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Riqui J. Patrick}}

Riqui J. Patrick}}

'''Julius Patrick, Jr.''' (May 16, 1938 – November 26, 2006) was the [[African-American]] [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[mayor]] of Boyce in northern Rapides Parish, [[Louisiana]]]], who died in a head-on collision in a chain-reaction accident on Interstate 10 near Gramercy in Ascension Parish in south [[Louisiana]]. Patrick was first elected in 1978 as the mayor of Boyce. He served for twenty-eight consecutive years, while he was simultaneously a full-time [[educator]] until his retirement from the Rapides Parish School Board, based in his native [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]].

'''Julius Patrick, Jr.''' (May 16, 1938 – November 26, 2006), was the [[African-American]] [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[mayor]] of [[rural]] Boyce in northern Rapides Parish in central [[Louisiana]], who died in a head-on collision in a chain-reaction accident on Interstate 10 near Gramercy in Ascension Parish in south [[Louisiana]]. Patrick was first elected in 1978 as the mayor of Boyce. He served for twenty-eight consecutive years, while he was simultaneously a full-time [[educator]] until his retirement from the Rapides Parish School Board, based in his native [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]].

Motorist Mercuria J. S. Colomb (born 1978) of St. Rose in St. Charles Parish near [[New Orleans]] allegedly started the chain-reaction accident. She first eluded state police but later turned herself in to authorities. Colomb was driving a car that turned into an eastbound sports utility vehicle. The impact caused her vehicle to cross the interstate median, sideswipe a westbound oncoming car, and then crash head-on into the car driven by Patrick. The mayor was killed instantly, according to police. Colomb was charged with negligent homicide and injury and improper lane usage. She left the crash scene headed east on Interstate 10.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://wesawthat.blogspot.com/2006/11/boyce-mayor-julius-patrick-killed-in.html|title=We saw that ... Boyce Mayor Julius Patrick killed in hit & run crash|publisher=Wesawthat ... Rpbert Morgan, ''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=November 27, 2006|accessdate=April 14, 2019}}</ref>

Motorist Mercuria J. S. Colomb (born 1978) of St. Rose in St. Charles Parish near [[New Orleans]] allegedly started the chain-reaction accident. She first eluded state police but later turned herself in to authorities. Colomb was driving a car that turned into an eastbound sports utility vehicle. The impact caused her vehicle to cross the interstate median, sideswipe a westbound oncoming car, and then crash head-on into the car driven by Patrick. The mayor was killed instantly, according to police. Colomb was charged with negligent homicide and injury and improper lane usage. She left the crash scene headed east on Interstate 10.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://wesawthat.blogspot.com/2006/11/boyce-mayor-julius-patrick-killed-in.html|title=We saw that ... Boyce Mayor Julius Patrick killed in hit & run crash|publisher=Wesawthat ... Rpbert Morgan, ''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=November 27, 2006|accessdate=April 14, 2019}}</ref>

==Funeral==

==Funeral==

Services for Patrick were held on November 30 in the gymnasium of Northwood High School in the community of Lena, north of Boyce. Northwood replaced the former A. Wettermark High School in 1996. More than a thousand mourners attended,<ref>"Hundreds pay last respects to deceased Boyce mayor",''The Alexandria Town Talk, December 1, 2006.</ref>

Services for Patrick were held on November 30, 2006, in the gymnasium of Northwood High School in the community of Lena, north of Boyce. Northwood replaced the former A. Wettermark High School in 1996. More than a thousand mourners attended,<ref>"Hundreds pay last respects to deceased Boyce mayor",''The Alexandria Town Talk, December 1, 2006.</ref>

including then Rapides Parish District Attorney [[Jam Downs]], himself a former town attorney for Boyc for fifteen years. Six ministers, led by the Reverend Joe S. Green, participated, and expressions of condolence were received from representatives of [[Governor]] [[Kathleen Blanco]]'s office, the National Conference of Black Mayors and its Louisiana chapter, and the Louisiana Municipal Association<ref name=obit/>

including then Rapides Parish District Attorney [[Jam Downs]], himself a former town attorney for Boyc for fifteen years. Six ministers, led by the Reverend Joe S. Green, participated, and expressions of condolence were received from representatives of [[Governor]] [[Kathleen Blanco]]'s office, the National Conference of Black Mayors and its Louisiana chapter, and the Louisiana Municipal Association<ref name=obit/>