LOCAL

Captain Marionneaux Family Reunion held

Staff Writer
Plaquemine Post South
Descendants of Captain Jean Philogene and Sallie Sharon Marionneaux gathered for a reunion recently. Pictured are grandchildren from left, first row, Veronica Hymel Callegan, Julia Engels Watts, Mary Alma Ourso Gossett and Helen Marionneaux Allemond. Second row, James “Fry” Hymel, Sallie Hymel Young, Esther Ourso Schafer, Marionneaux Engels, Patricia Samaha Schmit, Carolyn Samaha Dugas, Olga Ourso Hymel, Lois Marionneaux Cowart, Jeanne Mae Engels Hall and Gene Marionneaux. Third row, Donald Samaha, Jordan Bradford, DeEtte Marionneaux and Jill Marionneaux Kirkland. Not pictured are Ellis Samaha Jr., Cyntha Marionneaux Zambrano, Millard “Cricket” Bradford and Carrel (DoDo) Hymel Jr.

The descendants of Captain Jean Philogene (Philo) and Sallie Sharon Marionneaux Sr. gathered at the Plaquemine Waterfront Park Pavillion to celebrate a grand family reunion recently.

Captain Marionneaux was captain of the Carrie B. Schwing, the first boat to pass through the Plaquemine Lock when in opened on April 9, 1909.

Marionneaux came from a long line of ancestors dating back to 1722 where his great-great-great-great grandfather Pierre Marionneaux was a soldier in the French Army stationed at Fort St. Jean the Baptist in Natchitoches.

Marionneaux’s descendants came from as far away as Nantucket, San Jose, Denver, Austin, Galveston, Atlanta and Monroe.

The oldest living generation of his descendants is his grandchildren of which there were 39.