Verret remembered for her drive, work

By COLIN MURPHEY
St. Mary Parish recently lost an influential member of the community whose lasting legacy includes one of lifelong community service as well as being one of the founding members of an organization that helps support persons with disabilities in the area.
Betty Verret passed away on Oct. 13 of this year after a long career, over 40 years, with the Center of Hope. The St. Mary Center of Hope provides vocational and other services for individuals with disabilities and is the only facility of its type in the parish.
Verret, a Baldwin native, was instrumental to the creation of the Center of Hope, according to those who knew her, and while she may no longer be with her loved ones and friends, her impact on the community still endures.
Verret’s daughter, Jeanette Firmin, said her mother was also heavily involved with the Arc of Louisiana, another organization devoted to helping those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Firmin said it’s what her mother was most passionate about besides her faith.
“Everything was the Arc with her,” Firmin said. “She was an advocate for the Arc. She devoted her life to it. She was a self-taught person. She was very active in her church. She was a very faith-filled person. She received numerous awards through the church. She was a leader. In everything she did…she was a leader.”
According to Firmin, her mother was not just merely involved with the Arc and the Center of Hope but was vital to the success of both organizations. Verret served for many years as the president of the Board of Directors for the Center of Hope and was also on the state board for the Arc. She was also instrumental in the creation of a new building for the Arc.
Verret’s friend and colleague, Pat Bertrand, said they decided several decades ago St. Mary Parish needed a resource to assist those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in the area. And the idea for the Center of Hope was born.
“Everyone was on board and we needed to expand to parts of the parish,” Bertrand said. “So we started talking and decided our goal was to build something regional. So we started raising money and we ended up with enough. A lot of people were involved. A lot of people volunteered their time. A lot of effort went into building this facility. But, Betty was distinguished in that she stayed with this thing until the end. She definitely bought her ticket to heaven with this.”
Firmin said part of her mother’s strength and how she was able to accomplish so much was due in large part to a large personality.
“She was very dedicated and very strong-willed,” Firmin said. “She pushed really hard for the new building. She was a force to be reckoned with.”