Obituaries

Graveside services honoring the life of Bernard Farmer, 87, of Converse, were held on Saturday, February 6, 2021 at Union Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Converse with Bro. Richard Enterkin and Bro. Chucky Clark officiating.

Bernard was born on February 27, 1933 to Clarence and Trudie Lafitte Farmer and entered into rest on February 5, 2021 in Shreveport.

Preceding Bernard in death are his wife of 58 years Mary Cecilia “Topsy” Farmer; parents; brother, Johnnie Douglas Farmer; and great grandsons, Cy Williams and Paxton Williams.

Funeral services honoring the life of Betty Taylor were held on Friday, February 5, 2021 at Mitchell Baptist Church in Mitchell. Officiating the service was Bro. Bobby Russell. Interment followed at Oak Grove Cemetery in Converse.

Betty Taylor was born on Friday, March 26, 1943 in Bellwood, Louisiana to Leroy Bolton and Viola Lucille Treadway Bolton. She entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at Willis Knighton North Hospital in Shreveport.

Betty is preceded by her son, Jeffrey Taylor; parents, Leroy and Viola Bolton; and her sister, Barbara Bolton Parks. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Paul “Peck” Taylor of Mitchell; daughter, Shona Ebarb and husband Jerry of Mitchell; son, Richard Taylor and wife Linda of Mitchell; and one grandson, Wyatt Ebarb also of Mitchell; sister, LaWanda Gatheright and husband Robert of Bossier City; along with a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Jimmie Salley, 82, entered into eternal rest on February 4, 2021 in Shreveport.

A visitation was held on Sunday, February 7, 2021 from 1:30 p.m. until service time beginning at 3:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Mansfield. Officiating the service will be Bro. Weyland Gauntt. Interment followed at Union Springs Cemetery in Converse.

Bo was born on December 23, 1938 in Converse to Charlie and Aylean Salley. Bo enjoyed playing piano and spending time with his family reminiscing and drinking coffee. He attended numerous musical conventions in the local and East Texas areas using his talent.

Sharon Jones, 81, of Many went to be with her Savior and husband Ralph on February 5, 2021. She was born in Negreet on November 2, 1939. Graveside services were held on Monday, February 8, 2021 with Bro. Wade Penfield officiating. Services were held at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Cemetery.

Dale graduated from Negreet High School in 1957 on the same night her boyfriend and future husband of 62 years Ralph Carlos Jones graduated from Florien. Dale was a stay-at-home wife and mom for 20 years and before being promoted to Nanaw. She enjoyed her grandkids, great-grandkids, and had a hand in raising several children in the community. She was also a piano player at several area churches for 60 years.

Funeral services honoring the life of Mrs. Wanda Rivers were held on Monday, February 8, 2021 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Zwolle, Louisiana with Fr. Jean Bosco Uwamungu officiating; interment immediately followed in the church cemetery. A visitation for her will begin on Sunday, February 7, 2021 from 12:00 PM until 9:00 PM with a rosary being said at 6:00 PM. The visitation will continue before the funeral from 8:00 AM-10:00 AM at the funeral home. Wanda was born September 7, 1947 in Many, Louisiana to Mary (Gandy) Jeter and William F. “Dub” Jeter, Jr. and she entered into rest on February 4, 2021 in Zwolle, Louisiana.

Wanda was a lifelong educator that began at home first with her own family. She touched a lot of students over her 23 years of being in the classroom at Ebarb School. After retiring from the Sabine Parish School Board, she home schooled several children and was a housekeeper for many families. Reading was a passion she loved to do in her spare time.

Funeral services for Aleta Burr, 87, of Pleasant Hill, were held on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dean Johnson and Rev. Glenn Howard officiating. Burial followed in the Belmont Cemetery.

Aleta McMillian Burr was born on Thursday, August 17, 1933. She passed away on Monday, February 1, 2021 in Pleasant Hill.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William Alvia McMillian and Frances Pearl Speight Mc-Millian; husband, Guy T. Burr; sons, Wesley Burr and Marty Burr; daughters-in-law, Janet Hall Burr and Jennifer Collins Burr.

Graveside services honoring the life of Judy Copeland were held on Monday, February 1, 2021 at Oak Grove Cemetery in Converse. Officiating the service was Pastor Ron Boyer.

Judy was born on May 18, 1945 in Pleasant Hill to Grover and Mary Copeland. She entered into eternal rest on January 28, 2021 in Mansfield. Judy was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Converse. Her favorite hobby was playing bingo.

Preceding Judy in death are her parents, Walter Grover Copeland, Sr. and Mary Grace Browne Copeland. She is survived by her sisters, Grace Litton; Amy Lord and husband Eric; brother, Walter Grove Copeland, Jr. and wife Joyce; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Honoring Judy as pallbearers were Walter Litton, Donnie Litton, John Litton, Daniel Litton, Darrell Copeland, and David Copeland.

Funeral services honoring the life of Freddie B. Terrell will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 31, 2021 at Spring Ridge Baptist Church in Pleasant Hill, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Bro. Glen Howard. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. A visitation will be held at the church on Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until time of service.

Freddie was born on February 7, 1943 in Pleasant Hill, Louisiana to Thomas Wister Terrell and L.V. Bell Terrell. He entered into eternal rest on January 27, 2021 in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Freddie was a Sergeant in the National Guard from 1965 to 1970. He married Sheila Johnson Terrell on April 2, 1974. Freddie was a welder and the proud owner of Circle T Cattle Farm.

Words cannot begin to encapsulate the fervent love and matriarchy of Robbie Browning; a wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother. Born on September 19, 1944 in Gadsden, Alabama. She was an Alabama girl and proud of it. She was a school bus driver for over a decade at Hornbeck High School. Robbie exemplified that a thousand candles could be lighted from a single candle, and her light never diminished by being shared. Her passions included hunting, fishing, traveling, and extending a comforting embrace to all. If you placed your feet under her table then she considered you family. She was a legendary cook and delighted in the tradition of her family gathered under her roof for one of her meals. Robbie collected rocks from any trip she went on and requested that anyone bring her rocks from their trips. She knew that each stone was a lasting story, a preserved memory, as she is for her family.

Earl Ebarb was born on Thursday, December 29, 1932 in Noble. He passed away on Monday, January 11, 2021 at Toledo Nursing Center in Zwolle.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ira Ebarb and Evelyn (Sepulvado) Ebarb; mother of his children, Florence Ebarb; son, Gary Wayne Ebarb; grandsons, David Campbell and Steven Ebarb; great-granddaughter, MaKenzie Walraven; brothers, Joe Ebarb and Silas Ebarb; and his sisters, Gatherine Smith and Alda Jerles.

Earl was named the oldest logger during the 13th annual Zwolle Loggers and Forestry Festival.