April 16, 2005 - Obituaries from The News-Star, Monroe, Louisiana 71201
MRS. VERA IRENE JACKSON HIBBETS
Kilpatrick Funeral Home - West Monroe, LA
Funeral services for Mrs. Vera Jackson Hibbets will be 3:00 PM, Saturday, April 16, 2005 at Seigle Assembly of God Church in West Monroe, LA.
Officiating will be Rev. Kelvin R. Clark, Rev. David E. Hibbets, and Rev. James Downs.
Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Calhoun, LA.
Mrs. Hibbets was born on April 11, 1921 and passed away on April 14, 2005.
She was known by many names,
But the greatest was, "prayer warrior".
Wherever she went, she was always the same,
Singing and praying, as the Lord she proclaimed.
As a servant to others, she gave all that she could
She sacrificed in order to meet others' needs.
Her love will live on, as surely it should.
And her prayers will continue to sprout as seeds in the spring.
Today, she proclaims with a strong voice,
"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus" in her rest.
We know He holds her near,
and we are thankful for the 84 years she was blessed.
Mrs. Hibbets was preceded in death by three brothers: Jesse Jackson, Loys "Preacher" Jackson and Earl Jackson.
She is survived by her daughter: Lodema Ruth Hibbets Clark and husband, Rev. Kelvin R. Clark; and her son: Ronald Eugene Hibbets and wife, Teresa, all of West Monroe, LA; sisters: Audrey Calloway of West Monroe, LA, and Mozelle Odum of Kilgore, TX; grandchildren: Selena and Stephanie Hibbets; great-grandchildren: Kassidy and Abigail Clark, and Joshua Hibbets; several nieces, and nephews.
Pallbearers will be grandsons David Eugene Hibbets, Darrell Kelvin Clark, Darren Riley Clark, Daniel Ronald Hibbets, DeWayne Edward Hibbets, and nephew, Mike Robicheaux.
Honorary Pallbearers will be "Butch" Lee, Keith Hibbets, Artis Caraway, Robert Mercer, Paul Taylor, Randy Dorset, and Sherwin Hibbets.
The family would like to express special thanks to the staff of Landmark Nursing Home, Hospice of Louisiana, and beloved caregivers, Gloria Bearden and Irene Fuller.
Visitation will be Saturday from 10:00 AM till time of service at the church.
She was truly a woman who expressed God's great love.
Yesterday, Today, and Forever,
He expresses His love for her.
VIRGIL ARTHUR (V.A.) SHORT
Kilpatrick Funeral Home - Monroe, LA
Memorial services for Mr. Virgil Arthur (V. A.) Short, 78, of Monroe, LA, will be Sunday, April 17th, 2005, at 2:00 PM at the First Baptist Church of Swartz, with Rev. Danny McIlveene and Rev. Boyd Tannehill officiating and under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Monroe.
Mr. Short was born on October 4, 1926 in Waldo, Arkansas, and passed away after a lengthy illness on Thursday, April 14, 2005 in Monroe, LA.
Mr. Short moved his family to Monroe, in 1959 and opened Southside Barbershop.
He later opened Monroe Fence Company in 1970, which he operated until his retirement.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Swartz, where he was a member of the Men's Sunday morning Bible study class.
Mr. Short also served with the U.S. Navy on the USS Calk during World War II.
He is survived by his wife, Margie Nutt Short of Monroe, LA; daughter, Phyllis E. Williams of Monroe, LA; son, Roger S. Short and wife, Carla, of Las Vegas, NV; seven grandchildren, Winston Williams of Monroe, LA, Ryan Short of Atlanta, GA, Seth Williams of Lake Charles, LA, Allison and Kyle Short of Maumelle, AR, and David and Chaise Woodall of Little Rock, AR; four great-grandchildren; sister, Vivian Short Daniels of McNeil, AR; and brother, G. W. Short, Jr. of Little Rock, AR.
The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Tadikonda, Dr. Pathak, Dr. Shafiei and the 4th floor nursing staff of LSUCM Hospital.
HAZEL JUANITA ASHFORD STEELE
Greenwood Funeral Home - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth, Texas Hazel Juanita Ashford Steele, 81, died peacefully at home Friday, April 15, 2005.
Funeral will be 10:00 AM Monday at Lake Worth Baptist Church.
Burial will be at 10:00 AM Tuesday at Salem Cemetery, Eros, LA.
Visitation will be from 4:00 to 6:00 PM Sunday at Greenwood Funeral Home.
Nita was born Dec. 16, 1923, in Eros, LA.
She was a 52-year member of OES Polytechnic Chapter 420.
Nita was a longtime member of Lake Worth Baptist Church and worked as a Casualty Claim Examiner with International Service Insurance.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Vitas Hospice for all their love and care of Nita.
Survivors: Daughter, Debbie Steele Evans of Lake Worth; son, James Lee Steele, Jr. and daughter-in-law, Brenda of Cresson; grandchildren, James Lee Steele, III, Brendan John Steele, Staci Ingram Cook and husband, Travis; sister, Virginia Flanagan of Joshua; brother, Grady Bates of West Monroe, LA; and extended family, Gordon Whitaker, Rita Jones, Robert "Chip" Ward and Joan Walton.
Greenwood Funeral Home, 3100 White Settlement Rd., Fort Worth, Texas 76107 (817) 336-0584
VIOLA CLARA WATTS
Brown-Holley Funeral Home - Rayville, LA.
Services for Mrs. Viola Clara Watts, 89, of Start, LA, will be 2:00 PM, Sunday, April 17, 2005 at the Crew Lake United Methodist Church in Start, with Rev. Carroll Johnson officiating.
Interment will be in the Start Cemetery under the direction of Brown-Holley Funeral Home, Rayville, LA.
Mrs. Viola Watts was born on February 23, 1916 in Liddleville, LA, and passed away on Friday, April 15, 2005.
Mrs. Watts was a member of Crew Lake United Methodist Church in Start, LA.
She was a charter of U. M. W. at the church.
Survivors will her daughter: Emma Jo Sullivan and husband, Earl "Hoppy" of Start, LA; grandchildren: Richard Sullivan and wife, Toni of West Monroe, LA, Audrea Owens and husband, Brian of West Monroe, LA; great-grandchildren: Brad Taylor, Cole Sullivan, Cassidy Owens, William Owens all of West Monroe, LA; host of nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Aubrey Watts, Dennis Watts, Cecil Watts, John Watts, Rickey Whitten, Roger Whitten.
Honorary pallbearers will be Billy Whitten, Buddy Copeland, and Kevin Henry.
Visitation will be from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM, Saturday at Brown Holley Funeral Home.
JESSIE A. "SKIP" WEDGEWORTH
Kilpatrick Funeral Home - Famerville, LA
Graveside services for Mr. Jessie A. "Skip" Wedgeworth, 44 years, of Downsville, LA, will be at 11:00 AM Saturday, April 16, 2005, at Maple Avenue Cemetery, Smackover, AR.
Mr. Wedgeworth passed away Wednesday, April 13, 2005 at his home in Downsville, LA, of natural causes.
He was born June 30, 1960 in Ouachita County, AR.
The 4th child of Earl and Martha Wedgeworth and raised in Louanne, AR.
He was an avid fisherman and hunter and a commercial Plasterer by trade.
Mr. Wedgeworth was Baptist.
He was preceded in death by his Daddy Earl Wedgeworth.
He is survived by his wife Carla Morris Wedgeworth, his mother Martha Wedgeworth, sisters: Vickie Bell of Camden, AR; Susan Wood of West Monroe, Gwen Hyatt of Carthage Texas and one brother Tommy Wedgeworth of Norphlet, AR; and serveral nieces and nephews.
The Family will receive friends from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM Friday, April 15, 2005 at the Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Farmerville, LA.
MRS. CARL K. WHITE, SR. (MARGARET ELLEN WALTERS)
Mulhearn Funeral Home Feb. 16, 1907- Apr. 15, 2005 - West Monroe, LA
Graveside services for Mrs. Carl K. White, Sr. (Margaret Ellen Walters), 98, of West Monroe, LA, will be held at 3:00 PM Saturday, April 16, 2005 at the Hasley Cemetery Pavillion with Rev. Michi Head officiating, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe, LA.
Mrs. White died on Friday, April 15, 2005 at the Landmark Nursing Home.
She was a member of the McGuire United Methodist Church in West Monroe.
Mrs. White was a retired bookkeeper and worked for C.C. Bell Manufacturing Company in West Monroe.
She was a pioneer resident of West Monroe, where her mother ran a boarding house for local Louisiana Power and Light workers as well as Dr. Glenn Gallaspy, Roy Brooks and many others.
Mrs. White was active until a few years ago, working in her yard and feeding and watching large numbers of birds, a hobby for many years.
She was an avid reader, an accomplished seamstress, and skilled in all creative arts and crafts such as painting, ceramics, knitting, crocheting, embroidery and tatting.
She worked tirelessly at the Conway Hospital Gift Shop and the Glenwood Medical Center Gift Shop.
She will be missed by her family and friends who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl K. White, Sr., a local banker, and her five brothers: Albert, Spurgeon, Wesley, Anon and Johnny Walters, and her mother, Orlene "Mama" Walters and father Albert Walters.
Survivors include one son, Carl K. White, Jr. and his wife, Claudia; one daughter, Glenda Ann Thomason and her husband, Ray Thomason all of West Monroe. She leaves six grandchildren: Dr. Ken White, Dr. David White, Martha Ellen Upton, Carolyn Wojtera, Donna Norton, and Deion Hemphill.
There are seven great-grandchildren: Leigh Ann White, Lindsey White, Katherine White, Deanna White, Lance White, Michael Upton, Julie Ann Upton, Christopher Wojtera, Casey Wojtera, and Heath and Emily Hemphill.
The family would like to express special gratitude to Dr. Don Hammett and the Staff of the Landmark Nursing Home for their dedicated care through the years.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the McGuire United Methodist Church Building Fund.
Visitation will be from 2:00 PM until 2:45 PM Saturday at Mulhearn Funeral Home West Monroe.
Martha Elizabeth Caston, 92
RAYVILLE — Martha Elizabeth Caston, a retired clothing inspector, died Friday.
Arrangements are incomplete under the direction of Brown-Holley Funeral Home, Rayville.
Rocky Carl Crews, 12
CLAYTON — Rocky Carl Crews died Wednesday.
Services are 2 p.m. today at Young's Funeral Home, Ferriday.
Burial will follow at Highland Park Cemetery.
Mary Ann Crum, 76
FERRIDAY — Mary Ann Crum died Thursday.
Arrangements are incomplete under the direction of Comer Funeral Home, Ferriday.
Lubertha 'Bay' Gorham, 86
Lubertha "Bay" Gorham of Monroe, a homemaker, died Thursday.
Arrangements are incomplete under the direction of Smith Funeral Home, Monroe.
Robert S. 'Rabbit' Jobe, 60
TALLULAH — Robert S. "Rabbit" Jobe, an automobile mechanic, died Friday.
Services are 2 p.m. Sunday at Parkview Baptist Church.
Visitation is 5-8 p.m. today at Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home, Tallulah.
Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Michael Allen Mann, 52
RAYVILLE — Michael Allen Mann, a farmer, died Thursday.
Services are 2 p.m. today at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Rayville.
Visitation is 10 a.m. today until services begin at the church.
Burial will be at McKnight Cemetery, Holly Ridge, under the direction of Brown-Holley Funeral Home, Rayville.
Reginald Mims, 71
Reginald Mims of West Monroe, a truck driver, died Thursday.
Services are 2 p.m. today at Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe.
Visitation is 1 p.m. today until services begin at the funeral home.
Burial will be at Mount Zion Cemetery, Calhoun.
Jessie Wedgeworth, 44
DOWNSVILLE — Jessie Wedgeworth, a commercial plasterer, died Wednesday.
Graveside services are 11 a.m. today at Maple Avenue Cemetery, Smackover, Ark., under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home, Farmerville.
Margaret E. White, 98
