Debbie Edwards

This year's Grand Marshal, Debbie Edwards, was born and raised in Ponchatoula.  She was born in 1950 to Adam and Avis Decota, who were involved in the strawberry industry throughout their childhood and early married years. Debbie has been married to Travis Edwards for 38 years.  They have three children: Amy, Travis and Dustin; the joy of her life is her five-year-old grandson, Decota.

After graduating from PHS in 1968, Debbie dedicated her life to serving the community in which she was raised.  She is past president and member of the Ponchatoula Jaycee Jaynes, and she served as a state officer and project chairman for the Louisiana Jaycee Jaynes.  In the mid 1970’s she served as a member of the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival Board.  Debbie also served as the PTO president for four years at Christian Acacdemy.

Debbie was recently elected to serve a four year term on the Tangipahoa Parish Council, where she has been president and vice president.  She also serves on the Tangipahoa Parish Drainage Board.  In her service to the parish council she has been on the board as the consolidated growing drainage district, quality assurance ambulance board, nine parish committees and three state committees.  She is an ex-officio member of the Tangipahoa Mosquito Abatement District, and she was instrumental in its creation.

Besides her countless hours of dedication to the Ponchatoula area as a community service activist, the strawberry industry has been an important part of her life.  For the past 35 years she has helped her mother-in-law and late father-in-law, Lemelda and Sal Lavigne, with packing and selling berries.  Last year she volunteered her time to cooked meals for every Strawberry Festival Board meeting, which all board members can say they greatly appreciated.

For her continued support and dedication to Ponchatoula, the Strawberry Festival and the strawberry industry, the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival Board has named Debbie Decota Edwards as the 2008 Grand Marshal.