Obituaries

Mr. Lonnie Franklin Tucker, age 70 of Sikes, Louisiana passed away on Friday, December 4, 2015. Born Tuesday, November 6, 1945 in Monroe, Louisiana, he was an oil well driller having retired from Omni and was an avid fisherman. Mr. Tucker was preceded in death by his parents, Houston and Lillie Head Tucker; daughter, Deena Tucker; brothers, Tommy, Donald, Ronald, Marcus and Connie Tucker; sisters, Wilma Jordan and Alice Coonce. Those left to cherish his memory include his step-daughter, Cheryl Kay Eager; sister, Debra Simpson (Steve); brother, Rick Tucker (Darlene); special friend and caregiver, Carolyn Lee, as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, December 6, 2015 at Southern Funeral Home with Rev. Wallace Ingles and Rev. Danny Green officiating. Interment followed in Friendship Cemetery, in Sikes.

Earnest Hardy, 64 of Memphis, TN passed away November 25, 2015. Services were held December 5, 2015.

Darius Tramain Owens, 35 of Dallas, TX passed away November 26, 2015. Services were held December 5, 2015.

Juanita Tollivert-Wilson, age 60 of Winnfield, LA passed away November 28, 2015.

Mr. John Pierce Rudd, Jr. “J.P.” age 84 of Winnfield, Louisiana, loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, passed away on Saturday, December 5, 2015 at the Willis-Knighton Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. J.P. was born in Calvin, Louisiana on January 22, 1931 to the late John Pierce Rudd, Sr, and Gertrude Hodge Rudd and was married to Barbara Yocum Rudd of Calvin, Louisiana for 61 years. He was a Deacon in the Baptist faith and a member of the Welcome Home Baptist Church of Dodson, Louisiana. A lifelong educator, Mr. Rudd graduated with a B.S. in Agriculture from Northeast State University in Mon-roe, Louisiana and a M.S. in Agricultural Science from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Mr.

Mrs. Shirley Conley Carson, age 79 of Winnfield, Louisiana passed away on Thursday, November 26, 2015. Mrs. Carson was a native of Goldonna and a member of the Goldonna Baptist Church. She enjoyed cooking and worked as a florist and then later at various grocery stores in the Shreveport area. She was the daughter of James Isom Conley and Annie Bedgood Conley. Mrs. Carson was also preceded in death by her husband Jack Monroe Carson, two grandsons Jeremy Pitman and Jarrett Pitman as well as five brothers and four sisters. Survivors include her daughter Brenda Burt and husband Norman of Shreveport, daughter Jaquetta Bates of Winnfield, and a son Terry Carson of Keithville, grandchildren Amanda Morgan, Michael Bates, Mickey Bates, Jr., Crissy Jurek, Ashley Adams and Terry Carson, Jr. Mrs. Carson is also survived by thirteen great grandchildren as well as a sister in law and best friend Eloise Haymon of Winnfield and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and other relatives.

Nina Lyn Creel, 50, of Emporia, Kansas, passed away peacefully on November 20, 2015, of Cardiomegaly. Nina is survived by her family: Bobby and Ella Creel of Winnfield; Laila, Mark and Audrey Holland of Sterlington; Whitney, Shelbie, and Beaux Creel of Natchitoches; and a host of extended family and friends whose lives she touched. She was a member of the East Winnfield Baptist Church of Joyce, LA. Nina’s enormous personality and friendly smile will be missed by all who knew her. She was passionate about helping anyone who needed her; most recently working in the food bank of the church she attended in Emporia. A memorial celebration of Nina’s life was held on Tuesday, December 1, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. at the East Winnfield Baptist Church in Joyce, LA. Speaking of her life was Jack Miller, Velton Jordan, and Dawn Doherty Johnson. Karla Connor-Wroten and Kim Stuckey lifted hearts up in song. A private burial will be in the Creel Family plot at the Old Union Cemetery in Joyce, LA.

Richard Elmer Johnson, 78, of Winnfield, passed from this life on Sunday, November 22, 2015, at his residence with family at his bedside after an extended illness. He was born in Winnfield on November 24, 1936, to the union of his parents, Richard Lee and Irene Shaw Johnson. Mr. Johnson was preceded in death by his father and mother, Richard Lee and Irene Shaw Johnson; sister, Pauline Anderson; brothers, Alon and Robert Lee Johnson; niece, Ramona Pedder; and nephew, Scott Allen Gamer. Survivors include his wife, Martha Fields Johnson; two sons, Richard E. Johnson Jr.

Mrs. Edith Marion Blake, age 81 of Dry Prong, Louisiana passed away on Saturday, November 28, 2015. She was a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church of Williana, LA. Born Wednesday, March 28, 1934 in West Monroe, Louisiana, she was preceded in death by her father, Samuel Moore, mother, Minnie Goldman Moore, and husband, Leslie L Blake. Those left to cherish her memory include her daughters, Terri Cloud and husband Benny, Winnfield, LA and Patty Spillman, Lead Hill, AR; sons, Bruce Blake, Dry Prong, LA and Ricky Blake and wife Lana, Tannehill, LA; 10 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, and 4 great great grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at Yankee Springs Baptist Church with Rev. Chuck Evans officiating. Interment followed in Yankee Springs Cemetery, in Goldonna. Serving the family as pallbearers were John Aldy, Casey Blake, Brian Blake, Caleb Spillman, Bain Bannon, and Ross Cockerham. Randy Blake served as an honorary pallbearer.