Edwin "Ed" Joseph Buford, Jr.

New Iberia - A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, June 8, 2018, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in New Iberia, for Edwin "Ed" Joseph Buford, Jr., 81, who passed away on Monday, June 4, 2018, in New Iberia. A gathering of family and friends will be at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Thursday, June 7, 2018, with Recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in New Iberia on Friday, June 8, 2018, from 8:00 am until 9:45 am. Rev. Keith Landry will be the Celebrant. Msgr. Richard Greene will be the Con-Celebrant. Entombment will follow in St. Michael Mausoleum in St. Martinville. 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. Mr. Buford is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Janet Duplantis Buford; son, Thaddeus M. Buford and wife Malise of Jeanerette; daughter, Tressie Buford Caubarreaux and husband Brian of Marksville; daughter-in-law, Pam Buford of Lafayette; brothers, Perry Buford and wife Sharon of Corpus Christi, and Gerald Jay Buford of Port Barre; grandchildren, Lauren Elizabeth LaBauve and husband Joseph of Houston, Andrew David Allain and wife Tara of Broussard, Ethan Edwin Caubarreaux and Jacob Roy Caubarreaux of Baton Rouge, and Janet Caroline Caubarreaux of Marksville; great-grandchildren, Jett Edwin LaBauve and Jack Thaddeus LaBauve of Houston, and Avie Marie Allain of Broussard; brothers-in-law, Warren Duplantis and wife Janice, Nolan Duplantis and wife Delores, and Larry Duplantis and wife Nancy, all of St. Martinville, Jerry Lee Duplantis and wife Debbie of Baton Rouge, and Carroll Duplantis of St. Martinville; sisters-in-law, Helen Kay Leger and husband Herman "Butch" of Broussard, and Vicki Holleman and husband Thomas "Tommy" of New Iberia. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Edwin J. Buford, III; brothers, Clyde and Frederick Buford; sisters-in-law, Marilyn, Dorothy and Ronnie Buford, Tammy Duplantis, and Aileen Broussard; and a brother-in-law, Harold A. Duplantis. Pallbearers will be 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 are Joseph LaBauve, C. Thomas Bienvenu, Albert "Spike" Hough, Thomas Tutt, Ron Segura; Jerry Streva, Oswald Decuir, and Norman Braud. Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, LA 70560, (337-365-3331) is in charge of arrangements.