Obituaries

Mr. John Henry Martin, age83 of Calvin, Louisiana passedaway on Tuesday, May 26,2015.Born Monday, October 12,1931 in Winnfield, Louisiana,he was a member and deaconof Calvin Baptist Church andwas retired from the LouisianaWildlife & Fisheries, the WinnParish Sheriff’s Dept. withover 50 years of service andwas also retired Calvin Fire Chief and was currently serving onthe Winn Parish Fire Board. He proudly served his country inthe US Army and National Guard.Mr.

Mr. Daniel Norwood (Woodie)Smith of Winnfield, Louisianapassed away Wednesday, May27, 2015 at Winn ParishMedical Center after a brief ill-ness.A funeral service celebrating thelife of Mr. Smith was heldSaturday, May 30, 2015, 10:30am, at First United MethodistChurch, Winnfield, with Rev.Brad Franklin officiating. Burial was held in Garden ofMemories Cemetery.Woodie was born in Winnfield on March 14, 1924. He grad-uated from Winnfield High School in 1942. Woodie started outas a seismograph driller but came back to Winnfield to settledown, starting a 42 year career at Winn Rock, Inc. Followinghis retirement, he worked for 10 years with special needs chil-dren through the Winn Parish School System. Mr. Woodieloved fishing, hunting, and being outdoors. He was a long timemember of First United Methodist and served on variousBoards through the years.

Mr. Jerome Loren “Jerry”Friis, age 74 of Winnfield,Louisiana passed away onFriday, May 22, 2015.Born Sunday, March 16,1941 in Craig, Nebraska, hewill be remembered by lovedones as a kind man, a devotedfriend and a loving parent. Heserved our nation in the USNavy aboard the USSWoodrow Wilson, but found agreater calling in his childrenand friends.Those left to cherish hismemory include his Daughters, Marisa, Brandi and Benika;Sons, David and Jonathan; Grandchildren, Kailey, Abigail,Elijah, Jacob, Justin, Gabe, John, Noah and Isaiah; as well asnumerous friends.Funeral services were held at 1:00 PM on Friday, May 29,2015 at East Winnfield Baptist Church with Rev. Bruce Cardinofficiating. Interment followed in Garden of Memories, inWinnfield under the direction of Southern Funeral Home.Online condolences may be made to the family atwww.southernfuneralhome.com.

Gail Annette “Grammy” Carter Deese, age 62 of Dodson, LA, passed away on  onday, May 18, 2015. Mrs. Deese was born July 13, 1952 in Hodge, LA. She was a loan officer. Survivors are her husband Jimmy Wayne Deese ofDodson, LA; three sons, Jody Thomas Deese and wife Kandi of Dodson, LA, Kristoffer Toby Deese and wife Brandi of Quitman, LA and Durwood Cody Deese and wife Ashley of Dodson, LA; her mother Nelda Carter of Hodge, LA; one brother, Glen Carter and wife Kitty of Ruston, LA; six grandchildren Carter, Hunter, Jolie, Miranda, Kolton and Marissa Deese; brother-in-law Marvin Joe Deese of Jonesboro, LA; sisters- in-law Brenda Deese Morris of Jonesboro, LA and Bobbie Deese of Quitman, LA. Gail is also survived by a host of adopted children that she raised as her own and a host of very good friends. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews which include: B.J.

Services for Rev. Carl Francois, Sr. “Pops” were held at 11 AM, Friday, May 22, 2015 at Greater Pentecostal Church, Winnfield, LA with Rev. Darian Hosch,Rev. Robert Franks and Rev. Larry Reed officiating. Interment was in the Bolton Teagle Cemetery, Winnfield under the direction of Magnolia Funeral Home, Alexandria. Rev. Carl Francois, Sr. “Pops”, 69, of Winnfield, LA passed away Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at his home. Mr. Francois served his Lord faithfully from 1972 until he took his last breath. The last 20 years of his ministry, he served as minister of Ball Apostolic Church. He was known and loved by many as “Pops”. Although he was small in stature, he was a giant in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. He was preceded in death by daughter, Carolyn Francois; parents, J.B. and Vergie Francois. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Carolyn Elaine Francois; children, Carl Francois, Jr.

Mrs. Lessie Mae Martin, age 87 of Winnfield, Louisiana,  assed away on Thursday, May 21, 2015. Born Saturday, October 01, 1927, in Winnfield, Louisiana,she was preceded in death by her Father, Sam Durbin, Mother, Phoebe Brewton Durbin, Husband, Jim D. Martin, and Son, Jimmy Ralph Martin. Mrs. Martin was a member of Antioch Community Church, who loved being outside, and was an avid gardener. She was the world’s best caregiver and cook. Mrs. Martin loved to care for her children, grandchildren and family.

I will never say goodbye to you because I know this is not the endfor us to see each other. You will only be going to a place where there’s no pain nor suffering. I am happy for you, for you will be with God. For now we need to go in separate ways. I remember how your arms hold me and give me strength. You were always there to listen, love, and defend me in everything. You were the best Daddy in the world. In my triumphs you were always proud. I’m very grateful and proud to call you my daddy. Here deep inside my heart you’ll always be. I would give up everything I have just to hug you one more time. I remember the last time I held your hand and how you looked at me in the eyes. If only I could turn back the time I would have never let you go. I felt the world stop and my heart stop beating when they told me you were gone....... How I wish I was only dreaming. Just like the rain; tears fell down from my eyes, I couldn’t speak for awhile. Thank you Daddy....

IWayne, I Love You. Of all the special joys in live, the big ones and the small, amother’s love and tenderness is the greatest of them all. It’s been twenty-one years. It seems as if it was only yesterday. I miss you. I look at your old pictures and the sweet memories linger on. I look at Shun and K.T. and see you in them. Wayne, the grandbabies are precious. Your classmates and friends are still remembering you. Some stay in touch with me. I hope to be with you again. Verily, Verily I say unto you, if a man keep my sayings, he shall never see death. John 8:51. We love and miss you Wayne, Mom and Dad Shun and K.T. All your classmates and friends   

It’s been two long years. You did not want to leave us, but you did not go alone. For a part of us went with you, the day God  alled you home. Love your wife Ivory Sons (daughters-in-law) Grandchildren

On May 10, 2015 John MarkCastagna, 65, of Kingwood, agreat soul, passed away after ayear-and-a-half long battle withbrain cancer. He was in hishome, surrounded by his family.Fittingly, it was Mother’s Day,as he played the role of bothmother and father to his fourgirls for many years as a wid-ower and had enough love andgrace for both. Then he enlargedhis family Brady-Bunch stylewhen he married Vicki andembraced her two daughtersand son. He chose the perfect moment to slip away that day—in the midst of sharing stories of his full and rich life, deep love,and contagious laughter. John was the beloved son-in-law of Charles and JoyTomlinson of Winnfield.John was born in New York City and a 1972 graduate of theUS Merchant Marine Academy, serving in the Navy Reservefor 11 years. As a Vice President for Chevron for over adecade—and having worked for them for almost fourdecades—John extensively traveled the globe to oversee CSAT(Crude Oil Supply and Trading).