Funeral services were held Tuesday at First Baptist Church in New Roads for Stafford Chenevert, who worked many years with Pointe Coupee Banner and played a special role in its legacy.
He was 84. Chenevert, who died Aug. 7, wrote hundreds of articles over the years for Pointe Coupee Banner on topics ranging from local government to human interest.
“He did a lot of stories for us, and he was always filling in to make sure we had an edition,” said Banner co-publisher Bonnie D’Arensbourg, whose mother Mary “Tootsie” LaCour served many years as publisher. “He’d do anything to help us … he even helped with the press when we printed in-house.”
In recent years, Chenevert worked with the Pointe Coupee Parish Library in New Roads, where he digitized editions of The Banner going back to its first edition in 1880.
“He got much more involved when we transitioned hard-copy editions to microfilm at the library – and that was huge,” D’Arensbourg said. “We deeply appreciated Stafford and all he did for The Banner.”
Chenevert was the sixth of 14 chil- born to Ogden and Rosa Lee Chenevert, according to his obituary.
He joined the United States Air Force after he graduated from Morganza High School.
Chenevert later published the fiction novel “Amber Waves of Grain” and had a role in the establishment of the Veteran’s Memorial in New Roads.
He was also a member of the Pointe Historical Society.
He was survived by his wife Phyllis, to whom he was married 59 years, along his daughter Sharon and son Stephen, along with numerous grandchildren, nine sisters, and nieces and nephews.
