Mrs. Louise Books Martin (11-20-2009)
Mrs. Louise Books Martin, age 87, died Wednesday at the Ogeechee Area Hospice Inpatient Facility. She was a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and moved to Bulloch County in 1951. She and her husband owned and operated Martin’s Grocery in Stilson from 1962 until 1978. Mrs. Martin worked at Brown’s Nursing Home until her retirement in 1981. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clayborn Martin, her sons, Jack Martin, C.M. (Bubba) Martin, and her daughter, Virginia Martin Lanier. Survivors include her son, Tommy Martin of Stilson; her daughter and son-in-law, Sissy and Wayne Fordham of Millen; her daughter -in-law, Betty Martin of Stilson; special friend, Janie Pope of Stilson; her son-in-law, Robert Lanier of Nevils; her sister, Laura Lee Chenaultt of Dallas, TX; her sister-in-law, Vena McDowell of Statesboro; her niece, Betty and Ralph Hursh of Baton Rouge, LA; grandchildren, Clay and Ann Martin and Rachel and Bob Westberry, both of Statesboro; Johnny, Kevin, and Tracy Martin, Lacey and Mark Hubbard, all of Stilson, Nicholas and Chastayne Fordham of Millen, Travis and Teresa Fordham of Charleston, SC, Jenny and Barry Miller of Pembroke, Keith and Tina Lanier of Nevils; great grandchildren, Allison and Sara Martin, Cole and Cheyenne Westberry, Andrew and Hailey Hubbard, Forest Miller, Kasey and Jake Lanier, and Dallas Fordham. Visitation will be held Friday from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. at Hodges-Moore Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held Saturday at 11:00 A.M. in the Chapel of Hodges -Moore Funeral Home with Rev. Carl Ledbetter officiating. Burial will be in the Middleground Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. Please visit our online memorial at www.hodgesmoore.com to sign the online guestbook and to share your thoughts and fond memories with the Martin family. Hodges -Moore Funeral Home of Statesboro is in charge of the arrangements.
Mary L. Pilgreen (11-20-2009)
Funeral service for Mary L. Pilgreen, age 86, of Dubach, will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, November 21, 2009 at First Baptist Church in Dubach with Rev. Barry Joyner officiating. Interment will follow at Tubbs Cemetery in Dubach under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston. Mrs. Pilgreen was born on June 2, 1923 and passed away on November 19, 2009 following a brief illness. She was a member of Corinth Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her husband Harvey Pilgreen and four children: Terry, Charlotte, Louie Wayne, and Mary Eton; sisters: Ophelia Goodwin and Molly Ruth Morrow; brothers: Clinton, Buddy and Delton Larance. Mrs. Pilgreen is survived by daughters: Elizabeth Brown of Dubach, and Wanda Pilgreen and friend Billy of Marksville, LA; son: James Pilgreen and wife Donna of Dubach, LA; daughter -in-law; Debbie McDaniel of Trinity, TX; grandchildren: Timmy, Tammy, Jennifer, Brandon, Cara and Jeremy; great grandchildren; Aaron, Allison, Haley, Bailey, Memphis, Paige and Brayden; sisters: Irene Colvin of Ruston, Nettie Hodge of Bernice, Lula Amonett of Pascagoula, MS. and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Tim Brown, Steve Clark, Aubrey Goodwin, Wayne Morrow, Brandon Penix and Jeremy Pilgreen. Memorials may be sent to St. Jude’s Children Hospital. Visitation will be from Friday, November 20, 2009 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Will Sanders for his love and care given to Mrs. Pilgreen. Online condolences may be sent to family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com
Earnest E. Miles, II (11-19-2009)
Funeral services for Earnest E. Miles, II will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 2586 Martin Luther King Ave., Grambling. You met the smile before you met the man. That was Earnie Miles, II. You could feel the warmth of his smile. But the smile was only one gift of a man endowed with many gifts, which he freely shared with the world. The greater gift, though, was his love and caring for family and people – many people he did not even know. The smile lives on and so does the gift. Earnie gave in death as he gave in life. There are many intangible gifts that we still treasure – friendship, loyalty, concern for humankind. And there are the tangible gifts that we can see. One such gift was his donation of his cornea to aid those who could not see. Earnie was a cornea donor. His corneas gave someone the gift of sight. This was one more example of how he showed his love of people through his kind deeds and through his profession as a nurse. Those who knew him say the greatest thing that could ever have happened to Earnie was to be able to nurse people back to health. He loved nursing. He loved making people feel better. The family is constantly reminded of the legacy that Earnie left to the world. He was born on April 8, 1959, to Earnest and Clara Miles in Winnfield, La. He accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized by the late Rev. George Reese Hood at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Grambling, La. Earnie sang in the church choir. He was the second of four children. His baby brother, John, and his oldest sister, Wanda, preceded him in death. Earnie graduated from Grambling High School with honors and was active in various clubs and organizations. He continued his education by entering the field of nursing. Earnie was a passionate nurse. He loved his patients, and they returned the love. He practiced in the Intensive Care Unit and various other departments at the former Lincoln General Hospital in Ruston, La., for 23 years. Earnie became the first African American deputy coroner in the state of Louisiana. Earnie touched the lives of so many with dedication and caring. Earnie Miles, II married the love of his life – Donna Sheri Crockett Miles on August 22, 1987. They were married for more than 22 years. To this union, one son – Earnest Miles, III, – and one daughter – Kimberley Sheri Miles – were born. For the past 10 years, Earnie went through a personal storm battling Crohn’s disease. He learned how to lean on and depend on Jesus. Earnie rarely slept at night and had daily devotions singing, praying and reading the Bible. Before he departed this life, he encouraged so many to turn to God and trust God totally. Earnie completed his life’s journey on November 13, 2009. He leaves to cherish his memory a devoted wife of 22 years, Donna Sheri Crockett Miles; one son, Earnest Miles, III; one daughter, Kimberley Sheri Miles; parents, Mr. and Mrs. Earnest Miles, Sr.; sister, Rita Miles Billups; grandmother, Juanita Kochinsky; mother-in-law, Mildred F. Crockett; sisters-in-law, Detra Griffin, Donna Lisa Crockett, and LaDevashae Crockett; brothers-in-law, Rodney Billups and Johnie Crockett, Jr; and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.Vicki Ables Cary (11-17-2009)
Vicki Ables Cary, 57, of Ruston, LA, formerly of Hampton, AR died Sunday, November 15, 2009 at Allegiance Specialty Hospital in Little Rock, AR. She was born September 17, 1952 in El Dorado, AR. She was a claims insurance agent and a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Ruston. She is preceded in death by her parents, Clyde and Dessie Reynolds Ables. She is survived by her husband, Bill Cary of Ruston; two sons, Stuart Cary (Kayla) of Reidsville, NC and Barrett Cary (Donna) of Ruston, LA; two sisters, Claudette Southall (Barry) of Hampton and Treba White (Frank) of El Dorado, AR; three grandchildren, twins Mason and Madeline Cary of Reidsville, NC and Jackson Cary of Ruston, LA; one niece, Karen Fortner (Bobby) and two great-nephews, Jake and Joey Fortner. Visitation will be Tuesday 6pm until 8pm at Benton Funeral Home in Hampton. Funeral services will be 10:00 am Wednesday at Calvary Baptist Church in Ruston, LA with Rev. Bill Reid officiating. Graveside services will be 2:00 pm Wednesday at Pickett Cemetery near Hampton. Arrangements by Benton Funeral Home in Fordyce, Arkansas. To sign the online register visit www.bentonfuneralhome.com
Leon Frederick Blankenship, Sr (11-17-2009)
Leon Frederick Blankenship, Sr. was born on February 5, 1924 to theparents of Joseph Nathaniel and Fannie Moore Blankenship, and was called home to glory on November 9, 2009 at St. Francis Hospital in Monroe, Louisiana. Leon accepted Christ at an early age and united with the Shady Grove Missionary Church, Saline, Louisiana. He attended Shady Grove High School in Saline, Louisiana and graduated from Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, Alabama in
1949. Leon married Mildred Johnson on April 25, 1952 and two children, Leon F. Blankenship, Jr. and Pamela Anita Blankenship were born of this union As an educator, Leon's first teaching job was teaching vocational agriculture at Bernice, Louisiana from 1949-1951. In 1951 Leon joined forces with the U. S. Soil Conservation Service, starting out in Grambling in 1951 as work unit conservationist. He was the first African American unit conservationist in the State of Louisiana. In 1965 he was transferred to the Ruston Field office. He was promoted to a RC&D specialist and relocated to the Shreveport office. The following year he was transferred to the state office located in Alexandria and appointed the chairman of the EEO Committee for the Soil Conservation Service for the State of Louisiana and his primary responsibility was to assure that minorities received their fair share of assistance for services. He remained in this position at the state office until his retirement in 1983, after 33 years of dedicated service Conservation Service and assisting and improving the plight of the African American farmer. He was a member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., the Soil
Conservation Society of America and the Mt. Zion Baptist Church where he had been a deacon for 57 years, 28 of those years were as church clerk and more recently, Chairman of the Deacon Board. Leon lived a strong work ethic, taught to him by his parents. Even though he worked full time for the federal government he found time to open several successful businesses, i.e., dormitory, rental property, day care center, laundromat
raised and sold cattle and insurance and for the last several years, bought and sold timber for a major timber company. Leon Blankenship, Sr. was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and greatgrandfather. He also loved his church, Mt. Zion Baptist Church where he was a faithful and dutiful member for over 57 years until his illness. He is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Nathaniel and Fannie Blankenship, a brother, Willie E. Blankenship, Sr. and sister, Hattie Victoria Blankenship. He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving and dutiful wife for almost 58
years, Mildred Johnson Blankenship; one son, Leon F. Blankenship, Jr., Shreveport, LA; one daughter, Pamela Anita Blankenship, Grambling; one grandson, Robert E. Carter, Jr., Grambling; one granddaughter, Teneisha T. Carter Grambling; four great-grandchildren, Brittani, Kamille, Mason and Gabriel Carter; one brother, King H. Blankenship, Richmond, CA; three sisters, Addie L. Milner,
Saline, LA; Cleo B. (Israel) Robinson, Itta Bena, MS and Lenora B. Gibson, Compton, CA; two brothers-in law, Clarence Hogans, Sr., Brooklyn, NY and Israel Robinson , Itta Bena, MS; two sisters-in-law, Freddie L. Johnson, Baton Rouge, LA and Dorothy J. Moody, Monroe, LA. and a host of other nieces,
nephews, cousins and friends. Visitation will be held on November 19, 2009 from 6:00 pm-7:00 p.m. at Paradise Funeral Home located at 3201 6th Street, Arcadia, Louisiana. Funeral services will be held on November 20, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 2586 ( Hwy 150) Martin Luther King Blvd., Grambling, Louisiana. Paradise Funeral Homes LLC of Arcadia, Louisiana officiating services.
Blanche Ruth Johnson (11-16-2009)
Lincoln Parish legend Blanche Ruth Johnson, affectionately known as “Miss Ruth” by all who knew her, went to be with Our Heavenly Father on November 14, 2009. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 17, 2009, at Kilpatrick’s Funeral Home in Ruston. There will be two visitations at Kilpatrick Funeral Home: one will be Monday night, November 16, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and the second will be Tuesday afternoon, November 17, and from 1:00 p.m. until the beginning of the service at 3:00 p.m. Rev. Chris Andrews and Rev. Doug McGuire will officiate the service. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery in Ruston with Rev. Andy Hurst officiating. Miss Ruth slipped into rest at her home on Cooktown Road, where she had been recovering from a stroke suffered May 26, 2007. She accomplished her desire to leave this world from her home and from the same bed in which she was born on October 3, 1906. She lived 103 years, 1 month, and 10 days. She was preceded in death by her parents, Norman Johnson and Ida May Pipes Johnson, both early residents of Choudrant and Ruston. Also preceding her in death was her beloved brother, Thomas Wade Ray Johnson, and his wife Bertha Seaward Johnson. Miss Ruth graduated from Choudrant High in 1925. In May, 1931, she received a B.A. degree from Louisiana Tech University with a major in mathematics and a minor in English. She earned her Master’s Degree in Mathematics from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in May, 1932. One of the most accomplished and honored teachers in Louisiana, Miss Ruth began her teaching career in 1926 at Mt. Union School, located between Bernice and Spearsville. In 1927, she taught at Downsville, followed by two years at Marion. From 1933-1936. She taught mathematics at Jonesboro High School; from 1936-1937, she taught at Greenwood High School in Caddo Parish; and from 1937-1943, she taught at Abbeville High School. From 1943-1967, she taught geometry, Algebra I and II, senior arithmetic, trigonometry, and calculus at Ruston High, where she also supervised hundreds of Louisiana Tech math education students. Despite teaching difficult subjects to more than 5,000 students and despite being a strong disciplinarian, she was easily one of the most popular and beloved teachers on the faculty. She had excellent rapport with her students and their parents, and many of those relationships continued until her death. One day after retiring from teaching, Miss Ruth embarked on a new career with Holiday Inn as a Cashier- Hostess. For nearly twenty-five years, she greeted the local people and out-of-towners as they came and departed the Ruston Holiday Inn and Maxwell’s Restaurant. In 1990, at age 84, Holiday Inn honored her at their convention in New Orleans as their “Employee of the Year.” She was a long-time member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Ruston. For years, she was the caretaker of her neighbors in Cooktown, northwest Ruston. She was known throughout the area for her boundless energy, for her magnanimous heart, and for her assistance to others. She financed struggling businesses, stored peoples’ belongings, allowed people to live in her properties, and did whatever necessary to help anyone in need. In 1989, the Mayor’s Commission for Women, the Ruston / Grambling Chapter of the National Organization for Women, and the Louisiana Tech Panhellenic Council honored her at their Celebration of Women and cited her for her work and contributions to 4-H and Girl Scout scholarships and travelships and for her financing through her own scholarship program the tuition and books for several college students. In her 90’s, in order to keep her mind young and hands busy, she began a series of “summer projects” to build houses for retired Methodist ministers or their widows and for special friends. To help her keep up with modern technology, she enrolled in a computer class at Trinity Methodist Church, and at the age of 96 she sent her first e-mail. She respected government and felt a strong civic responsibility. Throughout her life, she worked at the election polls even when there was no pay for the commissioners. Although she never sought a public office, she politicked and helped elect her brother Ray, who served for sixteen years on the Lincoln Parish Police Jury. Whenever one of her former students ran for a public office, she became their mentor and most active supporter. She loved campaigning door -to-door and continued to do so until the age of 96. Because she attended many of the local government meetings and kept up with current events, few people were more knowledgeable than she on Ruston /Lincoln government and politics. Miss Ruth loved and appreciated Louisiana Tech. In an effort to give back, she established two $100,000 Endowed Professorships, one in the College of Applied and Natural Sciences in honor of her parents and another in Chemistry to honor her brother Ray, who taught chemistry at Tech from 1938 until his retirement in 1982.
The Ruston Daily Leader named Miss Ruth as one of the Lincoln Legends, stating she was known for being “a tough-nosed, no -nonsense teacher in the classroom and a compassionate giver in the community.” In 2002, the College of Education at Louisiana Tech named her as their “Alumna of the Year,” and honored her with a reception and featured her in the Louisiana Tech Magazine. The Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce chose her to receive the Robert E. Russ Award in recognition of her leadership and involvement in civic activities. She also was Grand Marshall of the Ruston Peach Festival Parade. The Ruston High School Alumni Association in 2005 chose her to receive the “Distinguished Retired Educator Award,” To show her their love and appreciation, over 500 people attended her 100th birthday celebration which was planned and hosted by her former students and held at Squire Creek Country Club. On Nov. 16, 2006, at Louisiana Tech’s Fall Commencement, Louisiana Tech bestowed upon Miss Ruth, who was just twelve years younger than the university itself, an honorary doctorate in the humanities. Her parting words that day to the graduates was an appeal to, “Make this world a better place for having lived in it.” Miss Ruth is survived by numerous cousins and thousands of former students and loving friends who were befriended and inspired by her. Her “Cooktown boys” serving as pallbearers are Robert “Sonny” Cook, Roy Glover, Willie Green, Tommy Ledford, Jr., Andy Pee, Fred Pee, Billy Jack Price, and Ronald Taylor. Honorary pallbearers are James Davison, Gerald Hanchey, Johnny Maxwell, Rev. Doug McGuire, Dr. Wayne Owens, Ross Perritt, and Daniel Pevy. In 1990, an endowed scholarship with the Louisiana 4-H Foundation was created to honor Miss Ruth for her outstanding work in the Ruston community. In lieu of flowers, she felt that donations would be welcome to this scholarship fund. The donations can be sent to the Louisiana 4-H Foundation; P.O. Box 25100; Baton Rouge, LA 70894.
Special thanks are due to the many dedicated health care givers who assisted Miss Ruth during her illness, especially to sitters Cindy Hollenshead, Betty Shipp, Annie Carrodine, and Priscilla Caesar who cared for her during the last and critical days of her illness; to Dr. Wayne Owens, a former student who lovingly and faithfully treated her as a son would his mother; and to Agape Health Care, especially to Melanie and Rose. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com
Barry Lewis (11-13-2009)
A memorial service will be held for Barry Lewis, 58, at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, November 14, 2009, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Arcadia. Rev. Tony Nations will officiate.
Mr. Lewis was born February 13, 1951, in Ruston, LA, to William A. and Maudie Lewis. He entered into rest on November 11, 2009, at Promise Hospital in Shreveport, LA.
Barry is preceded in death by his parents William A. and Maudie Rorer Lewis, and by his brother William A. Lewis, Jr.
He is survived by daughter April Roberts and husband Tommy of Elmira Heights, NY, sister Susan Lewis of Shreveport, LA, grandchildren Zoe Roberts and Lexi Brooks of Elmira Heights, NY, nieces Brandy and Lisa, 5 great nieces and nephews and by a special friend Patti Marsalis of Shreveport, LA.
The family would like to say a special Thank You to Dr. Lu, the nurses and staff at Promise Hospital for their care during his extended illness.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK. 73123-1718 or at cancer.org, or to the Percy R. Johnson Burn Foundation, 1501 Kings Hwy, Shreveport, LA 71130.
Janie Alice Burns McKenzie Durham (11-13-2009)
Janie Alice Burns McKenzie Durham, 99, a former resident of Bernice, El
Dorado, Homer, and Junction City died Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at
Bernice Nursing & Rehab.
Mrs. Durham, the daughter of Bertha Porter and the Rev M.V. Burns, was born October 12, 1910 in Shiloh, Louisiana. Growing up during the early 1900's, she and her brothers would often ride their horses, Kate and Dan, to visit family, friends and school. Later the Burns' family moved to Bernice where she graduated from Bernice High School. After attending LSU, Mrs. Durham was employed by the First National Bank, El Dorado, Arkansas, holding various positions until her retirement. She was a longtime member of Immanuel Baptist Church, El Dorado, Arkansas and Junction City Baptist Church, Junction City, Arkansas.
Mrs. Durham was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands, W.A.
McKenzie and C.S. Durham; two sisters, Mary Lou Durham and Azilee Burns;
four brothers, Taft, Edward Y., Van H., and J.L. Burns.
She is survived by two nephews, Edd Burns and wife Pat Hall of Junction
City, AR; Terry Burns and wife Jeanne of Ruston, LA; five nieces, Vanette (Mrs. David) Harris of Lafayette, LA;Janie (Mrs. Bill) Colvin of Brentwood, TN; Cathy (Mrs. Jerry) Nash of Springhill, LA; Christy (Mrs. Joe) Hatley of Bernice, LA; and Becky Barnett of Nashville, TN; three sisters-in-law, Demaris Burns and Madge Burns of Ruston, LA and Margaret Burns of Saline,
LA. Mrs. Durham leaves many special friends and family members.
Services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 14, 2009 in Young's Chapel, El Dorado, AR. Officiating will be Rev. Bruce Cardin. Interment will
follow at Roselawn Cemetery in JunctiThe family will receive friends from 12:30 until service time at the funeral
home.
Memorials may be made to Junction City Baptist Church 112 N. Myrtle St.,
Junction City, AR 71749.
