Writing her own epilogue

By News Staff on Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Lemoine retires from library after 26-year career
  • Suzy Lemoine (left) and her husband, Phil, walk down the ceremonial red carpet during a celebration of her 26-year career at the Evangeline Parish Library. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)
    Suzy Lemoine (left) and her husband, Phil, walk down the ceremonial red carpet during a celebration of her 26-year career at the Evangeline Parish Library. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)
  • With the assistance of her cousin-in-law Joan Lemoine (left), Suzy Lemoine (right) shows off a book that blends artificial intelligence with the written word during her retirement ceremony held Wednesday, February 4. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)
    With the assistance of her cousin-in-law Joan Lemoine (left), Suzy Lemoine (right) shows off a book that blends artificial intelligence with the written word during her retirement ceremony held Wednesday, February 4. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

    BY: TONY MARKS
    Editor
    VILLE PLATTE - If walls could talk, think of the stories they would tell.
    If the walls of the main branch of the Evangeline Parish Library could talk, they would tell stories of the 26-year career of one of its biggest supporters. Suzy Lemoine began her chapter in life at the library as a member of the Friends of the Library before serving as outreach coordinator and finally co-executive director.
    On Wednesday, February 4, Lemoine, though, wrote her own epilogue to her story as her retirement from the library was celebrated.
    While being surrounded by friends, co-workers, and family, Lemoine thanked everyone for their support over the years.
    “The library is growing,” Lemoine expressed, “and it’s such a gift to have a place of freedom to read what you want to read, to see what you want to see and take responsibility for it, and to have a business. We have like a little business suite.”
    Lemoine said the library serves all residents of this rural area, including Ville Platte, Chataignier, Basile, Pine Prairie, and Turkey Creek. “We serve the community in so many needed ways,” she said. “Don’t ever let the libraries go away because I still call it my happy place.”
    She ended her epilogue by saying, “It’s so nice to be appreciated and recognized.”