Obituaries

Mr. William Lloyd Johnston, age 88 of Winnfield, Louisiana passed away on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Born Monday, September 16, 1929 in Chatham, Louisiana, he was preceded in death by his wife, Elvie Dean Johnston; parents, Willie Matthew Johnston and Lena Stroud Johnston; daughters, Debi Lenard, Reba Kelley, Anita Fallis, and Lisa Jordan; Infant son, grandson, Jared Kelley, and granddaughter, Skye Lenard. Those left to cherish his memory include his daughters, Karon Hawn andhusband John, Rhonda Simpson and husband Chris, and Nikki Smiley; son, Greg Johnston and wife Debbie; 19 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren.Funeral services were held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at Friendship Baptist Church with Rev. Jared Little officiating. Interment followed in Friendship Cemetery, in Sikes. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.southernfuneralhome.com.

Johnnie Gates age 80, of Atlanta, Texas went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Wednesday, September 27, 2017 in a Shreveport, Louisiana Hospital. Johnnie was born August 5, 1937 in Sikes, Louisiana to Jayson and Vetoile Gates who preceded him in death. As a young husband and father Johnnie built a career for himself by starting Gates Pest Control in Vivian, Louisiana. He raised his family and served his Lord for many years at Emmanuel Baptist Church. Currently he was a member of First Baptist Church, Atlanta, Texas where he served as a deacon. He was also very honored to sing with his Masters Men and First Praise Choir. He loved camping, fishing, and traveling whenever possible.

Dr. Leonard Raymon Collier, 83, of Calvin, Louisiana passed away Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at the Winnfield Specialty Hospital following 6 weeks of illness. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ashton B. Collier and Ida Lee Johnson Collier, and by his grandson, Clint Allen Collier. He was born Thursday, December 21, 1933 in Atlanta, Louisiana. After excelling in academics and basketball, he graduated from Atlanta High School in 1951. He went on to take the necessary prerequisite college courses at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana before moving to New Orleans, Louisiana to pursue a medical education. During this four years, he received the “Who’s Who Among Students In American Universities and Colleges” and the “Mosby Scholarship Book Award for Scholastic Excellence. He was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society as well as the Omicron Delta Kappa Society.

Mr. Trenton Cole “Trent” Pray, age 45 of Dodson, Louisiana passed away at Minden Medical Center on Saturday, September 30, 2017. Trent was a member of the First Baptist Church of Winnfield and was a welder for Turner Industries. He was born May 21, 1972 in Alexandria, Louisiana. He is survived by his parents Wayne D. “Butch” Pray and Danna Page Pray, a brother Tyler Pray (Veronica) a nephew Colby L. Pray and a niece Breanna M. Pray. Trent is also survived by his paternal Aunt Donnis Bozeman (Martin) and Renee Keiffer, maternal aunt and uncle Tim Page (Charlotte) and Susan P. Harris as well as numerous cousins and friends. Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 3, 2017 in the Chapel of Southern Funeral Home with Reverends Lamar Carpenter and Bobby Bates officiating. Interment followed in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery near Winnfield under the direction of Southern Funeral Home.

Mrs. Judy Evelyn Atwell, age 68 of Winnfield, Louisiana passed away on Friday, September 22, 2017. Born Saturday, February 26, 1949 in Winnfield, Louisiana, she was preceded in death by her father, Olan Jordan. Mrs. Atwell taught 3rd grade at the Winnfield Primary School until she retired. She was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church where she served as pianist for 25 years. Those left to cherish her memory include her husband of 48 years, Jimmy Wayne Atwell; mother, Audie Marie Hand; daughters, Stephanie Atwell Perkins (Frederick), Lorna Atwell Drach (Jeremy), and Lindsey Atwell Prince (Chad); grandchildren, Alexandra, Rhett, Evaline, Lily, Eli, Isabel, and Hannah; and sister, Sharon Jordan Bailey (Shafton). Funeral services were held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, September 24, 2017 at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with the Reverends Dick Enterkin and Joe Evans officiating. Interment followed in Pleasant Hill Cemetery under the direction of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield.

Heath Allen Snowden, age 34 of Winnfield, LA. passed away on Saturday, September 16, 2017. Heath was born on Tuesday, October 12, 1982 in Natchitoches, LA. He was preceded in death on his mother’s side by his grandfather W.O “Sonny Boy” Long, grandmother Elizabeth “Betty” Lasyone & Uncle Shane Long. On his father’s side by his grandfather Dale Snowden as well as a nephew, Jaxon DeViney. Heath had an adventurous spirit, he loved to be around family, make people laugh, pester his nephews and nieces and many more. He loved life to the fullest. Heath was very passionate about God and his beliefs. He had a heart of gold and would help anyone at any given time. Cooking & eating was one of the many things he absolutely loved to do. His infectious smile & laugh could brighten anyone’s day. Heath was loved by so many and loved everyone.

Mr. Rayford Greene, age 79 of Winnfield, Louisiana passed away Thursday, September 21, 2017 at his residence. Mr. Green was a native of Dodson, Louisiana and a retired Electrical Contractor after almost 47 years. He was a deacon and active member of East Winnfield Baptist Church. He was always ready to help anyone in need and was also active in missionary work in Oklahoma particuarly with Cherokee Indians. He was also involved with the West Winn Water system for several years. Mr. Green is the son of the late Earl Deloy Greene and the late Clarice Adell Temple Greene and is also preceded in death by the mother of his children Jeanette McCarty Greene, his son Dr. Lyndon R. Greene, as well as a sister Delora Greene Hemphill.

Mrs. Irene Audry McNeely, age 89 of Winnfield, Louisiana passed away on Monday, September 11, 2017. Born Sunday, July 22, 1928 in Hudson, Louisiana, she was preceded in death by her parents, Relious Carpenter and Martha Johnson Carpenter; husbands, Dewey Spangler, Earnest Maxwell and Victor McNeely; son, Dewey W. Spangler, Jr.; siblings, Ruth LaFollette, Lester Carpenter, Alton Carpenter and James Carpenter. Survivors include her nephew, Gary Carpenter and wife Renee, among numerous other nieces and nephews. Graveside funeral services were held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at Beech Creek Cemetery with Rev. Mickey Parker officiating. Interment followed under the direction of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield. Online condolences may be made to the family atwww.southernfuneralhome.com.

Mrs. Georgie Ann Lunsford, age73 of Alexandria, Louisiana passed away on Tuesday, September 12, 2017. Born Saturday, March 18, 1944 in Trout, Louisiana, she was preceded in death by her parents, Earley Elton Calhoun, Sr. and Mildred Stapleton Calhoun; daughter, Victoria Ann Hampton; son, Franklin O. Lunsford, Jr.; sisters, Margie Rhinewalt and Johnny Shaw; and brother, Renard Calhoun. Those left to cherish her memory include her husband of 34 years, Franklin Odell Lunsford, Sr.; daughters, Diane Jones and Freda Spangler; sons, Todd Hampton and Keith Holland; brother, Elton Calhoun; sisters, Mildred Faye Vitale and Hilda Mae Holland; 8 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren; special friends, Jared and Nicole Ferguson; anda host of other relatives and friends.Funeral services were held at Southern Funeral Home in Winnfield on Friday, September 15, 2017 at 2:00 PM with Rev. Ricky Wilson and Rev. Joseph White officiating.

Funeral services for Daniel William “Boone” McCarty, Jr., age 70, were held at 2:00 PM Sunday, September 3, 2017 at the chapel of Riser Funeral Home in Columbia, Louisiana with Rev. Todd Tucker officiating. Burial followed at Welcome Home Cemetery in Grayson. Daniel William “Boone” McCarty, Jr. was born in Columbia on July 20, 1947 to the union of his parents, Daniel McCarty, Sr. and Frances Floweree McCarty. He passed away on September 1, 2017 at his home in Harrisonburg. Boone was an active member of Wallace Ridge Pentecostal Church in Jonesville and was a 32nd Degree Mason. He was a decorated Vietnam Veteran having received the Purple Heart and numerous other medals. Boone was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved his family, especially his babies. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.