LEA, LUANA TOWNSEND
Died at 10:52 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 4, 2002, at her home in Zachary. She was a retired teacher at Baton Rouge Vocational School and a resident of Zachary for more than 50 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Lawrence "Larry" Lea; and her parents, John Lewis and Myrtle Black Townsend. She is survived by her two sons, Robert L. Lea, Jr. of Pineville, S.C., and John Dale and wife, Marion Shattuck Lea of Port-au-Prince, Haiti; a sister, Luella Clayton of Zachary; two nieces, Lela Mae Lea Wilkes of Baton Rouge and Roxie Clayton Benoit of Zachary; grandchildren, Christopher Wilson and wife, Bridget Brook Lea of England and Georgia Shattuck Lea and Elizabeth Margaret Lea, both of Atlanta; and a great-grandchild, Sophie Alexander Lea of England. Visiting at Charlet Funeral Home Inc., Zachary, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday. Visiting at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until religious service at 10 a.m. Tuesday, conducted by her deacon for many years, Dr. Brythel Brantly. Burial in Azalea Rest Cemetery, Zachary. Pallbearers will be Randy Benoit, Randy Stroud, Richard Lancaster, Charley Mac Munson and her two sons, Robert Lea and Dale Lea. Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church, 4200 Main St., Zachary, LA 70791 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 3704, Memphis, TN 38103.
MANFRE, JR. PAUL LEE
Paul Lee Manfre, Jr., 48, a resident and native of Morgan City, died Sunday morning, Aug. 4, 2002, at Ochsner Hospital, New Orleans. He is survived by his wife, Janice Wilks Manfre of Morgan City; a daughter, Leah Manfre LaCombe and husband, John LaCombe of Morgan City; a son, Ryan Paul Manfre of Lafayette; a stepson, Brandon S. Mitchell of Morgan City; mother, Mary Jean Breaux Waguespack and husband, Robert Waguespack of Plaquemine; three brothers, Michael W. Manfre of Pineville, Luke P. Manfre of Morgan City and Christopher M. Manfre of Hammond; two sisters, Paula J. Manfre of Berwick and Sara Manfre Kidd of Morgan City; and two grandchildren, Jonathan Lee LaCombe and Brett Jacob LaCombe, both of Morgan City. He was preceded in death by his father, Paul Lee Manfre, Sr.; and granddaughter, Brooke Andre LaCombe. Visitation at Hargrave Funeral Home, Morgan City, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, with a vigil service at 7 p.m. Visitation at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Morgan City, from 9 a.m. until funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Interment in Morgan City Cemetery.
STAFFORD, CHARLES C. "CHARLIE"
A blackjack dealer with Argosy Casino and a resident and native of Gonzales, he died at 5:40 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, 2002, in Baton Rouge. He was 62. Visiting was at Ourso Funeral Home, Gonzales, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Visiting at the funeral home from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday. Religious service at Carpenter's Chapel United Methodist Church, Galvez, at 1 p.m. Monday, conducted by the Rev. Billy Minyard. Interment in St. Theresa Catholic Church Cemetery, Gonzales. Survived by his wife, Betty Owens Stafford, Gonzales; mother, Mildred Braud Stafford, Gonzales; three daughters, Natalie Stafford Plaisance and husband, Mike, Gonzales, Sherrie Stafford Anderson, Prairieville, and Carla Lee Ann Stafford, Gonzales; four sons, Carl "Bee" Stafford and wife, Kathy, Walker, Charles Calvin Stafford and wife, Sonya, Galvez, Chris "Box" Stafford and wife, Pam, Gonzales, and Charlie Mac Stafford, Gonzales; four brothers, Farrell, Tommy, Terry and Connie Stafford, all of Gonzales; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by his father, Carl Dean Stafford. Pallbearers will be his sons, Bee, Calvin, Chris and Charlie Mack, son-in-law, Mike, and grandson, Reese Plaisance.
STEWART, GEORGIANNA T. "GANNIE"
A homemaker and resident and native of Baton Rouge, she died at 3:50 a.m. Tuesday, July 30, 2002, at Baton Rouge General Medical Center. She was 82. Visiting at Winnfield Funeral Home from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday. Religious service at St. Mary Baptist Church at 7 p.m. Tuesday, conducted by the Rev. Conway Knighten. Dismissal at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Interment in Greenoaks Memorial Park. Survived by her two daughters, Olevia H. Colbert, Los Angeles, and Eloris Ezeff, Baton Rouge; her son, Clyde Stewart; a son-in-law, Joseph Ezeff, Jr.; a sister, Lillian Parker; three brothers, Addison, Claude and Freddie Thomas; six grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Preceded in death by her parents, husband, two sisters and three brothers. Pallbearers will be Raymond Allen, David Dunbar, Linsdell Pikes, Robert Covington, Jr., Joseph Thomas and Clyde Wyatt. Honorary pallbearers are Claude Thomas, Addison Thomas, Freddie Thomas, Clyde Stewart, Joseph Ezeff, Jr., Ryan T. Ezeff and Byron Ezeff.
STOWELL, MBA, CPA MIRIAM WERNER
A retired certified public accountant, she died at 10:40 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, 2002, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. She was 85 and a native and resident of Baton Rouge. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home chapel, 825 Government St., from 9 a.m. Tuesday until religious service at 11 a.m., conducted by the Rev. A. Russell Stevenson. Burial in Roselawn Memorial Park. Survived by her daughter, Louise Stowell Ruzicka, Ph.D., Baton Rouge; two sons and daughters-in-law, Channing Stowell, III and Debra Fergus Stowell, Long Lake, Minn., and Christopher Werner Stowell, M.D. and Nancy Harder Stowell, Marietta, Ga.; and six grandchildren, Julie Darby, St. Louis, Joshua Christopher Stowell, Sarah Elizabeth Stowell and Samuel Harder Stowell, all of Marietta, and Helen Miriam Ruzicka and Nicolette Louise Ruzicka, both of Baton Rouge. Preceded in death by her husband, Lt. Col. Channing Stowell, Jr., U.S. Air Force; a grandson, Channing Werner Stowell, who was of Stanford, Calif., and Barrington, Ill.; mother, Helen Lenore Wiegel Werner; father, Joshua Christopher Werner, founder of Baton Rouge Coal and Towing Co.; and sisters and brothers, Ruth Werner Dunn, J.C. Werner, Jr., William Wiegel Werner, Helen Werner Jackson and John D. Werner. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church and Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She was a graduate of Dufrocq Elementary School, LSU Laboratory School and LSU. She was past president of the Baton Rouge chapter of Women in Accounting and before starting her own business she worked for the accounting firm of Thomas, Wilson and Ragusa. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the American Heart Association.
TARVER, JAMES R. "JIM"
Retired from F.G. Sullivan Contractors and a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, he passed away at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, 2002, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. He was 76, a native of Gloster, Miss., and a resident of Baton Rouge. Visiting at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday. Visiting in Greenoaks Funeral Chapel from noon until religious service at 2 p.m. Tuesday, conducted by the Rev. Ferris Jordan. Interment in Greenoaks Memorial Park. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Jackie and Mark Pinell, Baton Rouge; a grandson, Joel Pinell, Baton Rouge; and a brother, William G. Tarver, California. He was preceded in death by his wife of 30 years, Olivia Bass Tarver; his parents, Charles and Lydia Whittington Tarver; a brother, Will Alvin Tarver; and a sister, Margie Ivey. He was a member of Stevendale Baptist Church in Baton Rouge and VFW Post 7017 in Denham Springs.
ACHORD, SR. EARL CURTIS
A Denham Springs native, he died Sunday, June 16, 2002, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. He was 61. Visiting was held at Seale Funeral Home, Denham Springs, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday. Visiting at the funeral home from 8 a.m. until religious service at 2 p.m. Tuesday, conducted by the Rev. Terry Booth. Interment in Evergreen Memorial Park. He is survived by his wife, Anita Parker Achord; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Earl C. Achord, Jr., Willie J. and Jane Achord and R. Jason and Tami Achord; two daughters and sons-in-law, Anita L. and John Fabre and Rebecca A. and Jacob Kropog; two brothers, Huey L. and Willie A. Achord; and seven grandchildren, Ashlee Achord, Josh Lusk, Jacob Achord, Jordyn Achord, Earl C. Achord, III, Dave Guidroz and B.J. Guidroz. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Robert and Beulah Harris Achord; 17 brothers and sisters; and a grandson, Calvin Lamman Tyler. He was an avid sportsman, a member of the Ironworkers Union Local 623 and a founding member of the Live Oak Sports Association.
BARFIELD, SR. BARWICK ODESSA "BOB"
A longtime resident of Baton Rouge, he died at 5:30 a.m. Sunday, June 16, 2002, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. He was born May 28, 1921, in Anguilla, Miss., and raised in Vicksburg, Miss. He was preceded in death by his son, Eugene Kline Barfield; parents, Louis Nelson and Mary Dudley Barfield; brothers, Louis Nelson Barfield, Jr. and Marty Dudley Barfield, both were of Vicksburg; and a sister, Katherine Eugene Leonard, who was of Lexington, Ky. He is survived by his wife, Marilee Wilshire Barfield; a son, Barwick O. "Wick" Barfield, Jr. and wife, Cynda; daughters, Denise Alba and husband, Adrian and Pamela Katz and husband, Stephen; three grandchildren, Barwick O. "Trea" Barfield, III, Adrian T. Alba, III and Lauren Marie Alba; and devoted friends including Robert "Bob" Bethoney, El Paso, Texas. He graduated from Cooper High School in Vicksburg in 1939 and attended Mississippi State University. After World War II broke out, he joined the U.S. Army and was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943. He was a second lieutenant and navigator on B-17s in the 100th Bomb Group stationed in England during World War II. During his tenure, he was shot down on his 13th mission over Germany and was a prisoner of war for 11 months, liberated by Gen. George Patton in 1945. He received numerous decorations including the Airman's Medal with two oak clusters. He continued his commission as a first lieutenant in the Mississippi Army National Guard. Upon returning from service, he attended and graduated from LSU in 1950, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He most recently served as an elder at the First Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge and formerly as an elder at the Metairie Ridge Presbyterian Church in Metairie. He was also a member of the Red Stick Chapter of Ex-POW's. Professionally, he was very active nationally in securities, insurance and banking firms, among them E.F. Hutton, Paine Webber and Providian, until his retirement in 1999. He looked forward to his weekly Saturday morning meetings exchanging intellectual and political banter with a variety of stimulating and loyal friends at Books-A-Million. He will be remembered primarily for his creative and innovative genius in financial product development and the highest degree of honesty and integrity. A wonderful and devoted husband, father and grandfather, a brave and courageous soldier and a loyal friend, his great wit, intelligence and candor will be truly missed. Visiting at Fisher-Riles Funeral Home, 1830 Cherry St., Vicksburg, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Visiting at the funeral home from 8:30 a.m. until religious service at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Burial in Cedar Hill Cemetery.
BARNES, DOROTHY MAE "DOT" "SAM" "DAR"
A homemaker and resident of Baton Rouge, she died Thursday, June 13, 2002, at Baton Rouge General Medical Center-Mid City. She was 54 and a native of Clinton. Religious service at Ministry of Love, 5956 Hooper Road, at 11 a.m. Wednesday, conducted by Pastor Steib. Interment in St. John Baptist Church Cemetery. Survived by her devoted former husband, Abe Watson, Jr.; parents, Lawerence and Addie Williams; five daughters, Ora Barnes, Betty Maten and husband, Ray, and Melinda, Paulette and Kenyetta Watson, all of Baton Rouge; five sons, Abe Watson and wife, Rhonda, Gerald Watson, Larry Watson and wife, Joy and Joseph Barnes, all of Baton Rouge, and Abe Williams, Clinton; a brother, Lawerence Williams and wife, Felicia; 16 grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Preceded in death by a daughter, Charlene Barnes; a grandson, Deameal Barnes; and her father, Sam Powell. She was devoted to God and faithful to the church. Arrangements entrusted to Richardson Funeral Home, Clinton.
BELANGER, LORETTA DELAUNE
A devoted wife, mother, grandmother and a registered nurse with the Capitol Area Center for Addictive Disorders, she died Monday, June 17, 2002, at Memorial Medical Center, New Orleans. She was 56, a native of St. Louis and a longtime resident of Baton Rouge. Visiting at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, 2250 Main St., from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. until religious service at noon Wednesday, conducted by the Rev. Donald Blanchard. Interment in Roselawn Memorial Park. Survived by her husband, Paul R. Belanger,, Sr.; a daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Michael Albano; a son and daughter-in-law, Paul R. Belanger, Jr. and Kristen Belanger; eight grandchildren, Claire, David, Catherine, James and John Albano, and Aaron, Alyse and Alexandra Belanger; and two brothers and a sister-in-law, William and Patricia Delaune and Donald E. Delaune. Preceded in death by her parents, Emile D. and Isabel Champagne Delaune; and a grandchild, Mary Elizabeth Albano. Pallbearers will be Michael Steinkamp, Lee Alexander, Mike Albano, Mike Belanger, Jr., Dr. John Atkinson and Randy Dornier. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Augusto Abad, Dr. Ron Boudreaux and Dr. Louis Hargus. The family requests that in lieu of flowers enrollment of Masses is preferred. Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., in charge of arrangements.
BELL, BERNICE
A resident and native of Baton Rouge, she was 98 years old.
She died Friday, June 14, 2002 at Baton Rouge Health Care at 12:05 p.m. Visiting at Sherobee Baptist Church, 10064 Jones Vaughn Creek Road, Jackson, from 11 a.m. Wednesday until service at noon, conducted by Rev. Roosevelt Norflin.
Interment in church cemetery.
Survived by many cousins, Eddie, Sr. and Martha Coates, Golden Collins, George and Willie Lewis, Ethel Underwood, Dorothy Lee, Rose Brown, Lirty Stokes, Classie Collins, and ministers Grayling and Linda Ward.
Miller and Daughter Mortuary, Zachary, in charge of arrangements.
