CATCHINGS, FERN
Former owner of a chain of theaters and owner of City Drug Store in Woodville, Miss., she died at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, 2001, at Field Memorial Community Hospital, Centreville, Miss. She was 85, born Nov. 11, 1916, in New Roads, and a resident of Woodville. Visitation at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Woodville, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Saturday, conducted by the Rev. Walt Brown. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery. Survived by four sons, Albin M. Randall, Jr., James L. Randall, Rory P. Randall and Charles E. Randall, all of Woodville; a stepson, William Henry Catchings, Jr., St. Francisville; a sister, Gwen Robillard, New Roads; a brother, J.C. Langlois, New Roads; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her father and mother, Lionel Joseph Langlois and Annie Savignol; husbands, Albin Major Randall and William Henry Catchings; and two brothers, L.J. Langlois, Jr. and Vernon Langlois. Pallbearers will be James Randall, Jr., Paul Randall, Al Randall, Nick Randall, Jordan Smith, Cody Smith, Charles Canova, Jr. and Travis Sharp. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Berryhill Funeral Home, Woodville, in charge of arrangements.
CHARLEVILLE, SR. RICHARD BARRY "DICKIE"
A retired employee with Exxon Co. USA and a resident of Belle River, he died at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2001, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. He was 59 and a native of Baton Rouge. Visiting was at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. Visiting at the funeral home from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church at 1 p.m. Saturday, celebrated by the Rev. Tom Duhe. Interment in Roselawn Memorial Park. Survived by his wife, Janice Ann Becnel Charleville; a daughter and son-in-law, Erin and Ronnie Frioux; two sons and daughters-in-law, Richard "Barry", Jr. and Leslie Charleville and Steven and Rhonda Charleville; six grandchildren, Chandler and Joseph Charleville, Reagan and Ryan Frioux and Grace and Julia Charleville; a brother, Fred S. Charleville, Jr.; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. Preceded in death by his father, Fred Charleville, Sr.; mother, Ida Mae Charleville Lemoine; step-father, Alvin Lemoine; and a son, Jeff Charleville. Pallbearers will be Tommy, Gene, Jimmy and Dickie Becnel, Scott and Ricky Charleville and Marshall Pruyn.
GARDNER, MERCEDES LEGRO "MERCI"
A resident and native of Baton Rouge, she died at 3 a.m. Friday, Dec. 14, 2001, at Baton Rouge General Medical Center. She was 91. Religious services at Rhodes United Fidelity Funeral Home at noon Saturday. Interment in Gilbert Memorial Park. Survived by two daughters, Eva Mae Buckney and Yvonne Rowe; two sons, Charlie Mills and Paul Hayes; 11 grandchildren, Toni Lynn White, John McCray, Joshua Mills, Ingrid Mills, George Mills, Fredrick Tate, Kendrick Mills, Anita Mills, Beverly Mills, Katie Hills of Las Vegas, Nev., and Janetta Hills of California; 18 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her husband, William Gardner; parents, maternal grandparents, a daughter, two sisters and a brother.
GILBERT, ELSIE BERGERON
A native and resident of Napoleonville, she died at 11:05 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, 2001. She was 92, born Nov. 16, 1909. Visiting at Assumption Catholic Church, Plattenville, from 9 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at noon Saturday. Interment in St. Anne Cemetery, Napoleonville. Survived by a brother, Iven J. Bergeron; and two sisters, Hesmie Himel and Thelma Thibodeaux. Preceded in death by husband, George Gilbert; parents, Philip and Angella Oncale Bergeron; and a brother, Hervey Bergeron. Landry’s Funeral Home, Inc., Napoleonville, in charge of arrangements.
HEBERT, ESTELLE AYO
A longtime resident of Thibodeaux, she died at 11:40 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2001, at Baton Rouge General Medical Center-Bluebonnet. She was 93. Visitation at St. Joseph’s Co-Cathedral in Thibodeaux, from 9 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Saturday. Interment in St. Joseph Cemetery. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Mary Ellen and Lee Shiflett; and grandson, C. Benton Landry, all of Baton Rouge; and granddaughter, Lauryn Landry of Atlanta. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Hebert, Jr.; parents, Dr. Sampson A. Ayo and Annette Coulon Ayo; and a sister, Odette Ayo Blanchard. She taught English at East Thibodeaux Junior High School for many years, then tutored at E.D. White Catholic High School until 1990, when she moved to New Orleans, to be near her daughter. She was a resident of St. Clare Manor in Baton Rouge, at the time of her death.
JONES, ALBERTA C. THOMPSON
A retired custodian with the St. Helena Parish school system and resident of Clinton, she died Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2001, at Grace Health and Rehabilitation Center, Clinton. She was 75 and a native of Staten Island, N.Y. Visiting was at Charlet Funeral Home, Inc., Clinton, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. Visiting at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Pine Grove, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Saturday, conducted by the Rev. Phillip McDaniel. Interment in Montpelier Cemetery. Survived by her mother, Marie A. Sapp, Advance, N.C.; a daughter and son-in-law, Laura Thompson and Darrel W. Aucoin, Clinton; three brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law, James and Dianne Thompson, and Ralph Thompson, all of Pine Grove, Billy Johnson, Clinton, and Janice W. Thompson; two grandsons, Darrel W. Aucoin, Jr. and wife, Patricia, and Arthur Dewitt Aucoin and wife, Heather; five great-grandchildren, Trevor, Jackson, Sawyer, Karlyn and Ethan Aucoin; and a brother, Gary A. Sapp, Advance, N.C. Preceded in death by husbands, Albert Dewitt Thompson and Homer S. Jones; father, Albert T. Sapp; a sister, Yvonne Selfslaghs Neal; a brother-in-law, Sibley W. Thompson and wife, Dorothy P. Thompson; and a sister-in-law, Ella Mae Johnson. Pallbearers will be Darrel Aucoin, Dewitt Aucoin, Wayne Aucoin, T.W. Graham, David Thompson and Kirby Thompson. She was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Pine Grove. Memorial donations may be made to the family to help with funeral cost.
MAXWELL, JOE
A retired electrician and a resident of Slaughter, he died at 4:26 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2001, at Lane Memorial Hospital, Zachary. He was 79 and a former resident of Longview, Texas. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army after service in World War II. Visiting was at Charlet Funeral Home, Inc., Zachary, from 8:30 a.m. until religious services at 10 a.m. Friday, conducted by Dr. Alan Dee Einsel. Interment in Port Hudson National Cemetery. Survived by his wife of 18 years, Alberta Meetz Maxwell, Slaughter; two daughters, Sherry Ann Morales, Shreveport, and Rebecca Eck, LaVista, Neb.; three sons, Jerry Maxwell, Shreveport, Jimmy Maxwell, Farmington, N.M., and Barry Maxwell, Indianapolis; 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by his first wife, Vennette Miller Maxwell; a son, Ray Maxwell; and a sister, Marie Herrick. He was a lifelong member of Veterans of Foreign Wars in Longview.
McMILLAN, ZILPHIA HODGESON "ZIP"
A retired supervisor for the Louisiana Rating Commission, with 35 years of service, and a resident of Baton Rouge, she went to be with the Lord at 4:15 a.m. Friday, Dec. 21, 2001, at Landmark of Baton Rouge. She was 84 and a native of Baker. Visiting at Greenoaks Funeral Home chapel, 9595 Florida Blvd., from 10:30 a.m. Monday until funeral services at 2 p.m., conducted by Ken Norton. Interment in Greenoaks Memorial Park. Survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Robert K. and Kathryn McMillan, Greenwell Springs; a daughter, Julie Burt, Cleveland; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Forrest McMillan; a daughter, Molly Stockwell; parents, Hardy and Lillie Bankston Hodgeson; a sister and a brother. She was a member of Broadmoor United Methodist Church and the church’s ABC group.
PERKINS, LA JEANNE W.
Passed away Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2001, at Sun Valley Health Care Center, Harlingen, Texas. She was 79, born May 29, 1922, in Monroe, to Robert and Lavina Smart. She had been a resident of Harlingen for 20 years, moving there from Colorado. She was a member of the Contract Bridge League, where she served as a national master and was a member of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church. She is survived by a daughter, Penny Perkins, Castle Rock, Colo. Preceded in death by her husband, James H. Perkins on March 7, 2000. Memorial services at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church at 1 p.m. Saturday, with the Rev. David Reed and the Rev. Judy Sessions officiating. Those desiring may make memorial donations to St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 1417 E. Austin, Harlingen, TX 78550.
POCHE, GERMAYER DWAYNE "DUCI"
A resident and native of Baton Rouge, he died at 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, 2001. He was 24. Religious services at New Southside Funeral Home at 9 a.m. Saturday, conducted by the Rev. Leroy Williams. Burial in Southern Memorial Gardens. Survived by his mother, Debra Kent; and father, Harry Poche. Preceded in death by his great-grandmother, Mattie Jackson; an aunt, Lena Winsey; and two uncles, Felton Kent and Larry Mackson. He was a 2000 graduate of Wilma C. Montgomery Center.
ROBARDS, MERLE JEAN BENNETT
A resident of Denham Springs, she died at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, 2001, at Summit Hospital, Baton Rouge. She was 59 and a native of Livingston Parish. Visiting at Seale Funeral Home, Denham Springs, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. until religious services at 3 p.m. Sunday, conducted by the Rev. Paul Taylor. Interment in Beech Ridge Cemetery, Denham Springs. Survived by her husband, Allen Robards; four daughters and two sons-in-law, Gloria Robards, Denham Springs, Tammy Robards, Maurepas, Terrie and Richard Brown and Shawn and Edward Stephens, all of Denham Springs; mother, Lillian Bennett, Denham Springs; five sisters, Martha Arnold, Denham Springs, Hilda Herrod, Santa Anna, Texas, Susie McMullan, Greensburg, Elaine Cavalier, Walker, and Vickie Goff, Bendale, Miss.; three brothers, Bill Bennett, Denham Springs, Joe Bennett, Satsuma, and Gary Bennett, Walker; eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her father, Hulion Bennett. Pallbearers will be Johnny Herrod, Scotty Herrod, David Herrod, Billy Joe Bennett, Jason Robards, Chris Cavalier and Corey Bennett. She was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church on Arnold Road.
ROBILLARD, RUTH WAUDEEN
A retired employee of The Advocate and a resident of Prairieville, she died at 12 a.m. Friday, Dec. 21, 2001, at Baton Rouge General Medical Center-Bluebonnet. She was 74 and a native of Liberty, Miss. Visiting at Niland’s Funeral Home, New Roads, from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Saturday. Religious services at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 11 a.m. Saturday, conducted by the Rev. Michael Schatzle. Interment in False River Memorial Park. Survived by her husband, Russell J. Robillard, Prairieville; a daughter and son-in-law, Delores and Todd Bloomfield, Prairieville; a sister, Dimple Causey, Natchez, Miss.; a brother, Arlis Rogers, Natchez; and a grandchild.
SANCHEZ, MYRTLE BRIGNAC
A resident of Bear Island, she died Friday, Dec. 21, 2001, at her residence. She was 78 and a native of Maurepas. Visitation was held at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday. Visiting at the church from 8 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Saturday, conducted by the Rev. Lee. Interment in Maurepas Cemetery. Survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Jan Sanchez, Maurepas; a daughter and son-in-law, Betty and Collins Dupuy, Whitehall; a daughter, Dot Smiley, Lake Charles; nine grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Paul and Rogers Brignac; and a sister, Nita Brignac Poche Picou, all of Maurepas. Preceded in death by husband, Renny Sanchez; five brothers, Alcide, Valmond, Lee Roy, Alfred and Jessie Brignac; a sister, Lena May Thompson; and parents, Alcide and Alice Berthelot Brignac. She was a member of the American Legion Post No. 58, Maurepas Auxiliary, St. Mary Catholic Church, Senior Friends, Gonzales chapter, and AARP, Maurepas chapter. Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home, Hammond, in charge of arrangements.
