Burton Guidry

Burton Guidry was a lawyer, farmer, musician, and bon vivant, who loved life and shared that love of life with so many.

A native of South Louisiana, Burton was of the people and for the people. He was born in 1954 in Vermilion Parish, in Abbeville, Louisiana. Burton had a special love for “Cajun country” and the people of Acadiana.

After graduating Kaplan High School, Burton received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from LSU and subsequently earned his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola School of Law.

Burton had a long and vibrant legal career, which he used to help the citizens of Louisiana. He saw the law as a calling and believed that trial work was particularly fulfilling.

The majority of Burton’s legal career was in public service, including serving as a public defender, assistant district attorney, assistant parish attorney, assistant city prosecutor, assistant attorney general, and director of the Criminal Division of the Attorney General’s Office. He was most gratified by his work in Washington, D.C. on behalf of Louisiana, toward recovery efforts after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Burton was a Cajun to his core. He was known as “Crawdaddy” to all – even to those who didn’t know him directly.

Burton loved music. His guitar and fiddle were his favorite instruments out of his 13-instrument repertoire. Burton found joy in his music, and his music gave joy to those who heard it. He enjoyed mentoring up-and-coming musicians, as much as he enjoyed mentoring the next generation of lawyers.

Burton was always happy to be of service—to people and to God. He had a deep and unshakable faith in the goodness of God’s plan, which was strengthened by his three-decade commitment to the Jesuit men’s retreat, Manresa, in Convent, Louisiana.

Burton was preceded in death by his parents, J.D. and Marie Authorine Guidry and his sisters, Debbie Menard and Nadine Kemmerly. Burton is survived by his wife, Lisa Freeman, his daughters, Jessica (Kevin) Balfour and Mary Katherine Koch, his grandchildren, Savannah and Connor Balfour, and his niece, Amber Kemmerly-Louviere.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Repose en paix, Burton.