By Kimberly Hopson
L’Observateur

KENNER – The family and friends of Terrilynn Monette, a missing New Orleans-area teacher, will hold a fundraiser golf tournament at the Belle Terre Country Club on Sunday, April 7.
Twenty-six-year-old Monette is a second grade teacher at Woodland West Elementary in Harvey. Even in her short time as an educator, she had became very popular with the student body and had already contributed to a jump in student achievement.
On the night of March 1, Monette went out for drinks with a few friends at Parlay’s bar in Lakeview and never came home. According to family friend and event organizer, Terry Brown, she was last seen leaving the bar around 4 a.m. on March 2, after allegedly telling her friends that she planned to sleep in her car before driving home because she had been drinking. Her phone died at least four hours before she went missing.
The tournament will benefit the Bring Terrilynn Home Fund. All proceeds from the event will go toward increasing the amount of the reward for information that leads to the arrest or conviction of any parties involved with her disappearance. The reward pot is currently at approximately $5,500.
“If this was my child, I honestly pray that everyone in the world would take part in helping. So with that (said), I have to help this family,” said Brown.
Monnette’s family met Brown during a search conducted the Thursday after her disappearance, and he said that he’s been a helping hand ever since.
Brown said that so far the cause hasn’t gained much support. Brown said that he holds prayer meetings every Thursday, but each meeting only gathers about 15 attendees — no public officials or religious leaders have reached out to him. Brown said that he decided to host the event at Belle Terre Country Club because they were more interested in the cause and were more willing to help than other country clubs he had attempted to work with.
“As of now, I don’t have many participants. But I’m very spiritual, and I know the power of God. I’m praying that a lot of people will just show up at the last minute and decide to help with this cause,” said Brown.
Brown hopes to add an additional $5,000 to the reward, believing that a larger prize will bring out the truth.
The tournament will begin at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start. The course consists of an 18-hole, four-man scramble. Entry fees are $130 per player or $500 per team. The first 100 paid entries will be entered into a drawing for New Orleans Saints paraphernalia and other prizes.
The family of Monette is also seeking assistance in the form of hole sponsorships. Ads will be placed on designated tees throughout the 18-hole course for those who choose to sponsor. Hole sponsorship prices are placed at $300 for gold level, which is a single hole, and $750 for platinum level, which includes four players. Contact Brown at 504-289-5955 for more information.