Victor John Labat

Victor John Labat transitioned peacefully on April 21, 2024, in Bay St. Louis, MS at the age of 91.

Born in New Orleans, LA, Victor attended Xavier Prep High School and graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana with a degree in mathematics. Victor’s true passion was painting and drawing, and his talents were always on display as Xavier’s yearbook artistic director and designer. Upon graduation, Victor married Dorothy M. Martel of Opelousas, LA. His professional successes varied from his early years as a construction company owner where he designed and built homes around the city to moving his family of five to Washington, DC. He was assigned to desegregate court ordered schools through southern states under the Nixon Administration. He was then appointed special assistant to Leon Panetta, Director of the Office of Civil Rights under the Secretary of HEW. His next assignment took him and his family for the next five years to Dakar, Senegal, West Africa where he served as Director of the Peace Corps.

Upon his return to Washington, DC, Victor's international experience led to the establishment of Labat Anderson Inc., one of the country's most successful government contracting firms, creating offices and jobs throughout the US and internationally. The success of Labat Anderson Inc. led to Labat Africa Ltd. in Johannesburg, South Africa. Labat Africa Ltd. was the first African American co-owned company to open upon Nelson Mandela’s presidency and to trade on the SA Stock Exchange.

Victor retired to his family’s hometown of Bay St. Louis, MS and was welcomed and cared for by his many cousins and friends. Victor enjoyed painting, international travel, fine dining and French wines, motorcycle riding, laughing out loud with his family and friends and he just completed his first soon to be published book on his family lineage entitled “Is That So? From the Mississippi Gulf Coast, A Portrait of an American Family through Race, Education, Power, Politics, Religion and Class.”

Victor is preceded in death by his younger brother, Michael Labat (Connie Labat). He is survived by his three children, Carla Labat (George Dines), Lori Labat and Yancey Labat (Andrea Menotti); three granddaughters, Akira Scott, Eliza and Serenna Menotti Labat; brother, Joseph Labat (Deidre Dumas), Dorothy M. Labat, Judi Gerhardt; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and associates.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, May 18, 2024, at St. Katherine Drexel Chapel, Xavier University 3932 Pine Street, New Orleans, LA at 11:00 AM.

Riemann Family Funeral Home, Waveland, is serving the family.