Faith must be strong for Becnel's after long line of deaths

By KEVIN CHIRI

Editor and Publisher GRAMERCY - There are many families in the River Region who have the last name of Becnel.

But one Becnel family in particular must have faith stronger than any others, considering the incredible tragedy that has befallen their family in the area over the last few decades.

On Saturday at the intersection of Louisiana Highways 3125 and 20, a 1996 Nissan King Cab pickup driven by Jarrod Becnel of Gramercy, came past two stopped cars at the intersection red light, and drove right into a large traffic light pole.

The result was serious injuries to Becnel that had him prounouced dead later that evening at St. James Parish Hospital.

Becnel, 36, was a 1989 graduate of West St. John High School who was a star football player as a cornerback. He went on to join the Navy, serving four years until 1994, until he returned to St. John Parish and eventually got a job working for the last 10 years with the United States Postal Service.

But the death of Jarrod Becnel is just the latest in a string of deaths in the family that could barely be tolerated by most. And even a rare coincidence of dates when the deaths have occurred continues to mystify those who have seen the tragedies.

It was on August 20, 1972 that Albert Becnel, Jarrod's grandfather, drowned to death, only to be followed 21 years later on the exact date of August 20, 1993 that Jarrod's father, Allen “Byron” Becnel also died from drowning.

On October 18, 1996, Jarrod's brother Allen Becnel Jr. died in a car accident in which Jarrod was driving. Jarrod and current St. John School Board Member Russell Jack were both riding in the front seat, but ironically, only Allen in the back seat was killed when another car crossed the center line and hit them head on.

The family has also suffered previous deaths of a young girl dying in a fire, and an uncle, Kermit Becnel, who also drowned to death in June, 1997.

“Tragic, tragic, tragic,” a cousin, Kurt Becnel said. “It's just unbelieveable to see what has happened to this family and you don't know how they manage. They are something else to even be able to deal with this. I don't know how they can do it.”

The accident on Saturday is somewhat of a mystery as well, since witnesses to the scene said they saw Jarrod Becnel's truck come flying through the intersection, passing the stopped cars on the left, and the driver seemingly slumped over as if he had a seizure or had passed out.

“We have heard that he may have been diabetic, and the family has asked for an autopsy to see why this happened,” Gramercy Police Officer Alan Berthelot said. “We talked to several witnesses, and they all said the same thing. He appeared to be slumped over at the wheel.”

Becnel hit the traffic pole at such a fast rate of speed that it buckled the front of the truck in like a ‘V' and created serious injuries that were too much for him to overcome.

Becnel was married for almost nine years and had two children, with his wife Anitra Becnel saying he was a man who would do anything for others.

“That's how everyone knew him,” she said through tears. “You couldn't find a better person. He would give money to people who needed it, he would hold BBQ's for people. He just worked, worked, worked for his family and that's it. Anything he could do to help people, he did it.”

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Baloney Funeral Home of Garyville, but services have not yet been scheduled until the coroner completes the autopsy and the body is released. Information about services can be obtained by calling the funeral home at 535-2540.