Van Pierson Clement

Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 13, at a 1 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Mission Chapel. Van Pierson Clement of Kaplan was called home at 4:42 a.m. on June 7, 2015. He will be laid to rest at Kaplan Cemetery with Reverend Cedric Sonnier officiating the services.
Serving as pallbearers will be Gaberial Clement, Rodrick Lopez Sr., Abraham Byron Turner, Earl Tanner, Sylvester Harris and Ricky Brailey.
Honorary pallbearers will be Gene “Tati” Williams, Nigel Clement, Cavan Clement, Destron Clement, Caleb Clement, Rodrick Lopez Jr. and Milton Harris.
Readings will be done by Felicia Clement and Stephanie F. Jean-Batiste. Obituary written by Corlette Fezzia.
Van was born on Oct. 30, 1947, to Leonard and Philomene Clement. He was a graduate of James A. Herod and Abbeville Vocational Technical School. He served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War.
Due to illness, he retired after 38 years of employment with Southwest Louisiana Community College (SLCC). He enjoyed spending time with family, coaching baseball and laughing with co-workers. Van was also an active and dedicated member of St. Theresa Catholic Church.
He is survived by his two sons, Van P. Clement Jr. and wife Twana Anne Simmons of New Iberia and Leonard Morris Clement and wife Stacey of Nevada; one daughter, Tawana Clement of Florida; his companion of 30 years, Hattie Coleman of Abbeville; Hattie’s children, Karla (Cymone) Coleman, Roderick Lopez Sr. and Karlon “Chu” Coleman; one sister, Sylvia and husband Dalfred J. Perro of Kaplan; one sister-in-law, Glenda “Jean” Clement of Kaplan; two aunts, Annabell Clement of Kaplan and Christine Vino of Lafayette; 10 grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard Clement and the former Philomene Zeno; and two brothers, Harrison Clement and Woodrow “Woody” Clement.
Members of the family sincerely appreciate the expressions of sympathy shown during his illness and passing.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Saturday, June 13, from 9 a.m. until services.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan, (337) 643-7276 (service information 225-5276).
Condolences may be sent to the Clement family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.