Obituaries

On Thursday, August 24, 2023, Gerald Knippers passed away peacefully at his home in Many, Louisiana at the age of 88.

Gerald was born on September 11, 1934, in the Friendship Community to Curtis and Thelma Knippers. He grew up with his parents, brother, Glenn Knippers and sister, Judy House Cheatwood. Throughout their childhood they enjoyed spending time with family, including grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. In Gerald’s teenage years, the family moved into town to Many where he attended Many High School and was a graduate of the class of 1952.

Funeral services for Norman Booker III, 52, of Many, LA will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at Calvary Baptist Church with Rev. Cyle Clayton officiating. Burial will follow at the Lanana Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Monday, August 21, 2023, at Calvary Baptist Church for family at 4:00 p.m. and the public beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Norman was born on December 17, 1970, in Shreveport, Louisiana to his parents, Norman Booker Jr. and Merilyn Roark Booker. He passed away at his home, surrounded by his beloved family, on August 18, 2023.

Dr. James Greer, a native of DeSoto Parish, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Baton Rouge, LA on August 8, 2023. Dr. Greer was born on June 6, 1980, and he grew up in Pelican, LA. Josh was a graduate of Mansfield High School and Centenary College. He earned a master’s degree from LSU Applied Health and graduated from LSU Medical School in Shreveport. He had worked as an emergency room physician at both Our Lady of the Lake Hospital and Baton Rouge General Hospital.

There will be a visitation time on Friday evening, August 25, from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Roseneath Funeral Home in Mansfield, LA. The funeral service for Dr. Greer will be on Saturday, August 26 at 10:00 AM at the funeral home. The burial service will be at the Pelican Cemetery. A reception for family and friends at the Mansfield Female College Museum, 101 Monroe St. in Mansfield will follow the graveside service.

Lovan Thomas, publisher of The Natchitoches Times, passed away peacefully at his home Sunday morning, Aug. 13, 2023.

Services will be Wednesday, Aug. 23, at the First United Methodist Church on Second Street in Natchitoches. Visitation will be at 9 a.m. with services at 11 a.m. A private burial will be in the American Cemetery on Second Street for family and close friends.

Mr. Thomas was preceded in death by his wife Patricia; mother Elsie Mae Childers, step-mother Freda Scoggins Thomas, father Maxwell John Thomas, sister Mary Galen Thomas, uncle Kenneth Thomas, aunt Ann Childers Barton, uncle Norman F. Childers and granddaughter Madeleine Renee Mayo.

He is survived by his daughter, Tracy Thomas Mayo; son, Maxwell John Thomas II and his husband Gabriel Masson; grandson Lovan Thomas Mayo; sister-in-law Kathleen Wilson Farmer; brother-in-law John Oliver Wilson and his wife Beclee Newcomer Wilson; and cousin Galen Clavier.

Rev. Carl Smith, 85, of Center, passed away Sunday, August 13, 2023, in Center.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 P.M., Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 P.M.., Thursday, August 17, 2023, at First Baptist Church in Center, Texas. Rev. Mike Belgard and Bro. Mike Brister will officiate. Interment will be Friday 10:00 A.M. at Sibley Cemetery in Florien, Louisiana.

Funeral services for Annie Gennievie Fisher, 98, of Hornbeck, LA, will be held on Thursday, August 10, 2023 at 1:00 PM at Warren Meadows Funeral Home in Many, LA with Bro. Wayne Chance officiating. Burial will follow in the Prewitt Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will begin on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at 6:00 PM at Warren Meadows Funeral Home in Many, LA.

Born February 17, 1925 in the small community of Plainview, Sabine Parish, Louisiana to Lorenzo and Minnie Loretta Withers Brown. She was the youngest of eight siblings. She passed away August 7, 2023 at her residence.

She is preceded in death by her parents, first husband and father of her children, Henry Woodrow Chance, her second husband, Howard A. Fisher, daughter, Melba D. Gillespie, son, Lorenzo “Randy” Chance, grandson, Randall W. Sigler, great great-grandson, Layden Chance Mathis, and step-daughter, Bonny Fisher McCarter. Six brothers: Troy, Kermit, Harvel, Elmer, Chester, and Guy, and one sister, Hayden.

Georgia Armour, 91, of Brenham, Texas passed away Thursday, July 13, 2023. No formal services are scheduled at this time.

Born March 1, 1932, in Many, Louisiana, Georgia was the daughter of Harold and Nettie Mae Maxey. Georgia enjoyed cooking many delicious meals and loved working in her garden. She enjoyed singing in the church choir and always loved helping others.

A visitation for Yvonne Fleming will be held Thursday, August 3rd, from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM followed by a service at Kilpatrick’s Rose Neath Funeral Home: 943 Polk Street, Mansfield, LA 71052.

Jewel Yvonne Ryals Fleming, 97, passed away on July 28th after doing what she loved, spending the day with her three daughters. Yvonne Fleming was born on April 27, 1926, in Converse, Louisiana to Perry Wesley Ryals and Martha Jewel Wright Ryals. She was one of five children including an older brother and sister and a younger brother and sister.

Yvonne met the love of her life and husband Ray Leon “Cowboy” in Oak Grove before he joined the Navy. They later got married in Corpus Christi, Texas where they began their beautiful life together eventually making their way back to their forever home in Converse, Louisiana.

Jerry Johnson, 73, of Many, Louisiana went to his Heavenly home on Sunday, July 30, 2023 at his residence. He was delivered into this world on July 2, 1950 in Pleasant Hill, Louisiana to Eula Mae (Mitchell) Johnson.

A visitation will be held for him at Oak Hill Baptist Church on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. until his funeral service beginning at 10:00 a.m. with Bro. Ronnie Sandifer officiating. A burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Steven Green went home to be with the Lord on August 4, 2023, in Lafayette, LA. He passed away peacefully with loved ones at his side.

Steven was born on September 18, 1955 in Midland, Texas. He was the very special son of Gordon and Katherine Green. Steven spent most of his life in Sabine parish where he attended school in Many and Negreet. He also attended the Natchitoches Vocational School where he learned to do upholstery work. Most of his adult life was spent as a client of SARC in Many, LA. He enjoyed doing several different jobs there before moving to Shreveport, where he attended the day program at Holy Angels for several years. He lived with his sister Rhonda Howard until her recent passing.