Obituaries

Funeral services honoring the life of Ronald “Ronnie” Reagan Chamberlin, were held March 23 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Rambin with Father Francis Kamau officiating. Burial followed at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Rambin Community.

Ronnie was born July 12, 1956 in Mansfield to John Marshall Chamberlin and Jeanine Rambin Chamberlin and entered into rest on March 21, 2019.

Ronnie worked for Cleco for 30 years and loved his coworkers. He loved gardening, fishing and hunting. Most of all he was a proud grandfather of his first grandbaby, Lil Jack, who loved helping his Paw Paw picking his garden. He never met a stranger and was loved by so many people. He would help anyone in need. He loved the Lord and read his bible daily.

Ronnie was preceded in death by his mother, Jeanine Rambin Chamberlin.

Funeral services for SMSGT (Ret.) Bobby Echols Wilbanks, 89, of Florien were held March 26 at First Baptist Church of Florien with Dennis Pitt, the Rev. Brady Glaser and Bobby Slaydon officiating. Burial followed in the Florien Cemetery. He was born on Friday, October 4, 1929 in Trinity, Alabama, and passed away on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at his residence in Florien.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Shelby and Ola Mae Heathcoat Wilbanks; first wife, Charlene Jackson Wilbanks; and one sister and five brothers.

Shirley Hildebrand Lee, 90, most recently of Shreveport passed peacefully to eternal life on March 15, 2019 while restfully sleeping at Pilgrim Manor Nursing Home where she was recuperating from surgery.

Services celebrating the full and joyous life of Shirley H. Lee were held March 23 at the Warren Meadows Funeral Home in Many. Officiating was the Rev. Jonathan Bost from the First Baptist Church of Many. Interment followed at the Florien cemetery where Shirley will join a long list of extended family members.

Funeral services honoring the life of Larry Austin, 76, were held March 16 at Rose-Neath Chapel in Mansfield with the Rev. Jimmy Price officiating. Burial followed at Converse Cemetery in Converse.

Larry was born May 16, 1942 in Converse to Alton and Eloise Branch Austin and entered into rest on March 13, 2019 in Shreveport.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alton and Eloise Austin; sisters, Pauline McKee, Audrey Leach, Opal Allen; and brothers, Jessie Ray Austin and Leroy Austin.

Those left behind to cherish his memory are his wife of 53 years, Joan Austin of Converse; sons, Alan Austin and fiancée Stacy Hughes of Hornbeck, and Rodney Austin and wife Cheryl Austin of Converse; daughter, Kari Raborn of Converse; grandchildren, John, Rachal, Justin, Jacob, Christopher, Zac, Madeline, Cody, Erikk, Brittany, Haley, Raelyn, Tyler and Kadie; 8 great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

James Lynn Davis, born February 11, 1935 died March 9, 2019. He leaves three children: Vikki Lynne and husband, Rickey, and their sons; Craig Alan and wife, Margaret, and their three sons; and Eric Harmon and wife Laura and their son and daughter. He was blessed last year with a great granddaughter.

He was the youngest of seven children of B. F. and Charlotte Davis. His siblings, Herman, Reginald, Carlena, Arlene and Lillian all preceded him in death. He has a surviving brother, George Allen from Monroe and numerous nieces and nephews.

After serving in Korea and attending Louisiana State University Law School, he remained a lifelong resident of Sabine Parish.

Graveside services for Loudis Parish, 89, of Robeline, were held March 17 at Central Cemetery in Robeline. Mr. Parish passed away on Sunday, March 10, 2019, in Many.

He was preceded in death by his wife, JoAnn Parish; parents, Cleveland and Annie Parish; as well as several brothers and sisters.

Mr. Parish is survived by his son, David Parish and wife Teresa of Robeline; grandson, Jonathan Parish and wife Erin of Robeline; granddaughter, Kathryn Gentry and her husband David of Zwolle; brother-in-law Gary Clark and his wife Suzanne, of Robeline; as well as nieces, nephews, and friends.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Jack Corley, Christi Kelly of Superior Hospice, as well as the caring staff of Sabine Retirement and Rehab Center.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Richard H. Evans, Jr. a resident of Shreveport died unexpectedly on March 16, 2019 at the age of 39 while battling the flu.

Richard was born in Shreveport on August 6, 1979 to Richard H. Evans, Sr. and Rachel Law Evans. He grew up in Converse and attended Converse High School then LSU Shreveport. Richard moved to California after college to follow his passion for acting. In later years, Richard joined his grandfather and father as an operator in the family timber business. In his spare time, Richard loved to travel. He was also an avid reader and movie watcher.

Richard is survived by his mother; grandmother, Nell Law; sisters, Teri Evans and Toni Evans; brother-in-law, Brad Dudley; and his niece and nephews, Sela Hinkhouse, Samuel Hinkhouse, Bennet Dudley, and Beau Dudley.

Richard is predeceased by his father; grandfather, J. W. Law; grandparents, Sidney B. Evans Sr. and Lillian Krousel Evans; “uncle,” Bob. G. Lewis; and roommate, Lee Cooper.

Funeral services for Robert D. Greene, 64, of Many were held March 10 at Oak Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Mike Henderson officiating. Burial followed in the Rocky Mount Cemetery.

He was born on Monday, January 24, 1955 in Rockport, Indiana, and passed away on Monday, March 4, 2019 at West Jefferson Medical Center in Marrero.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Eula Adaline Wimpy Greene Newman.

Funeral services for Edith Mae Salter, 68, of Silsbee, Texas, were held March 11 at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed in the Mt. Carmel Cemetery.

She was born on Monday, April 3, 1950 in Pineville, and passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2019 in Galveston, Texas.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Emmit Oliver Hardy and Mildred Mae Scott Hardy; and brothers, Emmit Ray Hardy and Carl Leland Hardy.

She is survived by her husband, Jim Salter of Silsbee, Texas; daughters, Ashley Salter and husband Terry from League City, Texas and Alisha Miller and husband Kevin of Goshen, Indiana; brothers, Ruel Hardy and wife Pat of Buena Vista, Virginia and Justin Hardy and wife Angelique of West Monroe; grandchildren, Ethan Miller of Goshen, Indiana, Kaylee Miller of Goshen, Indiana and Gillian Alsdorf of League City, Texas; along with a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services for Billy Ray Stevens, 69, of Many were held March 9 at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed in the Trinity Cemetery.

He was born on Monday, April 18, 1949 in Hamburg, New Jersey, and passed away on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at Ochsner LSU Health in Shreveport.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George Abe Stevens and Mable Fletcher Stevens and nephew, Billy Womack.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Stringer Stevens of Many; daughters, Connie Vanzant of Many and Tammy Self of Many; sisters, Betty Womack of Milam, Texas and Shirley Meshell and husband Johnny Meshell of Fisher; grandson, William Vanzant; nephews, James Womack, Dean Meshell, Don Meshell, Kevin Meshell and Dave Meshell; niece, Cindy Meshell; along with a host of friends.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.warrenmeadows.com