Former at-large councilwoman and community champion dies unexpectedly, leaving legacy of service and love
PORT ALLEN — The City of Port Allen is mourning the unexpected loss of Clerice Lacy, the first woman to serve as at-large councilwoman and a tireless advocate who dedicated her life to lifting up others in her community.
Lacy, who served on the Port Allen City Council from 2020 to 2024, died unexpectedly over the weekend. Her cause of death has not been made public, but the impact of her absence is already being felt deeply by those who knew her best.
Community members are sharing memories of how Lacy touched their lives. Stacey Woods remembered her as someone who “advocated for those who were misunderstood and looked over, gave voice to those that were not heard, fought for right when people did her wrong, and was an agent of change. She tried her BEST to give honor and show genuine love for all.”
A Historic First
When Lacy won her council seat in December 2020, she made history as the first woman ever to hold the at-large position on the Port Allen City Council. Running on a “Community First” platform, she promised to be “a voice for the millennials” while focusing on “youth, minorities, senior citizens and low-income families.”
“I feel awesome,” Lacy said after her election victory, as reported by The West Side Journal. “I thank people like Ray Helen Lawrence for paving the way.”
In her campaign announcement, she had written: “I want to bring diversity to that council seat. And when I say diversity I don’t mean just about race I mean being a voice for the millennials.”
Lawrence had served as a District 1 councilwoman for two decades, and Lacy saw her own election as continuing that legacy of women’s leadership in Port Allen government.
Community First, Always
Throughout her four-year term, Lacy lived up to her campaign promise of putting community first. She was best known for organizing events that directly helped Port Allen families, particularly children and those most in need.
Her signature back-to-school drives provided free haircuts, school supplies, and a fresh start for hundreds of local children each August. During the holidays, she partnered with the West Baton Rouge Parish Library to organize gift boxes for people incarcerated at the detention center, ensuring that even the forgotten received care during the season of giving.
A Voice for Collaboration
Lacy’s approach to public service was marked by her willingness to engage constructively, even with those who might disagree with her. In an exchange with WBR Independent three months ago, she demonstrated the collaborative spirit that defined her leadership style.
“I will always give credit where credit is due,” she wrote. “I’ve invested much time in this community and been through several administrations… I’m looking for better ways to connect and communicate with members of the council without all the hostility.”
The exchange reflected her commitment to dialogue over division, with both parties acknowledging their shared goal: “We may not always see things the same way, but I think we both want what’s best for the city and the people in it.”
This approach exemplified how she bridged different perspectives while maintaining her principles.
From Activism to Public Service
Before her council service, Lacy was deeply involved in community advocacy. As director of the Justice for Fatrell Organization, she worked to address violence and build community unity.
“We have been working for many months trying to get people to understand we must come together, that united we must stand or together we will fall,” she said at a 2019 community event, reflecting the collaborative spirit that would define her approach to public service.
Even in her final social media post, Lacy was thinking of the kids: “One month before the Annual Back To School Giveaway. I’m super excited. 20 Free haircuts and 20 Free braids/dreads. Registration link coming soon.”
Her family confirms that this year’s back-to-school event—planned for mid-August—will still go on as a tribute to the passion and care she poured into every child she served.
A Heart for Service
Lacy brought unique qualifications to her council role, holding a Master’s Degree in Counseling and what she called “broad knowledge of multiculturalism.” This background helped her understand and represent the diverse needs of Port Allen’s residents.
As a lifelong Port Allen resident, she understood the community’s challenges firsthand. Before running for council, she had attended 90% of city council meetings as an advocate, speaking up for community concerns and holding local government accountable.
Lacy’s approach to controversial issues demonstrated her thoughtful leadership style. When addressing the sensitive matter of relocating a Confederate statue in 2020, she told the City Council: “We had a lot of concerns about the statue being torn down and we just want everyone to know that is definitely not right. Tearing it down would be very vengeful. Taking it down properly is justice. And moving it to the museum is equality.”
Her words reflected her ability to find balanced solutions that respected different perspectives while moving the community forward.
Faith Through Adversity
Just days before her death, Lacy had shared a powerful testimony about her recent recovery from spinal surgery. In a social media post titled “TESTIMONY TIME!!!” she wrote about being diagnosed with “Paraplegic, incomplete” and how her faith sustained her through the healing process.
“What started as an incident report turned into something much greater,” she wrote, describing how she had regained movement in her legs after surgery. “I’m not ashamed to share my scar it’s transparency and it’s a representation of God’s restoration and healing.”
Her post, tagged #BacktoHealing, encouraged others facing health challenges: “I’m encouraging anyone who’s feeling some incompletion in their health or other areas of life. Go #BacktoHealing. It’s a process that leads to Completion in the spirit.”
Even while recovering from major surgery, Lacy remained focused on helping others and sharing hope through her own struggles.
Looking Toward the Future
Even after recovering from major surgery, Lacy remained active in community work. Just last week, she was working with WBR Independent and local residents on several community safety initiatives, including plans to revive neighborhood watch programs, explore Narcan distribution boxes similar to those recently installed in Pointe Coupee Parish, and organize a community fentanyl summit. Her final conversation about these projects lasted more than an hour, reflecting her deep commitment to the initiatives and her belief that community problems required community solutions and collaboration.
Those who knew her say she had been considering a run for state representative, seeing it as an opportunity to advocate for West Baton Rouge Parish at a higher level.
In her 2020 campaign letter, she outlined her vision: “I have searched and will search for ways to bring progress to our community.” She emphasized her commitment to being “solution-focused” and maintaining a “Community First” attitude that would focus on “increasing community relations, making plans for community development, setting attainable goals for community growth.”
Remembering Her Legacy
As the community reels from this unexpected loss, many say they will remember Lacy not just for what she accomplished, but for how she made them feel—seen, heard, and loved.
Her approach to leadership was summed up in her own words from when she first ran for council: “I have searched and will search for ways to bring progress to our community.”
Whether organizing Christmas parades when the city couldn’t, donating to local prisons during the holidays, or ensuring children had school supplies and fresh haircuts for the new year, Clerice Lacy spent her life proving that one person’s commitment to community can make a lasting difference.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. Community members are encouraged to share memories and photos as plans are made to honor Clerice Lacy’s extraordinary life and legacy of service.
Information about continuing her community initiatives, including this year’s back-to-school event, will be shared as details become available.
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