Recognizing the Legacy of A Great Native Son and the Outstanding Life of the Late D'juan Miguel Hernandez, Esq.

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of D'Juan Miguel Hernandez, born in Franklin, Louisiana to parents Dr. Don J. Hernandez and Mrs. Elnora Polidore Hernandez, on October 24, 1966. He peacefully departed this world on May 29, 2024, at the tender age of 57 in New Orleans, Louisiana. A proud graduate Saint Augustine High School and Xavier University of Louisiana where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and English, two key Catholic Institutions located in my Congressional District. D'Juan ultimately pursued a career in law attending Thurgood Marshall School of Law and continuing at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, where he received his Juris Doctorate. He became a member of the State Bar of Louisiana and went on to establish the Hernandez Law Group and Business Advisors.

D'Juan Miguel Hernandez was a remarkable man, an influential leader, father, son, and my dear friend. He will forever be remembered from his career practicing law and mentoring small business owners, to the joy he spread throughout Algiers, Louisiana, the community I grew up in. In 1990, D'Juan was my very first campaign manager during my election as the first African American to the Louisiana House of Representatives from the 102nd District of Algiers. Growing up as a kid in Franklin Louisiana, his spiritual journey began at St. Jules Catholic Church, and his faith remained steadfast throughout his life, a guiding light that illuminated his path even in times of darkness. D'Juan remained a man of unwavering faith, boundless entrepreneurial spirit, and deep devotion to his family, D'Juan's testament to the values instilled in him from his Catholic upbringing.

D'Juan's educational journey was marked by his passion for music and academia. From his early years at Dwight Eisenhower Elementary where, as a kindergartner, he was introduced to the violin and the cello, his musical appetite broadened. While at Franklin Junior High School under Ronald Bernard, he developed an interest in the trombone. It became his major instrument at St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, where he became a proud Purple Knight and member of the St. Augustine Marching 100 under the late Mr. Edward Harrell Hampton, founding band director, serving over five decades. His musical escapade led to a foray into the jazz idiom, and he became a member of the St. Augustine Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Mr. Carl Blouin, Sr., founder of the jazz orchestra in the 1960s. In his senior year at St. Augustine, he earned a seat in the Louisiana All State Jazz Band and recorded with the group.

It was D'Juan's entrepreneurial spirit that surfaced as his true passion. Well into his career, he enrolled and became an MBA graduate of Tulane University, A.B. Freeman School of Business, where he embarked on numerous ventures, including LA Waters, a bottled delivery company; and the non-profit ``Raphael Village'' of New Orleans. He was an ardent supporter of the Algiers Community Development Association and the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute (NORLI).

D'Juan believed in the power of ideas, and the need for creating opportunities, especially as Faculty Lead and Business Advisor for Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses. He was also engaged in several business startups in Southwest Louisiana, all a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit and commitment. Through all his work, D'Juan leaves an enduring legacy of innovation and community empowerment.

Amidst his professional endeavors, D'Juan's greatest joy was his family. He cherished moments spent traveling with loved ones and relished as ``Poppi D'' to his granddaughter, Madisyn Gianna Hernandez.

D'Juan was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Coleman and Alice Polidore and paternal grandparents James and Hazel Hernandez, his uncles, Jon R. Hernandez and Coleman Polidore, Jr., his aunts, Hazel Widow, Emily Alexander, Queenie Polidore, and Alice Marie Broussard.

He is lovingly remembered by his parents, his uncle Renaldo Hernandez, his children Katelyn Hernandez, Jessica Hernandez, and Christopher Hernandez, his sisters Jualea Hernandez and Jalicia Parker, former wife Tara Carter Hernandez, his nephews Bradford and Silas Parker, his special brother David McClean, his business partners, and a host of other friends and family.

As we bid farewell to D'Juan, let us take comfort in knowing that his legacy lives on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know him. D'Juan made an impact on our community that will never be forgotten, he will be greatly missed. I am proud to have spent immeasurable time, developed strategies and grew up with him, treasuring his father as a mentor, and always fascinated by D'Juan's accomplishments. I am honored to document the incredible life of D'Juan Miguel Hernandez, a life too short, though incredibly well-lived. May he rest in eternal peace, surrounded by the love of God and the angels.

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