Eunice High remembers slain student

There was one fewer Eunice High Bobcat fan cheering in the stands for the homecoming game Friday night, and the absence of Julia Watford will never be forgotten by her classmates, including best friend Meghan Guillory.
“We love her and we will miss her,” Guillory said. “I’m about to cry just talking about it. She was always there for me.”
Watford and her younger sister Jayia were killed by their mother early last Sunday morning in a murder-suicide in their home on 4th Street in Eunice. Hundreds of members of the community, including members of agencies that responded to the scene of the incident, the girls’ father, grandparents and other family members and friends, classmates and teachers, gathered at a class-organized balloon release Wednesday evening at the Northwest Community Center. Several of the girl’s family wore T-shirts with the girl’s names on them.
Guillory, a junior at Eunice High School had known Watford since kindergarten, and she found out about the tragedy late Sunday morning from a woman whose children she babysits.
“I hung out with her at her aunt’s house two weeks ago,” Guillory said. “I don’t think I ever saw her mad. She was sweet to everyone.”
Guillory, 17, said the junior class planned to sign the t-shirt Watford had purchased for the school’s Powderpuff football game, and place it in a display case at the school. Students and teachers also planned to decorate classroom doors in remembrance of their late classmate.
Kelsie Richardson, a junior and also a friend of Watford’s, had know the young lady since the fourth grade, and the students had a few classes together this school year.
“I will miss her personality,” Richardson, 16, said. “She was very kind, sweet and generous. I saw her Saturday at the fair (the St. Thomas More Fall Festival), and her sister, Jayia, was there, too.”
Fellow junior Joshua Johnson had known Watford since the fifth grade, and they had American history together this school year.
“We were supposed to graduate from high school together, but things happen,” Johnson said.
The Class of 2017 lined up to lead the crowd in the “Our Father” prayer, and the crowd observed a moment of silence for the young girl whose life was cut so short.
“I want to thank the students for organizing this,” said Acadia Parish Fire Protect District 4 Chief Harral Johnson, whose firefighters responded to the incident. “Our hearts go out to you. We will be with you through this till the end. We will always be here for you in your time of need.”
Johnson presented the girl’s family with a memorial fire hydrant statue with the girl’s names engraved on it.
To contact Claudette Olivier, email claudette.olivier@eunicetoday.com