Obituary Record
Piernas, Louis Joseph - July 25, 1954
Louis Joseph Piernas, Bay St. Louis' oldest citizen, died Sunday morning at 6:00 at his home on Easterbrook St.
Born in Bay St. Louis March 19, 1856, the aged Negro was 98 years old at the time of his death.
During his life he served as postmaster in Bay St. Louis during the administrations of Presidents Benjamin Harris, William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.
He was appointed a school trustee during the term of Mayor August Kellar in 1887. In 1882 he served as Secretary and Auditor of the City of Bay St. Louis.
He was elected to the Board of Supervisors of Hancock County representing Beat Five in 1884, and was reelected into the same office in 1886. In addition to political affiliations, Piernas organized the Promote Benevolent Association in 1887, and did much work to better the cultural and educational life of the negro residents.
Funeral services were held from the residence Monday morning with the Rev. Carlos Lewis, SVD, of St. Rose de Lima Church officiating.
The body was interred in the family plot in Cedar Rest Cemetery, with funeral arrangements under the direction of Fahey Funeral Home.
He was married to the late Marie Louise Barabino. He had no children. Survivors include members of the four original Bayou families, the Labat, Prudeaux, Barabino and Piernas families.
(unknown newspaper)
98-YEAR-OLD NEGRO, OLDEST RESIDENT, DIES SUNDAY
-Had been Postmaster under three Presidents -
Louis Joseph Piernas, Bay St. Louis' oldest citizen, died Sunday morning at 6:00, July 25th at his home on Easterbrook St.
Born in Bay St. Louis March 19, 1856, the aged Negro was 98 years old at the time of his death.
During his life he served as postmaster in Bay St. Louis during the administrations of Presidents Benjamin Harris, William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.
He was appointed a school trustee during the term of Mayor August Kellar in 1887. In 1882 he served as Secretary and Auditor of the City of Bay St. Louis.
He was elected to the Board of Supervisors of Hancock County representing Beat Five in 1884, and was reelected into the same office in 1886.
In addition to political affiliations, Piernas organized the Promete Benevolent Association in 1887, and did much work to better the cultural and educational life of the negro residents.
Funeral services were held from the residence Monday morning with the Rev. Carlos Lewis, SVD, of St Rose de Lima Church officiating.
The body was interred in the family plot in Cedar Rest Cemetery, with funeral arrangements under the direction of Fahey Funeral Home.
He was married to the late Marie Louise Barabino. They had no children.
Survivers include members of the four original Bayou families, the Labat, Prudeaux, Barabino and Piernas families.
(unknown newspaper)
Louis J. Piernas, 98-year-old resident of Bay St. Louis who served as chairman of the executive committee of the Republican Party in Hancock county for 65 years and was postmaster during the administrations of three presidents, died July 25 at the home of a niece where he resided.
Mr. Piernas died after a long illness which followed a heart attack. Piernas, a son of one of the first settlers of Bay St. Louis was of French-Negroid descent. His mother was purchaser of the first piece of land sold in what is now the city of Bay St. Louis.
He served as postmaster of the Bay St. Louis Post Office during the administrations of President Benjamin Harrison, when the post office was made third class; in 1898 under William McKinley and in 1902 under Theodore Roosevelt, holding that office until the Taft administration.
He served on the Board of School Trustees and on the Board of Supervisors for Hancock county. He was at one time a delegate to the Repuplican National Convention in Chicago.
Funeral services were conducted from the home Monday at 9 am followed by a solemn Requiem Mass at the Rosa deLima church with Rev. Carlos Lewis officiating. Interment was in Cedar Rest cemetery.
Survivors include five nieces, three nephews, 59 grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.
Source: Sea Coast Echo 07/29/1954