Louisiana
Governor’s Mansion Docents

Pictured: Sue Potts, Governor John Bel Edwards, First Lady Donna Edwards, Alice Fay Smith, and Leona Benoit.

The Louisiana Governor’s Mansion has provided private visitor tours for many years. In 2016, First Lady Donna Edwards had an idea to enrich the experience even further. Through the Governor’s Mansion Preservation Foundation (GMPF), First Lady Edwards expanded and enhanced the Docents Program. As a teacher, the First Lady found an opportunity to ask retired teachers to participate as docents. Most of these wonderful women were already volunteering as tour guides for other State historical buildings, so this was a perfect fit! Currently, five docents volunteer to show visitors the first floor and grounds of the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion. With their teaching backgrounds, they give the most memorable experience to everyone who walks through the doors. The Governor and First Lady are grateful for their dedication to this program and host a Docent’s Luncheon every year to thank the docents. The table is set with fine china and baccarat crystal to create the most prestigious occasion honoring these women’s hard work over the years. Below you can “meet” some of the docents:

Bobbie Johnson – When Governor Kathleen Blanco became Governor in 2004, Bobbie Johnson began serving on the Governor’s Mansion Preservation Foundation Board and helped each Christmas decorate the Mansion. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita became a large part of Governor Blanco’s administration, and things were so hectic, the Governor needed extra help. She offered Bobbie a job. Realizing what an honor it would be to work for the first female Governor in LA history, Bobbie accepted. On Bobbie’s first day on the job, there was a tour waiting for her, and as she states, “I was immediately in show business. I did go home that day and second guess myself, as the group that toured was the Governor’s Communication Director’s son’s class. I did a lot of studying!” This job began a 10-year role, which included hosting all of the tours. Bobbie says of her time at the Mansion, “Through the years I was able to meet so many wonderful people from around the world, and of course in the political world, which has been my greatest blessing. I would have to say the most interesting person was the day that my two granddaughters were here and I received a phone call saying THE Kevin Costner was 15 minutes away! That was pretty special”.  Bobbie continues her role at the Mansion as the tour director. Three wonderful docents that she has mentored work with her. Bobbie states, “It has been one of the most wonderful experiences I could ever imagine having in my life. How lucky am I to have had three wonderful Governors and Spouses in my life?”

Alice Smith – After moving back to Baton Rouge to be close to her children and grandchildren, Alice Smith visited the Old State Capitol with a friend for a quilt show. She met with the CFO there who told her they needed someone like her with young children’s experience and asked her to be a Docent. Alice made friends with another docent, Sue Potts. Sue was also working as a docent at the Governor’s Mansion and asked Alice to consider becoming a Docent at the Governor’s Mansion. She shadowed Sue on a tour and was hooked. She met First Lady Donna Edwards that day. The First Lady personally encouraged her to join the GMPF Docents, and she said yes! Alice states, “I started in January 2018, with over a hundred students and parents from the Lab School. My granddaughter was there. It has been the most wonderful experience showing all the hundreds of students (and some adults!) the beautiful Governor’s Mansion.” She continues, “It is so exciting for them to not only see it, but to meet First Lady!

From the Lake Charles area, Alice began a teaching career in 1971 at Bell City High School, a small school in a rice farming community south of Lake Charles. She was there only three years when her husband started LSU Law School, and they moved to Baton Rouge.  In the next several years, her husband’s career moved them to three states and seven schools.

Alice earned a Library Science certification with an emphasis on elementary grades in the late 1980s. “This was the best teaching experience I ever had, and it was as if I was born for this purpose of inspiring children using my Storybook Apron with my Binky Bee in my pockets!” Her last job was teaching English at the Ninth Grade School in the 2007-08 school year, which concluded her teaching career,

Sue Potts – After a long career in teaching, Sue Potts joined the Baton Rouge Area Retired Teachers Association and became president. During one meeting, the Old Governor’s Mansion’s educational director made a presentation and urged those in the group to volunteer as guides at Old Mansion. Sue decided that would be the volunteer job for her.  She enjoyed her work there so much and met so many amazing people and had so much fun. Sue decided to add the Old State Capitol to her guide work. Additionally, she worked for a while as a paid guide giving city and plantation tours.

One day, Sue thought, “I wonder if the current Governor’s Mansion gives tours?” She called, and it just so happened the new First Lady, Donna Edwards, also a teacher, was recruiting retired teachers to conduct tours around the Mansion.  Sue learned the information and began leading tours. She states of her time giving tours, “I met wonderful people and was afforded interesting and exciting opportunities. Not only was the Mansion full of gubernatorial history, but the First Lady has made many new additions. The Mansion is a delightful place to volunteer”.

Sue worked as a history and geography teacher for 40 years and loved every minute of it.  She retired after 40 years and began he work as a volunteer. She has also trained her dog to be a therapy dog. They often visit with patients at Our Lady of the Lake several times a month.  

Leona Benoit – Leona retired from Villa Del Ray Elementary after 34 years of teaching in East Baton Rouge’s public schools.  In the spring of 2017, Sue Potts suggested that she might like being a tour guide at the Mansion. Leona took her up on her suggestion. She states of her time volunteering, “I enjoy telling the history of this lovely home to the many visitors who come through.”

Hurricane Laura and Her Impact
on Transportation and Infrastructure

While the response to Hurricane Laura for some Louisianans is in the rearview mirror, the destruction remains at the forefront for those in her path. The recognition that the long and steep road to recovery is palpable.    

Mangled power lines intertwined with vegetative and construction-related debris, cause unmatched destruction from natural disasters like Laura and disable local infrastructure because it is built on an interconnected network.  Flooding and wind damage can destabilize virtually every basic service, as we saw with Laura because nearly every system depends on electricity.  Distribution and transmission power lines collapse under winds nearing 150mph.  Water damage erodes and undermines roadways, creating channels that destroy the foundations of roads, embankments, and the mechanics of movable bridges. Infrastructure damage after a hurricane is widespread and can affect all sorts of commonly used spaces and systems. Infrastructure disruptions caused by any natural disaster result in considerable costs to families and communities in months and years to come, not including the expense from the immediate need for interim living arrangements and personal property cleanup.  

In the days preceding and immediately following Laura’s landfall, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) collaborated with other state and local partners to assist in evacuating citizens to non-congregate shelters.  Using 58 school busses, 70 Coach Busses, and 15 para-transit vans, DOTD transported thousands of citizens to-date from southwest Louisiana to safer destinations. We continue to provide transportation to those individuals while they temporarily shelter in other parts of Louisiana.  This service includes convenient transportation to get groceries and personal items, medical appointments, and even to pet shelters if we evacuated their extended four-legged family members.

In Louisiana, we are no stranger to disasters. Unfortunately, we are juggling multiple disasters simultaneously.  As if a category four hurricane is not enough, where is the manual on responding while maintaining pandemic protocols (COVID-19) in a natural disaster? How many people can we fit on a bus while social distancing? Do we have the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) to provide? Can we safely transport and shelter our citizens when in need?

As soon as it was safe to do so, 1,700+ DOTD crew members from across the state emerged in Southwest Louisiana. These crew members removed debris from state highways, inspected bridges that were overtopped by the storm surge, installed temporary power (generators) to as many traffic signals as possible, and inspected and reinstalled traffic signs.  That is the first sign for many that a community is coming back.  The men and women of the DOTD did not hesitate to step up and respond, knowing 57 of our employees lost everything in the disaster.  Many traveled hours away from their home, working 12+ hours a day without very much to eat or drink and returned that night to a base camp with little to no electricity or water.  Some even slept in their trucks.  We are also very thankful for the teams of workers from the Tennessee Department of Transportation. They arrived with heavy machinery to assist our crews in clearing a path for the mass recovery to begin effectively.  

As I mentioned earlier, damage to infrastructure caused by a natural disaster results in considerable expenses to the state and local governments for years to come.  We estimate the damage to public transportation infrastructure will be over $23 million. This estimate is a small figure when considering the damage to private property. Following Hurricane Laura, the estimates were 143 roads closed, and 22 state bridges were inundated from water-related damages. We know that 203 traffic signals were damaged, and approximately 10,000 traffic signs were damaged, destroyed, or removed based on inspections to-date.  

One of the etched images in our minds as a reminder of Hurricane Laura is the floating casino barge’s image under the I-10 Bridge in Lake Charles.  The Isle of Capri casino boat broke loose from its moorings and collided with the I-10 Bridge’s pilings, ultimately doing little to no damage. The boat captain remained on the vessel and assisted with the steering to not cause significant damage to the bridge.  While I-10 could have reopened much quicker, a chlorine fire erupted at a local chemical plant resulting in the immediate closure of I-10 in the local area as well as a shelter-in-place restriction.  This fire caused a delay in the inspection of the I-10 bridge as well as other responses.  

We have noticed a residual effect is the increase in congestion and the number of accidents seen on our roads near the state’s impacted areas.  We have also seen an increase in the seriousness of the accidents as well.  Please do your part not to drive distracted and pay close attention when you are in an area where there is debris removal, and the recovery has begun.  

Our infrastructure system is as resilient as our people.  Movable bridges are opening again, over 675,000 cubic yards of debris has been picked up in the first pass, and the thousands of signs and signals are restored. We will forever remember Hurricane Laura for the scare it leaves on our state the communities in her path.  Her impact will remain with us, and it is my fervent prayer that we use the lessons of this moment always to do better.