelousas that was the fourth hall of fame induction ceremony.
Others inducted into the St. Landry Parish Women Hall of Fame at the event were:
— Marie Magdalena Esprit/Lemelle Simien, Business woman and ancestor of Louisiana Simien family who lived in the early days of St. Landry Parish;
— Mary Swords Debaillon, of Opelousas, the daughter of St. Landry Parish Sheriff Marion Swords. She saved the Louisiana Iris;
— Mary Rideau Johnson-Doucet, of Opelousas, special education educator who continues to give service to her community in many ways; and
— Mavis Arnaud Frugé, of Arnaudville, who is working for the preservation of the Louisiana French language.
The St. Landry Parish Women Hall of Fame, created in 2016, is a project of the OGMLA Foundation, Inc. (Oldest Governor’s Mansion Louisiana). Each year the organization accepts nominations of St. Landry Parish Women to be considered for induction into the hall of fame
A synopsis Lejeune’s life presented at the ceremony included the following.
The daughter of James and Ethel Boles, Lynn was born in Vidalia. In 1964 she graduated from Vidalia High School. Following her graduation, Lynn moved to Baton Rouge to attend LSU where she earned a bachelor’s degree in 1968. During the four years she attended college, she also worked in the state Legislature. Following her graduation, she continued her work in the Legislature for the next two years.
Following her time at the capitol, she sought employment with the law firm of McCollister in Baton Rouge. For two years she volunteered her services as a secretary and learned as much as possible about law, politics, lobbying, writing briefs and doing research. After those years of learning, she was hired by the firm. It was there that she developed a passion for helping women.
In 1969, Lynn married Frankie W. Harelson. When that marriage ended in 1978, she continued her work in Baton Rouge. In 1984 she married Wilray Lejeune and together the couple have nine children, 18 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Lejeune’s husband, Wilray, who had been a corporate pilot, decided he wanted to do more local flying as a crop duster, as well as teaching flying. Together the couple made a decision to move out of the city. Money was tight during that time, but their priority was to make sure they found a place with good schools for the children, and a good college where they could earn a degree and be able to support themselves and their future families.
After six months of visiting areas in Louisiana, the couple decided to settle in Opelousas because of the airport, and the other was LSUE.
In 1992, the family moved to Eunice and Lejeune began working for the Eunice Chamber of Commerce. After nine-plus years at the chamber, she decided to run for mayor.
As mayor of Eunice from 2003-2007, she helped to redesign the management of City Hall. She put quality control standards in place and created financial and budget restraints. She had training programs for employees who had purchasing responsibilities, and also for other city departments. Under her leadership the city did major road repairs, maintained city properties, completed a new modern state of the arts recreation park, and updated the police and fire departments, which included the purchase of a new fire truck. She also implemented plans that helped to build the area’s tourism industry and worked with LSUE to strengthen their role in the community.
Lejeune lost her reelection campaign.
After that election, she enrolled in the New York School of Fashion Design and Merchandising. After three years she received her master’s degree in fashion design and merchandising. From there she accepted a job making one-of-a-kind clothes for individuals. She began making one-of-a-kind evening gowns for the Miss Mississippi Hospitality Pageant, and for Miss Mississippi, as well as Mardi Gras Ball gowns and formal wear. She became a partner in a Starkville, Mississippi, store.
Her husband became ill and had to stop flying. Lejeune realized his days were limited and knew she needed to be close to home every night. Upon his passing, Lejeune ws hired in 2014 as the president/CEO of the St. Landry Chamber of Commerce in Opelousas.
After over two years with the chamber, the position as dxecutive director of the Greater Krotz Springs Port Authority became available. Lejeune was hired and became the first woman to hold that job.
Lejeune’s community service includes LSUE Board of Advisors, LSUE Foundation, LSUE Bengal Housing Committee, St Landry Economic Development Board, St. Landry Parish SLED Vision Board, St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission and the Eunice Rotary Club.
Previous Hall of Fame inductees
2016: Manon Baldwin (c.1770s - 1857); H. Celimene Dupre Mouton (1831-1864); Ruth Robertson Fontenot (1914-1995); Susan Evangeline Walker Anding (1878 - 1948); and Estelle M. Perrault.
2017: Rachael Fergerson Gradenigo (c. 1806 -1858); Edna Rosiland Riseman Kurtz (1902 - 1997); Belton Pommier Doucet (1905 - 2001); Lillian Jacobs Bourdier (1907 - 1973); Marie Holman Roy (1907 - 1995); Coy M. Pavy (1920 - 1990); Muriel Boswell Thompson (1929 - 2008); and Rebecca Davis Henry.
2018: Aline Castille Perrault (1903 - 2005); Marie Joy Smith Poulet (1919 - 2001); Elizabeth Guillory Litton (1921 - 2018); Frances Emerson Haynes (1924 - 2012); Eula Morris Savoie (1926 - 2010); and Sydalese Ballard Jackson.