Kenneth Martinez

Kenneth R. Martinez

OPELOUSAS - A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Kenneth R. Martinez, at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2013, in the Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Opelousas, LA. Rite of Committal will follow in the Bellevue Memorial Park Cemetery. Monsignor Paul Metrejean will be the celebrant of the Mass.

Mr. Martinez, age 54, died at Opelousas General Health System on Thursday, June 6, 2013.

Since 1990, Kenneth Martinez served as a staff attorney with the state of Louisiana and the Support Enforcement Services. During this time period, he served as Special Assistant District Attorney for numerous judicial districts of the state. He served as special counsel in the first criminal prosecutions involving DNA evidence. During his tenure with the state of Louisiana, he has obtained hundreds of judgments of paternity and child support brought by the state. Previously, he was a member of the 2001 legislative commission on the child support guideline revisions.

Mr. Martinez was board certified in Family Law and served on the Family Law Council of the Louisiana State Bar Association. Additionally, he served on the Board and was the former president of the Louisiana Child Support Enforcement Associations. He was a member of the American Bar Association and was associated with the Family Law and Litigation Sections, the Louisiana Bar Association and its associated Family Law Section and the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association. He served several years on the tele-talk subcommittee of the National Child Support Enforcement Association (NCSEA).

Mr. Martinez lectured on a regular basis both for the Louisiana District Attorney's Association and the Louisiana Child Support Enforcement Association, as well as for NCSEA and Southwest Regional Child Support Enforcement Association, in matters involving DNA evidence, legal procedures in establishing paternity and child support, legislation and jurisprudence.

Kenneth will be greatly missed by his family and friends and those who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his mother, Freida Bordelon Mayeux of Opelousas, LA; his father, Dr. J.P. Martinez, III of Cypremort Point, LA; his daughter, Megan Elizabeth Martinez of Lafayette, LA; his sisters, Marie Dupre and husband, Reggie, of Opelousas, LA; Judith Jenkins and husband, Dr. Ronnie Jenkins, of Lafayette, LA; Beverly Voloto and husband, David, of St. Louis, MO; Paula Mills and husband, Mike, of Opelousas, LA and his brother, Joseph P. Martinez, IV of Baton Rouge, LA.

He is preceded in death by his step-father, Rodney F. Mayeux; his infant brother, John Paul Martinez, his grandparents, Fred and Eloise Bordelon; his grandfather, Dr. J.P. Martinez, II and his grandmother, Marjorie Lowe.

Visiting hours will begin on Friday, June 7, 2013, from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and will resume on Saturday morning from 8:00 a.m. until service time. A rosary will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Friday.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Arthritis Foundation, P.O. Box 96280, Washington, DC 20077 in memory of Kenneth R. Martinez.

The family would like to send a special thanks to his caregivers John, Zachary, Eugene, Curette, Ester Jones, Mary Duriso as well as Prompt Succor Nursing Facility and the doctors and staff of Opelousas General Health Systems Intensive Care Unit.

Family and friends are invited to sign and view the online guestbook at www.lafondardoin.com.

Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas, (2845 South Union Street, Opelousas, LA 70570, (942-2638) has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.