Obituaries - September 2007

September 1, 2007 - Obituaries from the News-Star, Monroe, Louisiana 71201

MARILYN VENEDA MAXWELL Mulhearn Funeral Home Sterlington Road, Monroe, LA Funeral services for Marilyn Veneda Maxwell, 60, of Monroe, will be held Monday, September 3, 2007, at 10:00 AM in the chapel of Mulhearn Funeral Home, Sterlington Road, Monroe, with Rev. Mike Holloway officiating. Interment will follow in Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery. Ms. Maxwell passed away Wednesday, August 29, 2007, at St. Francis North Hospital after a long fight with her illness. Everyday was a struggle of life for so long. She is now in peace as our Heavenly Father promised. She was a 1966 graduate of Ouachita High School becoming valedictorian. She received her degree from Northeast Louisiana State University in psychology and Masters at LSU Baton Rouge. She was a very intellectual intelligent person. She was administrator of the Louisiana Eighth District Substance and Alcohol Abuse Program Clinic. She was instrumental in forming the Substance Abuse Clinic in Houston's Methodist Hospital. She had a very strong sincere love for animals. Ms. Maxwell was raised in the Baptist faith of the First Baptist Church of Monroe, later in life changing her faith to the Episcopal Church. She is preceded in death by her grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Townsend Jennings; grandfather, Iley Jennings; grandmother, Genver Thornhill Maxwell; grandfather, Jessie Maxwell; a very special aunt, Violet Jennings Crabb; aunt, Myrtle Jennings Stewart; and stepfather, C. L. Logan. Survivors include her mother, Blondell Maxwell Logan; father, Aubrey Maxwell; uncles, Bill Crabb of Houston, TX, and Travis Maxwell of Monroe; one very special cousin, Brenda Sue Maxwell Milton; special cousin, Max Maxwell of Houston, TX presently in Norway; and cousins, Barry Crabb and Kimberly Crabb Lamon of Houston, TX. Pallbearers will be Bryan Milton, Jared Milton, Josh Milton, Brandon Milton, Steve Maxwell, and Nathan Maxwell. Visitation will be Sunday from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM and Monday from 9:30 until service time at Mulhearn Funeral Home, Sterlington Road, Monroe. The family wishes to extend Special Thanks to one very special cousin, Brenda Sue Maxwell Milton, who helped and cared so much during this time of illness. Thank you, thank you Brenda from the heart. You're so special. Special humble thanks to Dr. David Barnes for his long service to Marilyn; and in appreciation and thank you to Dr. Barron with Dr. Leary's office. Dr. Barron, a kind and humble of pride man, we thank you. Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneral home.com

MARJORIE NORRED COX FUNERAL HOME OAK GROVE, LA Funeral services for Marjorie Norred, who departed August 31, 2007 at the age of 87, will be held 2:00 PM, Sunday, September 2, 2007 at the First Baptist Church of Oak Grove, LA with Dr. James Parker officiating. Interment will follow in the Oak Grove City Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Cox Funeral Home in Oak Grove on Saturday, September 1, 2007 from 5:00PM to 9:00PM. Mrs. Norred was preceded in death by her husband, David Norred; parents, John and Elizabeth Price; sister, Mary Francis Balding. Marjorie is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Suzanne and George "Butch" Philley of Lafayette, LA; granddaughters, Kacey and Andi Philley of Monroe, LA; son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Jenny Norred of Oak Grove, LA; granddaughters, their husbands and children, Amber and Don Hossman and great grandson Landon Hossman of Jonesboro, AR, and Aimee and John McPike of Memphis, TN; sister, Betty Copeland of Oklahoma City, OK; sister and brother-in-law, Sue and Dana Larson of Lafayette, LA; sisters-in-law, Jeanne Norred, Susie Norred, and Virginia Norred, and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be nephews, Jim Hatch, Clayton J. Norred, and Trey Norred, Former employees of Norred Truck and Tractor Co., Bob Chestnut, Bobby Cooper, and a family friend Ray Rouse. Honorary pallbearers will be Charlie Hankins, and Glen Tanner. Memorials can be made to the WEE Care Program of First Baptist Church of Oak Grove.

THE REV. WILLIAM E. BALLDRIDGE, SR. Mulhearn Funeral Home Rayville, LA Memorial Eucharist for The Rev. William E. Baldridge, Sr., 80, of Rayville, LA will be 10:30 AM Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at Grace Episcopal Church Monroe, LA with interment in Grace Episcopal Church Columbarium. The Right Reverend D. Bruce McPherson, Bishop of Diocese of Western Louisiana and The Reverend Canon Gregg Riley officiating. Evening Prayer Service will be 5:30 p.m. Monday, September 3, at St. David's Episcopal Church, Rayville with The Reverend Kirkland Knight officiating, followed by reception and visitation in the Parish Hall. "Father B" served as curate at Grace Episcopal Church for 4 years prior to serving at St. David's Episcopal Church, Rayville and St. Columba's Episcopal Church, Winnsboro for 41 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ike Elbert and Ada Dozier Baldridge; brother, John Elbert Baldridge and neice, Sharon Baldridge Johanson. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Vail Delony Baldridge of Rayville; daughters, Kathy Baldridge Sutton and husband Joey of Ruston, LA, Beth Baldridge Smith and husband, Carl of Bastrop, LA, Mary Sue Baldridge Knight and husband Kirkland of Tyler, TX ; sons, David Baldridge and wife Chrissi of Memphis, TN, and Will Baldridge of Houma, LA; sister, Sue Baldridge of Memphis, TN; nephew, Dave Baldridge and wife Sue of St. Louis, MO; grandchildren, Chase and Michael Sutton, Megan and Sarah Beth Smith and Emily and Katie Knight. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. David's Episcopal Church, Rayville, St. Columba's, Winnsboro and Operation Pass Along at family request, for address information, contact funeral home. Online registry /condolences at www.mulearnfuneral home.com

THOMAS ALLEN SPINKS Arlington, TX Thomas Allen Spinks left this world on August 26, 2007, to begin a new journey into heaven. He went to sleep, to wake no more, in his home in Arlington, TX the only way he would've have wanted to go, surrounded by his family. Tommy lived every day of his 58 years with intensity, generosity of spirit, and unparalleled passion for his family. Behind him, he leaves a rich legacy. He was a dreamer, who recognized his greatest dream while here on earth. He was surrounded by his family all of the days of his life. In recent years he began sharing and expanding the dreams of those he encountered. With the creation of his national, record breaking magazine, Millionaire Blueprints, he found an outlet to share a portion of the wisdom he had collected… His hope was to inspire others to find their ultimate success. This was a theme for his life, looking out for others, wanting the best for others, loving others. It was always about "others" not "self," for this giant of a man. He loved his family with a ferocity and devotion that is beyond explanation. They feel his loss intensely, but are comforted with the resonance of the spirit he left behind. Forevermore will they hear his words of love, encouragement and belief that he was so diligent to spill out on those around him. Tommy is proceeded in death by his parents, Rev. Otis and Grace Spinks. He leaves behind his lifelong soul mate and wife of 40 years, Barbara Lindsay Spinks; his eternally devoted children: Kimberly Spinks Burleson (Michael Burleson) of Arlington, TX ,Teri Spinks Netterville (Kevin Netterville) of Shreveport, LA , Jason Wesley Spinks of Arlington, TX, and Lindsay Spinks Shepherd (Chad Shepherd) of Arlington, TX; his treasured grandchildren: Stone, Sunny and Shane Burleson, Steele, Summer and Slade Netterville, Kendyl and Kade Spinks, Janna and Tyler Gentry and Turner Shepherd; and his loving sisters Peggy Spinks Hughes (Ed Hughes) of Longview, Texas, and Betty Carol Spinks Bales (Joey Bales) of W. Monroe, LA. And countless other family and friends who are hurting exquisitely right now, but find joy in the memories of this amazing, funny, compassionate, indescribable man. Memorial service will be held at St. Barnabas United Methodist Church in Arlington, TX on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at 4:00pm. The family is honoring Tommy's wish that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the St. Barnabas building fund or charity of your choice. St. Barnabas UMC 5011 West Pleasant Ridge Rd. Arlington, TX 76016 817-483-1667.

R.L. Alford, 72
HEBERT — R.L. Alford, a retired welder, died Friday. No services are planned. Arrangements are under the direction of Riser Funeral Home, Columbia.

Otis Bruce, 93
NEWELLTON — Otis Bruce died Saturday. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Young's Funeral Home in Ferriday.

Jerry O. Brosset, 71
Jerry O. Brosset of West Monroe, a retired principal, died Thursday. The funeral is at 2:30 p.m. today in Feazel Chapel at First Baptist Church of West Monroe. Burial is in Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Calhoun, under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home, West Monroe.

Chester Crews, 95
MER ROUGE — Chester Crews, a farmer, died Friday. Graveside services are at 2 p.m. today at Reeks Cemetery, Pioneer. Visitation is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Brown-Holley Funeral Home, Oak Grove.

Dakota James Doyon, 12
BASTROP — Dakota "Little Jelly" James Doyon, a student, died Friday. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Cox Funeral Home, Bastrop.

Walter Raymond Earl, 61
Walter Raymond "Rusty" Earl, a typesetter with Summitt Printing Co., died Friday. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe.

Billie Jean Frazier, 79
EL DORADO, Ark. — Billie Jean Frazier, a retired bank teller, died Saturday. Graveside services are at 2 p.m. today at Cook Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Kilpatrick Funeral Home, Ruston.

Augusta Kelly, 69
WATERPROOF — Augusta Kelly, a homemaker, died Saturday. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Smith Funeral Home, Monroe.

James Douglas Mohler, 61
GRAYSON — James Douglas Mohler, a retired Chevron Oil Company employee, died Saturday. Funeral arrangements are incomplete under the direction of Riser Funeral Home, Columbia.

Marjorie Norred, 87
OAK GROVE — Marjorie Norred, a homemaker, died Friday. The funeral is at 2 p.m. today at First Baptist Church of Oak Grove. Burial is in Oak Grove Cemetery under the direction of Cox Funeral Homes of Oak Grove.

George Thomas, 61
George Thomas of Monroe died Saturday. Funeral arrangements are incomplete under the direction of Smith Funeral Home of Monroe.

Gutha Shannon Willis, 87
FERRIDAY — Gutha Shannon Willis, a retired Concordia Bank and Trust teller, died Saturday. The funeral is at 2 p.m. Monday at Sevier Memorial United Methodist Church in Ferriday. Visitation is 5-8 p.m. today at Young's Funeral Home, Ferriday. Burial is in Nolley Memorial Cemetery, Jena.

PREVIOUSLY ACKNOWLEDGED
Brown, Judith Irene: 2 p.m. today, First West Worship Center, West Monroe.
Bruce, Grace: 2 p.m. today, Young's Funeral Home, Vidalia.
Johnson, Willie B.: 3:30 p.m. today, First Baptist Church, Rayville.
Martinez, Carlos: 2 p.m. today, Riser Funeral Home, Columbia.
Maxwell, Marilyn V.: 10 a.m. Monday, Mulhearn Funeral Home, Sterlington Road, Monroe.
Thomas, Bert W. Jr.: 1 p.m. today, St. Luke Baptist Church, Newellton

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