COACH KENNETH ‘TE TA’ JAMES LOCKETT SR.

Coach Kenneth “TeTa” James Lockett, Sr., 56, a native of Four Corners and resident of New Iberia, passed away Thursday, November 26, 2015 at 2 p.m., at his residence.
Visitation will be observed on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 from 7 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. at Jones Funeral Home in Franklin. Tributes will be given from 8:45 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. at St. Edwards Catholic Church, 175 Porter Street in New Iberia with Msgr. Ronald Broussard serving as the Celebrant. Burial will follow Mass Services in the Sorrel Community Cemetery in Sorrel.
The ninth of eleven children, born to the Conrell Joseph Sr. and Mercedes Batiste Lockett, reared in Four Corners on Lockett Lane, Kenneth was baptized at an early age at St. Peter Apostle Catholic Church in Four Corners. While there, he served as an altar boy and faithfully attended catechism.
His early education began at Thomas Gibbs Elementary School and he later became a graduate of Franklin High School, Class of 1977. As a graduate of Southern University, with both a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and a Plus 30 and Master’s Degree in Supervision and Administration, USL (presently ULL) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Kenneth began his professional career as a teacher and later on a principal of Franklin High School in Franklin. Other professional affiliations included serving as the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Transportation for St. Mary Parish, a High School Track Coach and School Board Member for Iberia Parish. He attended St. Edwards Catholic Church in New Iberia serving faithfully as a Booster Club member, Eucharist Minister and a Minister of Hospitality (Usher). Kenneth was also affiliated with the Knights of Peter Claver Court 124 (3rd Degree) and Knights of Peter Claver Prosper A Bijou Assembly 16 (4th Degree). One of the greatest memories of him was his being the recent recipient of the Steve Harvey National Neighborhood Coach of the Year.
Memories of a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, teacher, principal, coach, mentor, confidant, and friend, “TeTa,” as he was known to the Tri-Parish area and beyond, will forever be remembered and cherished in the hearts of his loving wife, Kim Eames Lockett of New Iberia; his four children: De’Von Kenneth Lockett (Shalawnda) of Natchitoches; Sheena Corbin Whittle (Seth); Kenneth James Lockett Jr. and Stewart Joseph Lockett, all of New Iberia; five grandchildren, Seth, Blaze, Dayson, Stormy and Paxton; his mother-in-law: Barbara Eames of New Iberia; four brothers, Conrell Joseph Lockett Sr. (Beatrice); Calvin Paul Lockett (Charlene), both of Houston, TX; John Charles Lockett (Linda) and Nathaniel Lee Lockett Sr., both of Four Corners; three sisters, Sylvia Kay Lockett of Four Corners; Gwendolyn Lockett Andrus and Arline Lockett Smith (Larry), both of Houston, TX; a brother-in-law, Kenric Eames; a sister-in-law: Dani Eames; his godmother, Lillie Bowie; god-children, LaKesha Smith and John Gleen Andrus; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, friends and students, both past and present, whose lives he had a huge impact on.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, Conrell Joseph Sr. and Mercedes Batiste Lockett, two sisters: Brenda Lockett Hurst and Carolyn Ann Lockett; one brother: Karl Wayne Lockett; his father-in-law: Stewart Eames Sr.; a brother-in-law: Stewart Eames Jr. and a sister-in-law: Kendra Eames.
Jones Funeral Home is in chargeof arrangements.