Obituaries

Mr. Terry Wayne Bates, age 56 of Calvin, Louisiana passed away on Tuesday, January 10, 2017. Born Wednesday, May 25, 1960 in Winnfield, Louisiana, he was a member of Sanders United Methodist Church and will be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was a hard-working, strong and devoted man to his family. His grandchildren brought him so much joy and he loved his family. He loved hunting, fishing and being outdoors. He was a kind and compassionate person who was loved by everyone he met. He was always “Terry”. Mr. Bates was preceded in death by his father, James Roy Bates; brother, Mickey Lynn Bates; grandson, Braylen Dawayne Bates.

Wesley Joseph, age 71 of Missouri City, TX passed away January 9, 2017. Services were held January 14, 2017 in Winnfield.

Mr. Charles Franklin McCoy, age 74 of Winnfield, Louisiana passed away on Saturday, January 14, 2017. Born Tuesday, July 28, 1942 in Tennessee, he was preceded in death by his parents, Luther James and Carrie Marie Mise McCoy and his sister, Jodie Barron. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Debra McCoy; children, Charles Steven McCoy, Sharonda McCoy and Eric McCoy; step-children, Janice Kelly and Michael McDaniel; 7 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; siblings, Jimmy McCoy, Carol Booth, Virginia Welch and Pat Beacth. Memorial service arrangements will be announced by the McCoy family at a later date. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.southernfuneralhome.com

Evelyn “Tootsie” Billings, longtime resident   Winnfield, LA passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours   Sunday, January 8, 2017. She was an active member   First Baptist Church   Winnfield for over 71 years where she taught Sunday School and was an active member   Keenagers. For the past 3 years, she had been a resident at Autumn Leaves Nursing Home in Winnfield. She was born in Atlanta, LA to parents Benjamin Franklin Billings and Nancy Ann Raspberry Billings. She was the youngest   10 siblings and was proceded in death by all. Two   her sisters, Annie Mae Billings Sherwood (Skinny) and Minnie Lee Billings Sherwood (Roy) were also longtime residents   Winnfield. She is proceded in death by her parents and all   her siblings. She is also proceded in death by dozens   nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Memorial service honoring the life of Shirley S. Johnston, will be celebrated at The Oaks of Louisiana Chapel, 600 E. Flournoy Lucas Rd, Shreveport, LA 71115 at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 27, 2016. This will be followed by a reception for family and friends in the Community Center. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 1:00 p.m. Shirley was born on June 18, 1931 in Tulsa, OK to John Raymond and Reba Dalton Sykes and passed away on December 17, 2016. She worked as a secretary at BAFB in Bossier City for over 20 years until she retired. Shirley loved to help and care for others. She was an avid card player and called BINGO at The Oaks for many years. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother. Shirley’s family was the joy of her life and will miss her dearly. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, John and Reba Sykes, her husband of 55 years, Herman L.

Funeral services for Mr. Vernon Carter, Sr. were held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, December 27th, 2016 at Montgomery United Pentecostal Church in Montgomery, LA with Rev. Donald Givens officiating. Interment followed at St. Maurice Cemetery following the services. Vernon Carter, Sr., 84 years of age, passed away at his home in St. Maurice on December 16, 2016. He was born May 10, 1932, to Peter Carter and Alberta Antee Carter in Montgomery, LA. Vernon was a caring father who worked hard to provide for his family. He was a junk collector and seller and a commercial fisherman. He loved the outdoors greatly and spent as much time fishing and deer hunting as he could. He would help anyone in need, as he never wanted to see anyone go without. He also enjoyed going to auctions whenever he could. He was a kind man that never met a stranger, and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Gordon C Peters passed away on December 21st, 2016. He was born December 25th, 1936 of the union of John J. Peters and Phyllis Cummings Peters. He was preceded in death by his sister Katherine and her husband Wyn. John Peters, sometimes known as John Jr, and his wife Jean Mixon Peters also died before Gordon. He is survived by Kim Bankston and her husband Lynn. Gordon was a graduate of Winnfield Senior High School; Huron State College in Huron South Dakota; and the University of South Dakota. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Huron State College and a Master of Arts degree at the University of South Dakota. Gordon was a former member of the Texas State Historical Association, the Texas Oral History Association, and the Texas Folklore Society. Gordon also served in the South Dakota National Guard. He has been an active member of the Winnfield Senior High School Quarterback Club and was an avid outdoor sportsman, particularly liking to hunt quail in his adopted state of Texas.

Mrs. Margaret Gorham, age 68 of Joyce, Louisiana, passed away Saturday, December 17, 2016 at Autumn Leaves Nursing Home in Winnfield. She was born in Winnfield May 17, 1948 and was a homemaker and member of Old Union Baptist Church.

Mrs. Gorham was the daughter of the late Bush Jackson Vines Jr. and the late Geneva Meyers Vines. She was also preceded in death by her husband Robert D. Gorham, daughter Cindy Broadway, and son Robert D. Gorham Jr., and a brother Clifford Vines.

She leaves to cherish her memory Eight Grandchildren Derek Broadway, Lacy Paul, Misti Wilkerson, Robert Gorham III, Zachery Gorham, Summer Cheyene Gorham, Kendra Gorham and Aaron Drew Gorham, great grandchildren Amelia Grace Goodeaux, Kenzley Grace Reeves, Annabelle Paul, and Sophia Wilkerson. Mrs. Gorham is also survived by several brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews.