Annie Jagneaux marks 99 years

Just one year short of a century old, Annie D. Jagneaux is as beautiful and vibrant as ever.

Jagneaux celebrated her 99th birthday last weekend, and nearly 60 people were on hand for the event this year.

Jagneaux was born in Maurice on July 12, 1915, to the late Mary Broussard and the late Ulyssee Duhon. Her father farmed rice and cotton while her mother raised their eight children. She was married to the late Wilson Benoit and, after Benoit’s passing, the late Eloi Jagneaux.

Guests at the party, held at Jagneaux’s Crowley home, enjoyed ham, rice dressing, cornbread dressing, fried chicken wings, roast beef and ham sandwiches and multiple finger foods.

For dessert, they enjoyed a giant cake with pineapple and Bavarian cream fillings decorated with yellow icing and pink and purple flowers to match Jagneaux’s jacket and her orchid corsage. Guests also enjoyed snow cones from the Jagneauxs’ Red Barn stand, a Crowley tradition for over 40 years.

Out-of-town guests traveled from Texas and various points throughout Louisiana, including Iowa, Lafayette and Abbeville.

Special guests included Jagneaux’s sister, Gladys Cathey from Mesquite, Texas, and two of her nieces from Irving, Texas.

Jagneaux is the proud mother of Barbara Jagneaux and Donna Gaudet of Crowley, Patsy Jagneaux of Egan, Larry Jagneaux of Carencro, and Carol Benoit, Floyd Benoit and Leo Benoit, all of Texas.

She is also the proud grandmother of Lonnie, Randy, Mona and Ricky Aube, Pam and Patty Lavergne, Joany Robinson, Monica Beatty, Kevin Benoit and Mike Eudy.