Elton Benard

Funeral services for Elton J. Bernard, Sr. of Cottonport, La will take place at the Escude Funeral Home of Mansura on Saturday, April 16, 2011, beginning at 3:00pm, with Rev. John Holloway. Visitations will be held at the Escud Funeral Home of Mansura on Friday, April 15, 2011, from 5:00pm to 11:00pm, and will resume Saturday morning at 10:00am until the time of service. Burial services will commence at the St. Paul Mausoleum.
Mr. Bernard, age 75, passed away at his estate in Cottonport on Thursday, April 14, 2011. He is survived by his sons, James E. Bernard, Jr of Mansura, Keith Bernard of Mansura, and Trampus Bernard of Cottonport daughters, Janice Bernard of Mansura, and Jessica Bernard of Cottonport long time companion, Warylene Lewis brothers, Leonard Bernard and Gaylan Bernard both of Marksville former wife, Dorothy Bernard. He is Preceded in death by his Parents, Hampton and Pearl R. Bernard brother, Roy Bernard. He is also survived by nine grandchildren eight greatgrandchildren. Pallbearers will include James Bernard, Keith Bernard, Trampus Bernard, Jake Bernard, Robbie Bernard, Jeremy Bernard.
Mr. Elton James Bernard was the founder and owner of Bernards Brand Seafood Company. Mr. Bernard started from humble beginnings as the son of a farmer during the 30s and 40s. Mr. Bernard became a successful farmer, and owned several successful businesses including service stations, grocery stores, meat packing plants, and was a retired school bus driver. Mr. Bernard was the first to begin importing crawfish to the United States and became the largest importer of seafood products in the industry. He also built a very successful seafood market in New Orleans, La. and Lafayette, La. In 2009 he built a very successful seafood market in Central Louisiana, capable of storing over 2 million pounds of product.
Mr. Bernard would leave the keys to his air conditioned school bus full of gas to use for school activities after regular hours. Also on the weekends his bus would be used by Rio Sol Nursing Home to carry their residents all over the parish.
Mr. Bernard was a member of the Louisiana National Guard.
He took the Noah Scallan house in Mansura and turned it into La Maison Blanche, making it a proud part of our heritage here in Avoyelles Parish. He also took on the Mansura Cochon de Lait celebration in 2008 with his fine leadership and hard work promoting Mansura and the rest of our Parish on statewide newspaper, radio, and television endorsements.
He also owned a fireworks distributorship, and retailed fireworks to the public at below wholesale prices.
He also developed several parcels of land in Avoyelles, Rapides, Lafayette, and Jefferson Parishes.
Mr. Bernard leaves behind a legacy that will long be remembered by both Avoyelles Parish and the entire State of Louisiana. The Bernards Brand products are distributed in 48 states and Canada.