2016 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 88
BY SENATOR HEWITT
A RESOLUTION
To commend Margaret Narcisse Laurant upon the occasion of her ninetieth birthday.
WHEREAS, Margaret Narcisse Laurant was born on May 18, 1926 in Bonfouca,
Louisiana, a settlement where Slidell is today, to Jean Narcisse and Elmonia
Vignaul-Pichon; and
WHEREAS, the ancestors of Margaret's husband, Norvell Laurant, initially settled
in Bayou Castine, which is today Mandeville, Louisiana, and later established the permanent
settlement of Bonfouca; and
WHEREAS, these ancestors, were closely allied with the Acalopissa, Choctaw, and
Alabamos Indians, who lived in this area before the coming of the French settlers; and
WHEREAS, Laurant's ancestors established Bonfouca and invited other French
families to join them and many families made this settlement their home, including the
Narcisse, Carriere, Dubuisson, Galatas, Pichon and Vignaul families; and
WHEREAS, at Bonfouca, many of the families married into one another and
maintained a close relationship with the Acalopissa, Choctaw, and Alabamos families; and
WHEREAS, in the early twentieth century, no formal provisions were made for
educating children of color, however, in the 1920s a one-room schoolhouse named "Golden
Key" was founded and served as an elementary school for the children of Bonfouca; and
WHEREAS, Margaret Narcisse attended elementary school at Golden Key and
attended middle school at St. Tammany Parish Training School for Negroes, which provided
education beyond the elementary years; and
WHEREAS, the long walk from the bayou area to the training school discouraged
Margaret and she soon left school seeking full-time employment to help support her parents
and nine siblings; and
Page 1 of 3 SR NO. 88 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, in the 1940s Margaret Narcisse met and fell in love with Norvell
Laurant and they were married on January 2, 1946, in Lake Charles, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, soon after their marriage, Margaret and Norvell left Bonfouca for
Columbus, Ohio, where Norvell was stationed with the United States Army Air Force; and
WHEREAS, Norvell's Army Air Force assignment at Lockbourne Army Air Force
Base in Ohio brought the Laurants in contact with General Benjamin Davis, one of the
Tuskegee Airman from World War II and the first African American to reach the rank of
general, who was the commander of the 477th Composite Group, an African-American
flying unit; and
WHEREAS, Margaret lovingly supported her husband in his military service, but
both longed for home and when Norvell was honorably discharged, the couple returned to
Slidell where Norvell built a house for their family, a home where Margaret continues to live
today; and
WHEREAS, the Laurants raised seven children: Floyd, Daniel, Reginald, Margaret
"Mel", Johanna, Norvell Jr. and Cyril, who are both now deceased; and
WHEREAS, Margaret raised their family with strong Christian values and she and
Norvell emphasized the importance of education and of giving back to their community; and
WHEREAS, eventually Mrs. Laurant, determined to pursue her education, enrolled
in evening classes at St. Tammany High School, while continuing to work full time; and
WHEREAS, with her newly-acquired education, Margaret worked as a government
subcontractor at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) operation in
New Orleans where she had the privilege of meeting the first two African-American
astronauts, Guion Bluford, the first African American to travel into space, and Ronald
McNair, who was later killed in the Challenger disaster in January, 1986; and
WHEREAS, Margaret Laurant still lives in the house on Effie Street that her husband
built for her and their family, repaired after damage from Hurricane Katrina, and she
continues to enjoy the love and warmth of her large family; and
WHEREAS, in May 2016, Margaret's children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren,
and other family and dear friends will gather to celebrate her ninetieth birthday, which is
May 18, 2016, and to honor the life she has lived; and
Page 2 of 3 SR NO. 88 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, Margaret Narcisse Laurant's life has spanned tumultuous times of social
and technological change in America and in Louisiana and Margaret was both a witness to
and participant in them; from the bringing of education to African-American children and
the integration of American society to putting African-American astronauts into space; and
WHEREAS, throughout the tumult and ongoing advancement, Margaret Narcisse
Laurant led by example and through this she and Norvell brought their family the realization
of the American dream; improved education, greater prosperity, and an appreciation for the
strength and formidable courage and for the Christian values by which she continues to live
today.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend Margaret Narcisse Laurant upon the occasion of her ninetieth
birthday.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Margaret Narcisse Laurant.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
Page 3 of 3