Obituaries

A public celebration of life for John Wesley Auld III was held at the Krewe of Centaur Den in Shreveport on December 1. The celebration continued with a homegoing service at Shreveport Community Church on December 2. Last call ceremony and internment followed the service in Belmont and concluded December 3 after church, the family with more Trey Tales at Marilyn’s Place in Shreveport. “Legacies are not the result of wishful thinking. They are the result of determined doing. The legacy you leave is the life you lead. We live our lives daily. We leave our legacy daily…” Author unknown- found written in Trey’s notebook In just 26 years, two months, and 10 days, John Wesley Auld III built an epic life of service, love, and laughter. His profound legacy will live on and flourish in the many lives Trey continues to touch. Trey came here to change the world on September 9, 1991, seeming to pack at least 150 years into his 26.

Funeral Services for La- Wayne Horton, 82, of Many, will be held Wednesday, November 29 at 2 p.m. at Lewing Chapel with the Reverends Donny Paul Lewing and Joe Hendrickson officiating. Burial will follow in the Florien Cemetery. He was born Wednesday, March 27, 1935 in Many, and passed away Friday, November 24, 2017 at his home in Many. LaWayne had the privilege of being reared with the help of a very special Christian grandmother, Maude Bounds, who he fondly called “Mama.” He, his mother, and grandmother spent many happy years together. When he was 12 years old he joined the Many Church of the Nazarene. LaWayne graduated from Many High School in 1953 and then served in the Louisiana National Guard for nine years. After a two- year stay in Shreveport, working at Purina Feed Mill, he returned to Many and began work at Many Lumber Company. He was employed with the Tidwell family for over 20 years. His association with this family was treasured memory.

Yvonne Sutton Meyers, 89, passed away Saturday, November 18, 2017. She was born in Greensburg on January 10, 1928. Ms. Meyers is a graduate of Grambling State University with a B.A. in Education. She resided for many years in Zwolle where she was a life-long educator and impacted every person that came in contact with her. She is survived by her brothers, John Sutton of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Stafford Sutton of Baltimore, Maryland; son, Otto O’. Meyers III of Houston, Texas; daughter, Yvonne D. Garner of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; grandson, Otto O’. Meyers IV of Houston, Texas; and a host of other relatives and friends. Homegoing services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday December 2, 2017, at Lazard Temple of God in Christ, 15750 LA-43, Greensburg, LA 70441. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her honor to the Yvonne Sutton Meyers Scholarship, P.O. Box 607, Office of Institutional Advancement, Grambling, LA 71248.

Elsie Strahan Mains, 86, of Many passed away Wednesday, November 15 2017, at her residence. She was born February 2, 1931 in Belmont, and was a lifelong resident of Sabine Parish. Funeral services were held November 19 at Warren Meadows Funeral Home. The Reverends Frank McComas and Stephen Sanger officiated. Burial followed at Mt. Freedom Cemetery. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Orene Lacy Strahan; husband Elzie Mains; infant son, Timothy Mains; daughter Martha Cain; sister, Shirley Sattler; and three brothers, Tommie L., Clarence, and Charles Strahan.

Funeral services for Jason “Hammer” Williams, 40, of Converse were held November 21 at Noble Baptist Church with the Rev. Jimmy Price officiating. Burial followed in the Noble Cemetery. He was born Sunday, December 26, 1976 in Shreveport. He passed away Sunday, November 19, 2017 at Willis Knighton South in Shreveport. He was preceded in death by his brother, Justin “Juddy” Williams; paternal grandparents, Gene and Helen Williams; and maternal grandfather, Raymond Webb. He is survived by his daughter, Savannah Williams of Noble; father, David Williams of Noble; mother, Marilyn Sepulvado of Noble; step-father, Ralph Sepulvado of Noble; maternal grandmother, Marie Webb of Converse; aunt, Nelda Hanzi of Houston; special family, Roger and Doris Sepulvado of Noble; along with a host of friends. Pallbearers were Wesley McDonald, Chris Ezernack, Andy Friday, Roger Sepulvado, Christopher Ezernack, and Steven Williams.

Funeral services honoring the life of Billy Dale Hancock were held November 28 at Rose-Neath Chapel in Many with Bros. Buddy Gray and Welton Blackmon officiating. He was born November 13, 1961 in Center, Texas to Charles “Eddie” Hancock and Willie Bell Cupit Hancock. He entered into rest on November 25, 2017 at the age of 56. He was preceded in death by his father Charles “Eddie” Hancock, and uncle, Robert “Bob” Coons. He is survived by his wife, Shelia Kaye Ezernack-Hancock; son, Tristan Hancock; daughters, Alix Hancock of Leesville and Erin Hancock of Anacoco; mother, Willie Bell Hancock of Center, Texas; sister, Kathy Hancock-Burrow and husband, Jerry, of Tomball, Texas; and brothers, Curtis Hancock of Shelbyville, Texas and Edward Hancock and wife, Gwen, of Canyon Lake, Texas. Pallbearers were Brad Burrow, Chris Hancock, Timothy Hancock, Jeremy Hancock, Luke Hancock, Jeremy Ezernack, Evan Ezernack, Mike Cassel, Guy Girouard and Lance Rivers.

Funeral Services for Jackie Milton Small, 70, of Many were held November 9 at Mt. Olive Baptist Church with the Rev. Lynn Lawrence officiating. Burial followed in the Mt. Olive Cemetery. He was born Tuesday, December 31, 1946 in Sabine Parish, and passed away Sunday, November 5, 2017 in Shreveport. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jackson Curtis Small and Alma Bossier Small; son, Kenneth Dale Small; and nephew, John Clayton Dry. He is survived by his wife, Linda Ann Small of Many; daughter, Jacqualyn Small Fitch of Many; sons, Rodney D. Small of Many and James Small and wife, Stephanie, of Conroe, Texas; brother-in-law, Bruse B. Davis, Jr. of Baytown, Texas; sister, Edna Earle Cantrell of Baytown, Texas; grandchildren, Sawyer Fitch of Many, Saylor Fitch of Many and Kennedy Small of Conroe, Texas; along with a host of nephews and friends.

Funeral services for Bruce Tarpley, 59, of Many were held November 12 at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverends Bill Craft and Mike Henderson officiating. Burial followed in the Pilgrim Rest Cemetery. He was born Tuesday, June 24, 1958 in Farmington, New Mexico and passed away Friday, November 10, 2017 at Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bobby and Vivian Dixon Tarpley; niece, Lindsey Ramsey; special uncle, Floyd Tarpley. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne Moore Tarpley, of Many; furbabies, Bree and Bellah; sister, Karen Ramsey of Many; brother, Richard Tarpley of Many; sisters-in-law, Tiffany Tarpley of Many, Lynn Williams of Mansfield, Christi Bowling of Many and Lori Britt of Many; brothers-in-law, Benny Ramsey of Many and Randy Moore of Many; along with a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services for Jacquelyn Funderburk Oxley, 84, of Many will be held November 16 at 2 p.m. at Warren Meadows Funeral Home in Many with burial following at Fort Jessup Cemetery. Visitation will be held November 15 beginning at 5 p.m. Bro. Wayne Chance will be officiating. She was born December 10, 1932 and passed away Saturday, November 11, 2017. Jackie grew up in the town of Many, graduating from Many High School in 1951. She went on to attend Northwestern State, and graduated with a degree in Education, in 1960. She was a teacher for 32 years, teaching a variety of grades. She had a passion for education and loved each student that entered her classroom. In her later years, her great-grandchildren became her passion. She thoroughly enjoyed spending time with all six of them.

Funeral services honoring the life of Sylvia Sherwood, 77, were held November 12 at Fellowship Baptist Church in Oak Grove with the Reverends Ricky McDonald and Troy Terrell officiating. Burial followed at Oak Grove Cemetery in Oak Grove. She was born October 13, 1940 to Fred and Erma Deason and entered into rest November 8, 2017. She was preceded in death by her husband, James “Hugh” Sherwood; father, Fred Deason; mother and step-father, Erma Mae Smith and Calvin Smith; sisters, Brenda Tholborn and her husband Bill, and Betty Jean Peterson; sister-in-law, Ruby Deason; and sons-in-law, Jack Watson and Bobby Wayne Raborn.