Obituaries

Mrs. Patricia Bennett Greenland, age 74 of Atlanta, passed away at her residence Monday, April 24, 2017. She was a retired Winn Parish School Teacher and member of Atlanta Baptist Church. She enjoyed reading and spending time with her grandchildren. She had many friends throughout her life but she especially enjoyed her close friendship with Violet Shumake. She was preceded in death by her parents George H. Bennett and Christine Longino Bennett. Mrs. Greenland leaves to cherish her memory two daughters Kourtney Howell (Patrick) of Atlanta, and Aaron Durbin (Wayne) of Dodson; four grandchildren Andrew Weatherford, Brieanna Cowher, Devyn Boyett, and Peyton Howell; four great grandchildren, Addy, Kamdyn, Asher, and Charleigh Kait. Funeral services for Mrs. Greenland were held Friday, April 28, 2017, at 11 AM in the chapel of Southern Funeral Home in Winnfield with Bro. Dusty Durbin officiating. Interment will be private and at a later date.

Mrs. Elizabeth “Betty” Lasyone, age 75 of Dodson, LA, passed away on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. Betty was born on Friday, January 16, 1942 in O’ahu, Hawaii. She was preceded in death by her father Manuel Ferreira, her belated husband W.O “Sonny Boy” Long, her son Shane Long, step-son Bryan Lasyone and sister Dianne Pruett. Betty, an avid doll collector with a collection of nearly two-hundred dolls clothed in handmade outfits, was a self-taught artist who loved to create art for her family, friends, and home. Those left to cherish the memory of her love of cooking, family, good conversation, and sewing include her husband, Charles Earl Lasyone of Dodson; mother, Thelma Ferreira of Spring, TX; daughter, Cooter Long of Edgemont, AR; step-son, Shannon Lasyone of Texas City, TX; step-daughter, Debbie Melton of Dodson; grandchildren, Heath, Jennifer, Ashley, Shane, Emma, Colby, Sean, Cody, Dustin, Kelli, and Kati; and 12 great grandchildren.

Memorial services for John Warner, age 52, of Grayson, were held at 2:00 PM Saturday, April 29, 2017 at the First Baptist Church in Columbia with Bro. Jerry Wayne Hendrixson, Bro. Eric Harriman, Bro. Richard Smith, and Bro. Dick DeBusk officiating. John was born June 1, 1964 to the union of Morgan D. and Jeanette Warner in Winnfield and he passed from this life on April 23, 2017 at his residence in Grayson. John was a consultant for J.D.W. Consulting for twenty years. He loved the Lord and was a member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church west of Columbia. He loved team roping and LSU sports. He was preceded in death by his father: Morgan D. Warner; sister: Penny Warner; half-brother: Randy Warner. He is survived by his wife of twenty years: Kathy Warner; mother: Jeanette Warner; children: Justin, Jordan, Morgan, Jackson, and Maggie Warner, all of Grayson; brothers: Steve and Art “Bubba” Buckelew; grandchildren: Zoie, Jace, Mandy, Jaylyn, and Jubal; six nieces and nephews.

Infant Goivanni D. Harris of Winnfield, passed away April 26, 2017. Burial was May 3, 2017.

Mianda Lynell Jackson, 48 of Winnfield, passed away April 21, 2017. Burial was April 29.

John Robert McElwee, Jr. (Bob), 69, the son of the late Dr. and Mrs. John R. McElwee of Winnfield, LA died Monday, April 10, 2017. He was born in Shreveport, LA on October 5, 1947 and was a former resident of Winnfield, LA. He had resided in Bossier City, LA since 1973. Bob will be remembered as a truly loving and caring person. He enriched the lives of his family and friends simply by his presence. Bob was a member of First United Methodist Church in Winnfield, LA. Bob is survived by his sister, Marsha McElwee Corbett of Shreveport, LA; two nieces, Megan Corbett Lingafelt and her husband Jordan of Kernersville, NC and Erin K. Corbett of Dallas, TX; one great-niece, Adelyn Isabelle Lingafelt of Kernersville, NC. and several special cousins. Graveside services were held at the Gwin Memorial Cemetery in Mangham, LA on Friday, April 14, 2017 with Rev. Marshall Sevier officiating.

Our precious joy, mom, and Mimi, Rose Long, 69, of Natchitoches died on April 30 at her home. Visitation will be at First Baptist Church in Natchitoches, LA on Wednesday, May 3, 2017, from 5:00 pm to 9:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Prather Coliseum at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 4, 2017. Rose Marie Landry Long was born in Gueydan, Louisiana, on September 16, 1947, the fourth of five children born to Andy and Leontine Landry. She was born into a French-speaking Cajun family, and English was her second language. Rose graduated from Gueydan High School in 1965 and became the first person in her family to attend college. In her freshman year at Northwestern State University, while studying to be a French teacher, Rose met a handsome senior from Winnfield who would become the love of her life. Rose and Gerald Long married in 1966, the beginning of a love affair and partnership that would last 50 years.

Mrs. Nelda Marie Hyde Atkins, age 76 of Winnfield, Louisiana passed away on Thursday, April 20, 2017. Born Saturday, August 24, 1940 in Winnfield, Louisiana, she was preceded in death by her parents, Myrtis and Angie Shelton Hyde; husband, J.O. Atkins, Sr.; brother, Travis Hyde; niece, Sherry Jo Lowery. Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Teka Sanders, Vance Luther (Dwana) and Tracy Atkins; step children, J.O. Atkins, Jr. (Elaine), Monty Atkins (Marty) and Robert Atkins; 18 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; siblings, Gene Hyde (Janice) and Doretha Hicks (Carol). Graveside funeral services were held at 1:00 PM on Sunday, April 23, 2017 at Gorham Town Cemetery with Rev. Norris Corry officiating. Interment followed under the direction of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield. Serving the family as pallbearers were Jesse Mercer, Don Bordelon, T.J. Lashley, Roy Sanders, Leroy James, Landon Howell and John Clark and Bruce Desadier as honorary.

Merle Glynn Durham, son of the late Walt and Betty Durham, was born on December 9, 1947 in Astoria, Oregon while his dad was serving his country in the US Navy. Glynn passed away at the age of 69 on April 19, 2017 in Sewell, New Jersey after losing a lengthy battle to stomach cancer. Glynn was a 1966 graduate of Winnfield Senior High School. Although he never returned to live in Winn Parish, he always loved to come home to visit his family at “Durham’s Camp” in Central Louisiana. He loved the outdoors and being able to hunt in the pine forest and fish in his cypress filled Saline Lake. Glynn earned his Master’s degree from Harding University, School of Theology in Searcy, Arkansas. Glynn spent his entire life working for the Lord. Over the course of 50 years he served churches and people in New Jersey, Alabama, Missouri, Tennessee and Arkansas. Wherever he was called, that is where he went.

Lennard Thomas Pimpleton, age 70 of Winnfield, LA passed away on April 12, 2017. Services were held April 19, 2017 in Winnfield.