Obituaries

Mrs. Frances J. “Polly” Etheridge Long, age 88 of Winnfield, Louisiana passed away on Monday, May 27, 2019. She was a member of Corinth Baptist Church and was a homemaker. As a Sunday School teacher for over 60 years, she touched many lives and led many to the Lord and made an impact on many people. She was also known as a great prayer warrior and will be missed greatly by her church family.

Born Sunday, June 29, 1930 in Sweet Water, Alabama, she was preceded in death by her parents, Neil Etheridge, Sr. and Arzella Smith Etheridge; husband, Houston Etheridge, Sr.; siblings, Billy Etheridge, James Etheridge, Hollis Etheridge and Peggy White.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Houston Etheridge (Teresa), Cecil A. “Cbo” Etheridge, Velma Johns (Mark) and Alice Lasyone (Ronald); 12 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren; siblings, Ronald Etheridge and Patsy Geisenheimer; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Mr. Loyd Cockerham, age 84 of Hughes Springs, Texas passed away on Sunday, May 26, 2019.

Born Thursday, December 6, 1934 in Dodson, Louisiana, he was a member and deacon of First Baptist Church, Hughes Springs.

Mr. Cockerham was preceded in death by his parents, John Edgar and Mettie Green Cockerham; siblings, Doris Cook and Margaret Connor.

Survivors include his loving wife of 61 years, Betty Lou Cockerham; children, James and Nancy Cockerham of Marshall, Texas, Mitzi Crowson of Hughes Springs, Texas; grandchildren, Tim and Amanda Skaggs, Charles “Jeb” and Laikyn Crowson, Matthew and Kaitlen Stewart, Shelton and Kelly Sykes, and Aimee Cockerham; great grandchildren, Kayden, Kailee, Kaci, Matthew, Jackson, Jett, Arden, Margaret, and Amelia.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, May 30, 2019 at Bethlehem Cemetery with Matthew Stewart officiating under the direction of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield.

Mr. Cloy Clarence Shelton, age 86 of Winnfield, Louisiana passed away on Monday, May 13, 2019.

Born Wednesday, September 21, 1932 in Atlanta, Louisiana, he was preceded in death by his parents, Francis Eileen Lee Shelton and Henry Clarence Shelton; daughter, Dana

Shelton Files; brothers, Patrick Lee and Thomas Richard Shelton; sisters, Jettie Dean Moore and Kay Francis White; and sons-in-law, Don Vaughan and Terry Dempsey.

Mr. Shelton was a member of Sardis Baptist Church and the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local No. 247. He served his country in the U.S. Army in the First Missle Regiment during the Korean War. Mr. Shelton worked in the community along side his wife as business owners of Shelton’s Grocery and Shelton’s Greenhouse. He enjoyed raising cattle and working at his Watermelon Farm. Mr. Shelton loved hunting and fishing. He especially loved his grandchildren and his dear wife.

Mr. Charles Albert LeBaron, 74 of Atlanta, passed away Saturday, May 11, 2019 at his residence.

Born February 23, 1945 in Winnfield, he was preceded in death by his parents, Clifton and Marie Dewitt LeBaron; siblings, Susie Smith, Alice Horn and Bobby “Bobcat” LeBaron.

Charles proudly served his country as Sergeant in the US Army during the Vietnam conflict from 1968-74. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and loved, laughed and lived to the fullest. He was always smiling and joking with everyone. His greatest achievement was that he was proud of his family. He said God truly blessed him to be able to see them grow up and become the strong, loving people they are.

Buel Franklin (B.F.) Horn, of Quitman, Louisiana, succumbed to a lengthy illness on the evening of Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at LSU Medical Center in Shreveport.

Buel was born July 29, 1940 in Arkinda, Arkansas to Cecil Horn and Dorothy Broomfield Horn. He was the oldest child of five. His brother, Wayne Horn and sisters, Sue Brown, Barbara Lazarus and Gayle Tippen are left to treasure their lives with him along with aunts, Cherry Young, Lynda Terral, Gay Broomfield Roncal and uncle, Garland Broomfield.

Buel lived in Dodson, Louisiana for several years where he graduated from high school in 1958. On July 8, 1959, Buel married Jeanette Sizemore Horn. They made their home, their family and a lifetime of memories in the same location in Quitman for just shy of 60 years. He supported his family by working at Continental Can and later as a truck driver, both local and cross country. He was also employed as a dispatcher for Davison Transport for a few years.

Mrs. Mona Joy Collins Jones, age 81 of Winnfield, Louisiana passed away on Saturday, May 11, 2019.

Born Friday, November 12, 1937 in Atlanta, Texas, she was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Marcelle Irvin Collins; husband of 60 years, John F. Jones, DVM; daughter, Vera Voncille Jones Cunningham; sister, Brenda Brown; great-grandson, Dylon Stinson.

Mrs. Jones was active in the Louisiana Veterinarians Auxiliary where she served as president and reporter. She also enjoyed any activity her children were involved in and was active in the Parents Club of Paradise Elementary School. She was president and volunteer of Ward 10 Recreation, served on the board of The Brownies for three years and coached girls softball for two years where there were no wins but much fun was had. She was chairman of the Pineville Heart Fund, president of Cenla Veterinary Auxiliary and was also coordinator for Ball Senior Citizens Center.

Mr. Chester “C.B.” Hemperley, age 91 of Dodson, Louisiana passed away on Friday, May 10, 2019. Mr. Hemperley was employed by AT&T for many years and a U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II. He is the son of the late Lacy Benson Hemperley and the late Hazel Payne Hemperley. He was also preceded in death by his son, Kerry Hemperley and his sister, Marilyn Connor. Survivors include his loving wife of 69 years Billie Lou Richardson Hemperley; son, Randy Hemperley (Cheryl); daughter, Kim Hemphill (Ronnie); nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Funeral services for Mr. Hemperley were held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 12, 2019 at the New Hope United Methodist Church at Gars Mill with Rev. Charles Hammons officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery under the direction of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield. Serving as pallbearers were Dustin Hemperley, Cody Hemperley, Chase Hemperley, Justin Hemphill, Wayne Williamson, Chuck Walker, Randall Barron, and Charles Clemmons.

Mr. Johnny L. Willis was a native of Sikes and a U.S. Army Veteran. He was a member of the South Bossier Church of the Nazarene, enjoyed southern gospel music, country music and played the steel guitar. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Mr. Willis is the son of the late William Alson Willis and the late Mary Emmaline Brister Willis. He is also preceded in death by brothers William Lloyd Willis, Artis Relton Willis, James Raymond Willis, twin brother Wiley Benny Willis, sisters Alma Gertrude Willis Parker, Ruth Janell Willis, Gloria Jean Willis Berman, and Emma Oleta Campanelli.

Survivors include his loving wife Lillian King Willis, Son Terry Willis (Kathy), daughter Kathy Willis Thomisee (Darrell), and son Kenny Willis. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Debra Kay Ferrier Smith, age 62 of Montgomery, Louisiana passed away on Wednesday, May 1, 2019.

Born Friday, March 15, 1957 in Pineville, Louisiana, she was a member of Montgomery Church of Christ.

Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her father, Warren Ferrier and her daughter, Stacy Vollm; sister, Deana Ferrier.

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Alton Smith; mother, Bonnie Cox Ferrier; children, Ginger County (Jeffery), Timothy Vollm and Jasmine Smith; grandchildren, Tiffany, Lindsey, Dillon, Katherine and Kayleen; great-grandchildren, Jaiden, Dae’Veon, Camille, Camryn, Malik, Kylar and Damian; siblings, Clinton Ferrier, Ronnie Ferrier, Eugene Ferrier, Theresa Pippins and Susan Berry

Funeral services were held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at Montgomery Church of Christ with Carey Smith officiating. Interment followed in Hargis Cemetery, in Montgomery under the direction of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield.

Mrs. Chestine Calhoun Hale, age 93 of Atlanta, Louisiana passed away on Tuesday, April 30, 2019. Born Thursday, October 15, 1925 in Atlanta, Louisiana, she was a member of Mars Hill Baptist Church. She loved southern gospel music, particularly The Gaithers, and will be remembered as a great cook.

Mrs. Hale was preceded in death by her parents, Andon and Chestine McManus Calhoun; husband, Jack Hale; son, Timothy Hale; siblings, Dotrie Calhoun, Buddy E. Calhoun, Andon Willard Calhoun, Nolia Stapleton and Lurleen Lang.

Those left to cherish her memory include her sons, Kevin Hale of Irvine, CA and Jack Hale of Redwood, CA; and her siblings, Waymond Calhoun of Columbia and Hazel Hale of Atlanta.

Funeral services were held at 12:00 PM on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at Southern Funeral Home with Rev. Norris Curry officiating. Interment followed in Mars Hill Cemetery in Verda.