Obituaries

Vernie Charles “V.C.” Eason, 92, of Many went home to be with his Lord and Savior, on Saturday, September 10, 2016, at the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center. Vernie had been a resident of Many for over 60 years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in France during WWII. He worked for the U.S. Army, Fort Polk, for 32 years and retired as the Deputy Comptroller, Resource Management Division. After retirement from the US Civil Service, he served as Operations Manager for the Sabine Parish Water District #1, retiring after 25 years. Vernie was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, and a man of strong faith. He was a devoted Christian and an inspiration to so many. For many years he served as church leader, deacon, Sunday school teacher and Sunday School Superintendent in his local church, Lewing Chapel.

Services for Dennis Ray Anderson, 68, were held at Antioch Baptist Church in Mansfield. Officiating was the Rev. Bob Latham. Dennis was born on August 31, 1948 in Century, Florida to Orenzo “Shorty” and Nell Conway Anderson, and passed away on September 1, 2016 in Zwolle. He was a Veteran of the United States Air Force. Dennis was an avid hunter, and loved to fish on Toledo Bend Lake. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend to many.

Funeral Services for Willard Ralph Russell, 92, of Many, were held August 27, at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with Bishop Jared Vincent officiating. Burial followed in the Ft. Jesup Cemetery. Willard Ralph Russell was born on Wednesday, January 2, 1924 in Robeline. He passed away on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at Sabine Medical Center inMany.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Doris Colston Russell; parents, Joseph and Dorothy Forbis Russell; brothers, Raymond Russell, Joseph Russell, Jr. and Travis Russell; and sister, Susie Russell Anders. Ralph Russell grew up in the Robeline Ft. Jesup area. He told many stories of the Great Depression, share cropping and moving from farm to farm. One of the delights of his life was picking cotton all day for 25 cents and going to see brand new westerns with JohnWayne.  He loved traveling to the mountains and taking his family on vacations. He drove all types of trucks, tankers, dump trucks and worked on cars.

Funeral services for Peggye Anne Matthews Rivers, 79, were held September 6, at Friendship Church of the Nazarene, in Robeline, with the Rev. James Ericson officiating. Burial followed at the Friendship Cemetery under the direction of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home of Natchitoches. Mrs. Rivers passed away Saturday, September 3, 2016 at Christus Highland Medical Center in Shreveport after a brief illness. Survivors include Wayne Rivers and wife, Cindy, of Kingwood, Texas, and Elaine Sandifer and husband, John, of Natchitoches; grandchildren, Sylvia Krkoska, Brooke Roark, Leslie Roark and Christian Walters, Mitch Rivers and wife, Cari, Spencer Rivers and wife, Whitney, Chelsea Rivers, Leon Norsworthy and wife, Hanna, and Matt Branam; 14 great-grandchildren; sister, Mary Jane Larpenter and husband, Jerry; sisters-in-law, Bonnie Matthews and Betty Matthews; and nieces and nephews and first cousins who were all very special to her. Mrs.

Juanita Anthony, 95, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 in Orange, Texas. Graveside were held September 4 at Antioch Cemetery in Florien. Juanita was born in Dess on November 30, 1920 to the late Melvina Corley Miller and Ivy D. Miller. She was married to Curtis Raymond Anthony on June 30, 1938. Juanita was the church clerk at Antioch Baptist Church in Florien from 1966 through 1986. For many years she devoted her time to caring for her aging parents, two sisters, and her brother-in-law. In her younger years she enjoyed playing dominoes with family, quilting, reading, and spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a member of Antioch Baptist Church all of her life until she and C.R. moved to Orange, Texas in 2002, where she attended the Little Cypress Baptist Church where she was loved by many, and was served by the Senior Adult Department until her death.

Dr. A. Edwina Thedford of Arkadelphia, Arkansas passed away suddenly on Thursday, September 1, 2016 after a brief illness. She was born on December 12, 1938 in Many. She attended Northwestern University in Natchitoches where she earned a Bachelor in Music Education. She also earned a Master of Church Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth Texas, a Master of Music from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota and Phi Kappa Lambda, music fraternities, and a member of the American Choral Directors Association. Edwina had a long career as a professor of music at several colleges, where she has maintained friendships with many of her colleagues. She retired from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. While at OBU, she also taught at the College of Foreign Languages, Peking University in Beijing, China in 2001.

Funeral services for Janet Isabel McKay, 89, of Many, were held August 24 at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Ray Spiller officiating. Burial followed in the Many Cemetery. Janet Isabel McKay was born on Tuesday, October 26, 1926 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She passed away on Sunday, August 21, 2016 at Christus Schumpert Highland in Shreveport. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gordon Reginald McKay; son, Peter Gordon McKay; sister, Betty Scoffield; and brother, Robert Gordon. She is survived by her daughter, Carolyn Baker of Shreveport; sons, Mark A. McKay of Stonewall and Donald C. McKay of Frisco, Texas; six grandchildren; along with a host of nieces, nephews and friends. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.warrenmeadows.com 

Funeral services honoring the life of Jim L. Golden, Jr., 79, were held August 25 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Mansfield with the Rev. Lynn Burkett officiating. Burial followed at Belmont Cemetery in Belmont. Jim was born on March 26, 1937 in Pleasant Hill to his parents, Jim Golden, Sr. and wife Truman Crain Golden. Jim died on August 23, 2016 in Pleasant Hill. Preceding Jim in death were his parents, Jim L. Golden, Sr. and Truman Crain Golden. Those left behind to cherish his memory is his wife, Ruth Golden of Pleasant Hill; son, Jimmy Golden of Pleasant Hill; sister, Sherry Ebarb of Ebarb; and a host of nieces and nephews. Those honoring the life of Jim as pallbearers were Guffy Pattison, Tod Strahan, Ray Mapels, Oris Graves, Doyle Stockton, and Allen Ebarb. Rose-Neath Funeral Home Mansfield Chapel – (318) 872-4660

Funeral services honoring the life of Marion Lynn Self, 65, were held August 22 at Warren Baptist Church in Many with the Rev. Mike Henderson officiating. Burial followed at Warren Cemetery in Many. Marion was born on December 16, 1950 in Zwolle to Howard and Shelby Rutherford and passed away on August 19, 2016. Preceding her in death were her parents, Howard and Shelby Rutherford and brother, Terry Rutherford. She is survived by her husband, Charles Self of Many; son, Clay Self of Many; sister, Sheila Snell of Many; brothers, Larry Rutherford, Mike Rutherford, and James Rutherford all of Many; and granddaughter, Kami Self. She was loved and will be missed by many. Rose-Neath Funeral Home Many Chapel – (318) 256-0690

Funeral services for Jo Ella Chandler, 78, of Florien, were held August 25 at Prospect Community Church with the Rev. Ray Ludwig officiating. Burial followed in the Prospect Cemetery. Jo Ella Chandler was born on Saturday, June 11, 1938 in Paris, Texas. She passed away on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at Many Health Care North in Many. She was preceded in death by her parents, William Marvin Sandel and Zelma Johnson Sandel; her first husband, Claude Williams; sister, Carolyn Knippers; and infant son, Calvin James Williams. She is survived by her husband, Bobby Chandler of Florien; son, Greg Williams of Florien; sister, Clothilde Herbert of Hornbeck; brother, Mark Sandel and wife, Billie, of Ragley; a host of grandchildren; along with a host of nieces, nephews and friends. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.warrenmeadows.com