Obituaries

Mrs. Janie Lewis Coolman, age 70 of Dodson, Louisiana passed away on Friday, November 30, 2018 at her residence.

Born Tuesday, June 1, 1948 in Montgomery, Louisiana, she will be remembered as a loving, Christian wife, mother and grandmother. She loved children and helped raise many of her nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Norma Lewis; stepfather, Gil Milligan; sister, Glenda Hunt; brother, Lawrence Lewis, Jr. and his wife Deidre.

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband of 45 years, John M. Coolman; sons, Michael Coolman (Pam) and Jason Coolman; grandchildren, Laney, Landon and Kaden; father, Lawrence Lewis and step-mother, Mabel; sister, Delores Carpenter (Mike); step-brothers, John, Gene and Pat McRae; numerous nieces and nephews.

Mr. Jerry Wayne Johns, age 70 of Winnfield, Louisiana passed away on Tuesday, November 27, 2018.

Born Thursday, December 18, 1947 in Winnfield, Louisiana, he was a retired logger and attended Old Union Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James Kermit Johns and Mattie Elizabeth Cockerham Johns; sister, Margie Ann Johns.

Those left to cherish his memory include his children, Melanie Leach (Don), Mary Johns, Jerry Johns (Amanda) and Barbara Parker (Andy); siblings, James David Johns and Annabelle Procell (Clarence); 10 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, 3 nephews and 2 nieces.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 AM on Friday, November 30, 2018 at Old Union Baptist Church with Rev. Mike Green officiating. Interment followed in Old Union Cemetery under the direction of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield.

Mr. Tony F. Carter, age 55 of Winnfield, Louisiana passed away on Saturday, November 24, 2018.

Born Wednesday, March 13, 1963 in Shreveport, Louisiana, he was a retired logger and a member of Union Hill Baptist Church. He will be remembered as a loving a kind-hearted father, grandfather, brother as well as an avid collector.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William O. Carter, Sr. and Marie Lovett Carter; daughter, Leta Marie Carter; granddaughter, Britten Carter; siblings, Greg Carter, Kenny Carter and Mallory Carter.

Those left to cherish his memory include his children, Lindsey Stinnett, Marissa Carter, Tony F. Carter, Jr., Jennifer Ardoin and John Perry; his 14 grandchildren; siblings, Margarette Neal (Lynn), Billy Carter (Donna), Karen Cotten (Randy), Sue Chelette (Gerald), Robert Carter and Juana Myers (Jonathan); Best friend, Darla Chelette, Tracy Dement, Timmy Williams and Paul Cobb.

Mrs. Lillie Evelyn Shaw, age 91 of Winnfield, passed away Sunday, November 18, 2018.

Mrs. Shaw was a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church. She was born Tuesday, March 15, 1927. Mrs. Shaw was the daughter of the late Neal Denson Evans and the late Ottie Lee Silman Evans. She was preceded in death by her first husband Carl Eugene “Gene” Keyes and second husband of 50 years, Willard Aleon Shaw, Sr., one stepson, Willard Aleon “Butch” Shaw, Jr.; one brother, Wilson Cornelius “Mack” Evans; and two sisters, Mary Evans Cottun and Kathryn Evans Holdridge.

Lewis Franklin “Frank” Martin, Jr., 60, of Houston, Texas, passed from this life on Wednesday, October 31, 2018, in Shenandoah, Texas, surrounded by his family. He was born September 14,1958 in Winnfield to the union of his parents, Frank and Lenora Martin.

Frank attended school in Lake Charles, Houston, TX and Jena, where he graduated from Jena High School. He attended Louisiana Tech University and graduated with a BS in Computer Engineering.

He was a resident of Houston, TX and employed with Harris County.

Frank is survived by his wife, Tammy Godeaux Martin; his daughters, Alicia Martin of Jena, Melissa Hoover and husband Phillip of Baton Rouge, and Ashley Martin of Alexandria; his mother, Lenora Martin of Jena; his brother, Michael Martin of Pineville; and three grandchildren, Nathan and Nicole D’Angelo and Amelia Pilcher.

He was preceded in death by his father, Lewis F. Martin, Sr.

A private family memorial will be held in his honor.

Betty J. Rowell, age 78, of Winnfield, La went to be with the Lord on Saturday, November 25th of 2018 at St. Francis Cabrini hospital in Alexandria, La. She was born on 01/20/1940 in Winnsboro La.

She was a loving and caring mother and grandmother to all. She was very proud of her family and loved being surrounded by each of them any chance she could get. No one ever left her home hungry and without a smile on their face. Her overwhelming love and kindness brought warmth and a sense of home to all that she met. Her family loves her dearly and will greatly miss each and every moment without her.

Mrs. Rowell was preceded in death by her husband Gerald “Spunky” Rowell of Winnfield, LA; her mother Clorea Richard Smith of Winnsboro, her father Willie L. Smith of Winnsboro, LA and a brother Wille S. Smith.

Mrs. Myrtle Ann Gibson Edwards was born November 8, 1940 in Reading, Pennsylvania to the late Olridge Gibson and Elezabeth Low Evens Gibson. She fell asleep in death at her residence in Winnfield, LA Thursday, November 22, 2018.

Myrtle graduated from Kensington High School in Philadelphia, PA in January of 1959. After graduation she began fulltime missionary work for Jehovah’s Witness, teaching the truth from the Bible for 25 years. She really enjoyed helping people to learn what the Bible really teaches. Myrtle delighted in her sewing business named “As you like it,” as well as catering for special events and volunteering for the public school system.

Her hobbies included gardening, crocheting, cross stitching, cycling and being an avid world traveler which gave her the opportunity to visit several countries including Spain, France, Malta, Crete, Cyprus, Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Thailand, Canada, Hawaii, Virgin Islands, Mexico, and Bahamas.

Mrs. Betty Sue Hall Worsham, age 79 of Montgomery, Louisiana passed away on Monday, November 12, 2018. Born Sunday, December 11, 1938 in Shreveport, Louisiana, she was preceded in death by her parents, Neil and Martha Stanley Hall; husband, William Brian Worsham, Sr.; grandson, Preston Worsham; brother, Idriss “Bobby” Hall.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children, William Brian Worsham, Jr., John E. Worsham (Deborah), Julie Herrera and Barbara McGee (James); 9 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at Southern Funeral Home with Rev. Craig James officiating. Interment followed in Atlanta Cemetery, in Atlanta.

Serving the family as pallbearers were Joshua Raines, Brad Smith, John Kinsey Worsham, Clay Etheridge, Jarrod Pinder and Zachary Raines.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.southernfuneralhome.com.

Brandon Lynn Jurek, age 13 of Winnfield, Louisiana passed away on Sunday, November 4, 2018. Born Thursday, January 13, 2005 in Houston, Texas, he was an 8th grade Winnfield Middle School student where he was a member of 4-H and the Accelerated Readers Club. Brandon was preceded in death by his great-great grandmother, Hazel Marie Schiel and his great grandmother, Ella Mae Warren. Those left to cherish his memory include his parents, Donald and Tasha Ennis Jurek; sister, Kaylie Jurek; grandmother, Selina Perrenot; as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Funeral services were held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 at Southern Funeral Home with Rev. Joel Hines officiating. Serving the family as honorary pallbearers were George Moss, Richard Jurek, Trey Junkin and Lee Stone. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.southernfuneralhome.com.

Brandon Jurek

Mrs. Thelma Gunter Smith of Winnfield passed away peacefully Tuesday, October 9, 2018. A funeral service was held at 11:00 am, Saturday, October 13, 2018 at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Kevin Smith officiating. Burial was held in Garden of Memories Cemetery. Preceding the service, visitation was at 10:00 am in the church sanctuary.

Thelma was born in Goldonna, LA on August 13, 1926 to the union of Ruth Reed Gunter and Edginton Terrel Gunter. She graduated from Goldonna High School and continued her education in Lake Charles studying business. On Thanksgiving Day 1946, she married Daniel Norwood “Woodie” Smith. Thelma worked at the Mosley Clinic in Winnfield for many years.

Thelma was a member of First Methodist Church for over fifty-five years. She held many offices in United Methodist Women Day and Night Units, various church committees, and was a member of the Taste Fair Committee from its inception.