Obituaries

Services for Randell Aaron Fletcher were held at Verda Baptist Church on Saturday, April 15th at 10:00 am with the Rev Frank Peacock officiating. Interment followed at Aloha-St. Rose cemetery in Aloha, Louisiana under the direction of Southern Funeral Home.

Visitation was held from noon until 9 pm on Friday, April 14th at Verda Baptist Church.

Mr. Fletcher, 87, died peacefully at his home in Aloha, Louisiana on April 12, 2023 surrounded by his family.

Services for Gracie Lynn Edwards were held at 10AM, Friday, April 7, 2023 at Corinth Baptist Church, Winnfield, LA with Bro. Blaine Ussery and Bro. Joe Bruce officiating. Visitation was from 5PM until 10PM, Thursday, April 6th and from 8AM until time of service at 10AM, Friday, April 7th at the church. Interment was at Lincecum Cemetery, Georgetown, LA under the direction of Magnolia Funeral Home, Alexandria.

Gracie Lynn Edwards, 21, passed away Saturday, April 1, 2023. Gracie had a love for all music but her favorite was 2PAC. You could always find her sitting outside with the radio up laughing and singing. She also had a love for the elderly and children with special needs. She loved to listen to people’s problems and help them to find the answers they were looking for.

Joe Butler Jordan (Joe B. or Butler) was born in Winn Parish on March 25, 1933 to Joseph H. and Ella Jordan (nee Crawford). Joe B. was the youngest of seven children and a lifelong resident of the Jordan Hill Community.

Joe B. married Mattie Louise Young in December, 1957, and was a generous and loving father to two sons, Danny Jeffrey Jordan (deceased), and Walter Glen Jordan of Pelsor, Arkansas. After Mattie’s death in 1998, Joe B. married Yvonne Varnell Cockerham in 2001, and became stepfather to John “Burt” Cockerham.

Joe B. was a bricklayer by trade and his work can be seen throughout central Louisiana. He was a member of Big Creek Baptist Church and served on the church board. He also taught Sunday School and Training Union for over 50 years.

On March 21,1949, Terry Lyn Wagoner was born to Richard L. and Minnie Heard Wagoner in Winnfield, Louisiana. Terry passed from this world on March 5,2023 at 73 years of age. He was preceded in death by his wife, Debbie Wagoner, his parents, Richard L and Minnie Heard Wagoner and brothers, Neil and Bill Wagoner.

He is survived by sisters- in-law, Carolyn Wagoner and Martha Wagoner and nieces and nephews, Cheri Vaughn and Chris, Sondra Walker and Jeff, Kevin Wagoner and Tawny, Barry Wagoner and Lisa, Joey Wagoner and Rachel, Shawn Wagoner and Daisy, and special great-niece, Kristen Walker.

Terry married later in life and spent time living in Richmond, Virginia working as a draftsman for Williams Industries. He and Debbie loved their fur babies and loved visiting family in Louisiana. After Debbie passed away, Terry moved back home to be closer to his family. He enjoyed his time living back in Winnfield, LA.

Mrs. Edith Ann Smiley, age 83 of Dodson, Louisiana passed away on Friday, March 17, 2023.

Born Saturday, January 6, 1940 in Winnfield, Louisiana, she was preceded in death by her parents, Will Wallace and Bernice Cockerham Higgs; daughter, Paula Lynn Bice; granddaughter, Chasidy Rae Bice.

In her spare time Mrs. Edith enjoyed gardening, and loved her flowers, as well as deer hunting. She loved spending time at the camp with her husband C.E., and fishing on Black Bayou. She was a devoted grandmother and loved cooking

for the family. She was a member of Hurricane Creek Baptist Church Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, C. E, Smiley, Jr.’; daughter, Suzette Deville Dearman; sons, Wallace Bice (Melissa), Shane Smiley, Jon Smiley (Kyle); eight grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren.

Graveside services were held at Hurricane Creek Baptist Cemetery on Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 2:00PM with Rev. Jack Miller officiating.

James Lloyd Collins, of Bossier City, LA, went to be with his Lord peacefully March 19, 2023, surrounded by family. He was born on July 27, 1944, in Winnfield, LA, to Florence and Marlin Collins.

Mr. Collins graduated from Winnfield Senior High School in 1962 and from Northwestern State University, in Natchitoches, LA, in 1971. He worked as a nursing home administrator for over 40 years and was selected as the LA Administrator of the Year. Mr. Collins served as Chairman of Deacons at First Baptist Church Winnfield, First Baptist Church Bossier and served on the Board of Directors at Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport. He was very involved in Kiwanis Club of Bossier City and served as President and was named Kiwanian of the Year 2000. He loved training Labradors for hunting retriever championships and served as the Secretary Treasurer for the North Louisiana Hunting Retriever Club and the Shreveport Bossier Retriever Club. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.

Ms. Nelda Marie Smith Bryant, age 80, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, March, 21, 2023 peacefully in her sleep. She was born the third of eight children in Karnack, Texas to the union of I.T. and Callie Marie Norwood Smith. She graduated from Start High School in Rayville, Louisiana. After graduation, she met and married Larry with who she spent 59 wonderful years. Nelda worked for many years outside the home including running the Verda Grocery Store that she and her husband Larry purchased, for Grant Parish Meals on Wheels Program, and Jordache in Colfax, Louisiana.

A memorial service honoring the life of Christian Edward Beyer was held on Friday, March 24, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at Davis Springs Southern Methodist Church, 203 Davis Springs Road, Campti, LA 71411, with Bro. Olan McLaren and Bro. Truman Leach officiating. Visitation was held prior to the service from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

A wake will be held for Joe Luke on March 24 from 5:00pm-8:00pm at Burks Temple C.M.E. Church, 600 West Boundary St. The funeral will be held at the church on March 25 at 11:00am.

Mr. Lee Roy Young, 95, of Winnfield, Louisiana passed from this life in the early hours of Thursday, March 16, 2023. Mr. Young was born May 07,1927 to James Owen and Minnie Ola Rachal Young; who preceded him in death, along with two siblings, Mary Waters and James “Jim” Young, one daughter Judy Bond and two grandchildren, Debbie Bond and Jesse Dauzat.

He was an avid fisherman, loved gardening, the outdoors and music. In his later years you could find him in his recliner watching westerns and wrestling. He was a veteran who proudly served his country in WWII and Vietnam.

Mr. Young loved his family and spending time telling about the “Good Ole Days”! He taught them how to plant a garden, take care of animals and to love one another. He instilled in them to first love the Lord with all their heart, mind and soul, not to worry about things of this world because in the end, where you spend eternity is what matters.