Edmund McCollam

Edmund McCollam died peacefully on Friday, September 5th at his family's plantation outside Houma surrounded by his wife and children following a long bout with cancer. He was 78. Edmund is survived by Anne Carmouche McCollam, his wife of 48 years, his sons Slattery McCollam and wife Jennifer and Henry McCollam and wife Suzanne, his daughters Mary Alice McCollam Conrad and husband Carl and Anne McCollam Yava and husband David, and his granchildren Pierre, Henry, Sophie, Camille, Virginia, Stephen, Jackson, Lilly, Alexander, Amelia, Chloe and Edmund. He is also survived by his brother William and wife Hope of New Orleans, as well as many beloved nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and colleagues. He is preceded in death by his parents, William and Marie Mason McCollam, and his brother John McCollam. Edmund was born in New Orleans on August 30, 1936. He grew up in Terrebonne Parish outside Houma, where his family has farmed sugarcane for many generations. Edmund graduated from Louisiana State University following which he attended LSU law school, graduating in 1964. After finishing law school Edmund practiced briefly in New Orleans with the Milling law firm, before returning to Terrebonne Parish to start his own practice with his longtime colleague Phillip McMahon, as well as manage the family's sugarcane plantation. Edmund's law practice focused mainly on oil and gas and real estate law and among his notable clients was the Southdown Corporation. In addition, Edmund served for many years on the Committee on Professional Responsibility of the Louisiana State Bar Association and was known among his colleagues for his work upholding standards for the legal profession. In addition to his law practice, Edmund, along with his brothers John and William and cousin Andrew McCollam, spearheaded the development of the Ellendale subdivision and the Ellendale Country Club. He also worked on several other real estate projects in Terrebonne Parish with his longtime friend Clifford Smith. Away from work Edmund enjoyed spending time with his family at their camp on Grand Isle and was an avid fisherman, though he never cared for the taste of fish and would not eat them. He was a longtime football fan of the LSU Tigers and New Orleans Saints, but often got too worked up to finish watching the games. To his large family and many friends Edmund was known for being a gracious host, always ready to sit up late on his porch telling stories and sharing a few glasses of his good wine. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, September 10th, 2014, with visitation from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, and services to follow at Grace Lutheran Church, 422 Valhi Bouelevard in Houma, La. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Diabetes Research Program.