In Loving Memory, a Tribute:
An Introduction to Catherine Lafleur
One day shortly after Cathy was diagnosed with cancer; my brother encountered an old black man and his wife on the sidewalk in front of her house. They told him that they were there to see if there was any way they could help Miss Cathy. She had apparently done some work in their behalf and they had no money, had WALKED from downtown because they couldn't afford the streetcar. But, they would do anything they could to help her because she had helped them when nobody else would. Perhaps that is why she worked as an advocate for children; because she felt not many people would. Cathy did not have any children of her own so, she was excited when she became a guardian for one of her clients. She said, “I finally have a child.” When you asked about the photos of children in her home, many of them were her clients. She enjoyed working for the children. She saw the need to represent those who could not fight for themselves and were often over looked. Yes, it was heartbreaking at times and difficult. However, she felt it was important that children have a voice. What ever the reason, she enjoyed this work the most. She never spoke much about her work, and it wasn’t until she became ill that we learned about what she did and how the legal community felt about her work. All of Cathy’s siblings want to thank you for honoring her in this way, and we hope that the recipient of this award carries on her legacy by acting as a voice for children.
—Nina Plauche, Cathy’s sister
An Introduction to Linda Christmas
Linda Christmas served children in many ways and she will be always be remembered as one who firmly believed in the value of family. Growing up she was active with her church, sang in the choir and served as a youth delegate. Linda was an honor graduate of Southern University in Baton Rouge and earned Master’s Degrees in English from Southern University and Iowa State University. She completed Doctoral Studies at the University of Pennsylvania in Sociolinguistics. Linda’s lifetime was filled with a wide range of professional experiences that touched many lives. Her most recent role was that of Project Administrator for the ULM Region IX Foster/Adoptive Family Project. She also served as Associate Professor at Grambling State University; a homebound teacher in Natchitoches Parish school system; technical assistant with the Friends of the Family in Baltimore; project director of the Youth Multi-Service Center in St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands); and Information Specialist with the Pennsylvania Dept. of Education. Widely traveled, she shared her skills and talents with people in a variety of places and settings. She served her community as a grantwriter, having written many grants for groups and most recently serving the Universal Blossoming of the Aged. Linda piloted and conducted many programs for parents and was very supporting in the formation and development of the Ouachita/Caldwell Foster Parent Association.
