Edwin "Ed" Joseph Buford, Jr., age 81, of New Iberia

Edwin "Ed" Joseph Buford, Jr.
New Iberia - A Mass of Christian Burial for Edwin “Ed” Joseph Buford, Jr. was held at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 8, 2018, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in New Iberia. Rev. Keith Landry was the Celebrant while Msgr. Richard Greene was the Con-Celebrant. Entombment followed in St. Michael Mausoleum in St. Martinville. Arrangements were under the direction of Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia.
Edwin "Ed" Joseph Buford, Jr., age 81, who passed away on Monday, June 4, 2018, in New Iberia. A native of St. Martinville, Edwin Joseph Buford, Jr. was born on May 18, 1937 to the late Edwin Joseph Buford, Sr. and Mildred Champagne Buford. He graduated from St. Martinville High School, where he participated in track, basketball, and football, and was the recipient of All State Honors as Quarterback.  Ed graduated with a BS in Business Administration from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now ULL), where he was a member of the Honor Society. He also attended the University of Montepelier in Montepelier, France. Ed retired from Cleco after 44 years of service. Some of his positions included Division Chief Accountant, Regional Manager, and Senior Governmental Services Representative. He was instrumental in acquiring multiple Cleco franchises throughout Louisiana. Ed was also hired as Chief Political Strategist for several statewide political campaigns. He was a longtime faithful member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church.  Mr. Buford was a member of the Iberia Parish School Board for over 30 years, and was an active member of the Kiwanis Club, Jaycees, Rotary Club, The American Heart Association, and The Council for Development of French in Louisiana Program. He also taught business classes at night at Teche Vocational School.  Ed was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend who will be deeply missed.
  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Edwin J. Buford, III; brothers, Clyde Buford and Frederick Buford; sisters-in-laws, Marilyn Buford, Dorothy Buford, Ronnie Buford, Tammy Duplantis, and Aileen Broussard; and a brother-in-law, Harold A. Duplantis.
  Mr. Buford is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Janet Duplantis Buford; son, Thaddeus M. (Malise) Buford of Jeanerette; daughter, Tressie Buford (Brian) Caubarreaux of Marksville; daughter-in-law, Pam Buford of Lafayette; brothers, Perry (Sharon) Buford of Corpus Christi, Texas and Gerald Jay Buford of Port Barre; grandchildren, Lauren Elizabeth (Joseph) LaBauve of Houston, Texas, Andrew David (Tara) Allain of Broussard, Ethan Edwin Caubarreaux of Baton Rouge, Jacob Roy Caubarreaux of Baton Rouge, and Janet Caroline Caubarreaux of Marksville; great-grandchildren, Jett Edwin LaBauve of Houston, Texas, Jack Thaddeus LaBauve of Houston, Texas and Avie Marie Allain of Broussard; brothers-in-law, Warren (Janice) Duplantis o St. Martinville, Nolan (Delores) Duplantis of St. Martinville, and Larry (Nancy) Duplantis of St. Martinville, Jerry Lee (Debbie) Duplantis of Baton Rouge, and Carroll Duplantis of St. Martinville; sisters-in-law, Helen Kay (Herman “Butch”) Leger of Broussard, and Vicki (Thomas “Tommy”) Holleman of New Iberia. 
Pallbearers were Thaddeus M. Buford, Perry Buford, Gerald Jay Buford, Andrew David Allain, Ethan Edwin Caubarreaux, Jacob Roy Caubarreaux, Warren Duplantis, Nolan Duplantis, and Brian Caubarreaux. Honorary pallbearers were Joseph LaBauve, C. Thomas Bienvenu, Albert “Spike” Hough, Thomas Tutt, Ron Segura; Jerry Streva, Oswald Decuir, and Norman Braud.