Herod Elementary, Abbeville; Vermilion Parish History, Louisiana
Submitted by Kathy LaCombe-Tell
Source; in part: www.vrml.k12.la.us/herod/ 
Submitted September 2004

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James A. Herod, born in Flint, Michigan, but reared by an uncle in 
Memphis, Tennessee, came to Abbeville, Louisiana before the turn of the 
century.  On June 21, 1899 he married Miss Josephine Robinson, daughter of 
James Robinson and Rose Joiner in Abbeville.  Rev. Herod became the second 
pastor of St. Mary Congregational Church located on South Louisiana Street 
in Abbeville.  As the church membership grew Rev. Herod helped organize a 
Sunday School, a Women’s Missionary Society and Daily Vacation Bible 
School.  Rev. and Mrs. Herod were both active in Vermilion Parish public 
schools, she as a teacher and he as teacher and principal.  At one time he 
was a member of the Board of Directors of the Abbeville Chamber of 
Commerce.  Always interested in civic, religious and educational affairs 
of Vermilion Parish he was recognized as a good citizen and a true 
gentlemen. 

When the new $1,000,000 school building was erected on Lampman Street, 
replacing the one where Rev. Herod had last been principal, it was named 
Herod High School in his honor.  The Herods lived at 601 St. Victor Street 
until Rev. Herod’s death in 1948.  He was interred in the Congregational 
Church cemetery on Prairie Avenue in Abbeville.  Mrs. Herod went to live 
with her children in California where she died on Easter Sunday morning 
April 1, 1956. 

East Abbeville Elementary was built in 1958.  In 1991 East Abbeville was 
renamed James A. Herod Elementary.


2004 notes: Pre-Kindergarten through Fifth Grade School; 575 students with 
a faculty of 44 and an auxiliary staff of 20. Located in Abbeville, 
Louisiana, which is the central part of Vermilion Parish. Colors are red 
and gray; mascot is the Little Wildcats. Herod is a feeder school to J. H. 
Williams Middle School and Abbeville High School. 
Principal, Diane DeJean; teachers: Pre-K: Ruby Trahan, Deborah Ribarin, 
Adrienne Melancon, Heather Gary; Kindergarten: Cissy Hulin, Stacy Bergeron 
Stephanie Robichaux. Kay Theall, Katie Trahan; 1st grade: Christi Hebert, 
Jessie Rogers, Rachelle Punch, Marlene Primeaux, Kyla Sonnier; 2nd grade: 
Lisa Faulk, Angela Gayneaux, Nicole LeBlanc Dubois, Jennifer Dugal; 3rd 
grade: Betty Joubert, Suzanne Detraz, Brandy Broussard, Monica Carraway; 
4th grade: Melanie Alleman, Stacy Bergeron, Jennifer McRee, Leah Stelly, 
Sheila Trahan; 5th grade: Krystle Vilardo, Jodie Silar, Meghan Meaux; 
Guidance Counselor: Winnie LeBlanc; Librarian: Stephanie G. DuBois; Speech 
Pathologists: Cynthia Fusilier, Michelle Hebert