Camille Kennard at 93

April 5, 2011 0 Comments

Dec. 15, 2010

CENTRAL — One of Central’s best-known and best-loved citizens, Mrs. Camille Kennard, 93, died at her home Sunday afternoon surrounded by loved ones.

Her great-granddaughter and namesake, nine-year-old Camille Doucet, had just finished singing “Jesus Loves Me” for Miss Camille, who listened closely and then quietly passed away.

At funeral services at Zoar Baptist Church Wednesday morning, Rev. Kevin Hand recalled Camille’s marriage of 54 years to her husband Sterling Kennard, who served as Justice of the Peace for many years in Central. She never wanted anyone else but him, Dr. Hand said. “When you’ve had the best, you don’t want the rest,” he quoted Miss Camille as saying.

Her only child, Donald Ray Kennard, represented Central in the Louisiana House of Representatives for 32 years.

The public service of her husband Sterling and her son Donald Ray gave Miss Camille another reason to cook, entertain, and generally take care of others, which was one of her special gifts.

Everyone in Central seems to have a story about Miss Camille. How any one person could have so many close friends and confidants is amazing, but there is no question she touched thousands of lives here.

At Donald Ray Kennard’s annual Legislative Luncheon, which brought hundreds of statewide and parish elected officials to Central once a year, Miss Camille was always sought out by governors, legislators, and others who wanted to meet the famous lady that everyone idolized.

Always embarrassed by the attention, she treated each the same.

As her friend of 61 years, Mrs. JoAnn Forbes, said, Miss Camille was an authentic person who could be counted on to tell you the truth that you needed to hear. JoAnn and Camille met when Sterling was the head of the Pulpit Committee at Galilee Baptist Church, interviewing JoAnn’s father as the new preacher. Mrs. Forbes told stories about the Sandwich Committee which Miss Camille chaired. The committee, composed of Central ladies, provided homemade sandwiches for every young lady in the community who was getting engaged, married, or having a shower.

Miss Camille drove a school bus for 20 years in Central and was known to provide a warm coat to a child you needed it or lunch money to a child who forgot his.

The funeral at Zoar had a spirit of celebration, not sadness. Everyone was happy to have known and been loved by this great lady.

Her granddaughter, Robin Kennard, spoke at the funeral and told many stories about Miss Camille. “She always talked about Santi-Claus — not Santa Claus like other people do. This morning I got in the car and turned on the radio. There was Gene Autry singing, ‘Here comes Santi-Claus’ the same way she did. Then I listened to ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ and it told me what kind of Christmas she will have this year and the kind we will have as well. The words are:

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,

Let your heart be light

From now on, our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,

Make the Yule-tide gay,

From now on, our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,

Happy golden days of yore.

Faithful friends who are dear to us

Gather near to us once more.

Through the years

We all will be together,