Esther James

St. Martinville - Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 31, 2011, at Notre Dame Catholic Church, in St. Martinville, for Esther Rena Francis James, 78, who passed away on Sunday, December 25, 2011. Interment will follow at St. Martin de Tours Cemetery in St. Martinville. Mrs. James, affectionately known as 'Miss Blaza' to her family and friends, had previously worked as a cook at Adam Carlson High School and was retired from Martin Mills where she had worked as a seamstress. She and her husband, Wilfred, were the owners of 'Club Blaza' for 30 years. She was a member of the Blaza Trail Riders and the Club Owners Association. Survivors include her daughter, Brenda James Mitchell and husband, Maxie; two sons, Wilfred 'Ricky' (Dr. Jam) James, Jr. and wife, Chanda, and Kenneth Clyde James and wife, Trudy, all of St. Martinville; her brother, Mitchell Francis; her sister, Gertie Mae Landry; 13 grandchildren, Amistic James, Rick James, Jermaine James, Tina Marie James, Christopher James, Whitney Phillips, Latoya Hypolite, Applelona Chevalier, Chelsie James, Kolbe St. Julien, Nhyah St. Julien, Viniciah St. Julien, and Melisa Cabrina Mitchell; and 17 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilfred James, Sr.; her parents, Frank and Alexandria Turpeau Francis; a grandson, Jarrick T. Gordon; a granddaughter, Precious M. Bonhomme; her sisters, Viola Dauphine, Bernice Glover, Marguerite Daigre, and Mary Ella Guillory; and her brothers, Adam, Joseph, and Benjamin Francis, Sr. The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Friday and continue on Saturday at 7 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. on Friday. Pallbearers will be Rick James, Jermaine James, Whitney Phillips, Christopher James, Nolan Sam, Jr., Derrick Broussard, Ronald Francis, and Stephen Landry. Honorary pallbearer will be Alvin Dale Guillory, Wilfred James, Jr., Maxie Mitchell, Camille Landry, Ruben Guillory, Calvin James, Kenneth James, Rick James, Ernest Glover, Mitchell Francis, Robert James, Jessie James, Jeffrey James, Wilton James, and Wilson James. The family would like to extend special thanks to Heart of Hospice, Shelby Predeur, Felicia Noel Landry, and Donna Sam, for the compassionate care and attention given to her during her time of need. Pellerin Funeral Home of St. Martinville is in charge of arrangements. To view on-line obituary, sign guestbook and , go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.com