Caddo Parish Obits: Brown, Payne, Sayers, Waggonner Date Submitted: Oct. 8, 2007 Submitted by: Peggy Hale Contact: peggyhale@aol.com Source: The Shreveport Times ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Beneva B. Brown SHREVEPORT, LA- Funeral services for Beneva B. Brown, 77, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at Avenue Baptist Church, 1600 Peabody. Officiating will be Rev. Clarence Hicks. Interment will follow at Carver Cemetery. Open visitation will be held on Monday, October 8, 2007 until 8:00pm at Heavenly Gates. Mrs. Brown passed away on Thursday, October 4, 2007. She is survived by her husband, Gerald; son, Garland; daughter, Phyllis, sister, Doris Brown Lee; grandchildren, Dexter Hall and Tiffany Hall. Heavenly Gates Funeral Home Thomas Dixon Payne SHREVEPORT, LA- Mr. Thomas Dixon Payne, 91, passed away on Friday, October 5, 2007. Graveside services will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at Forest Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Osborn Funeral Home from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. prior to the service. Officiating will be Dr. Larry Williams of Broadmoor Baptist Church. Mr. Payne was born on May 15, 1916 in Shreveport, La. He was the son of William E. Payne, Sr. and Elizabeth Ann Coats Payne. Mr. Payne married Dorothy Ellis Payne on January 3, 1935 and celebrated 71 years of marriage prior to her death in 2006. Mr. Payne was an Army Veteran of WWII. He was Vice President of Kalmbach Burkett Company, served on the Board of Directors and retired from the company in 1981 after 44 years of service. He was a former President of Louisiana Seedmens Association, member of Schumpert Medical Center Guild, where he served on the Board and was currently a member of Broadmoor Baptist Church. Mr. Payne was previously a member of Summer Grove Baptist Church, serving as Superintendent of Adult II Sunday School and was Chairman of the church's planning committee. He was a deacon at the former Highland Baptist Church. Mr. Payne was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Billy Raymond Payne; three brothers, W.E. Payne, Jr., Harry Payne and Kirby Payne; two sisters, Jessie Payne and Annie Payne. He is survived by one son, Jim D. Payne and his wife, Donna of Shreveport; daughter-in-law, Cristy Payne of Longview, TX; brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Joe Bob Alexander and wife, Barbara of Waskom, TX; four grandchildren, Jeffrey Payne of Flower Mound, TX, Diana Michelle Larkey and husband, Bryan of LaPorte, TX, and Matthew Thomas Payne and Alicia Marie Payne of Longview, TX; four great-grandchildren, Lindsey and Jonathan Payne and Brandon and Kevin Larkey; numerous nieces and nephews and a host of friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Baptist Children's Home, Broadmoor Baptist Building Fund or the charity of choice. The family wishes to give special thanks to the caregivers at Spring Lake Guest Care for their sincere kindness during Mr. Payne's life, Mr. Buddy Forest and staff. A special thanks to Dr. David Abdehou and his nurse Mrs. Sue Garcia, the physicians at the Northwest Nephrology Clinic and the 8th floor nurses staff at LifeCare at Pierremont. OSBORNFUNERALHOME.NET Yvonne Ina Maddox Sayers SHREVEPORT, LA- Funeral services celebrating the life of Yvonne Ina Maddox Sayers will be 11:30 a.m., Monday October 8, 2007 at Rose-Neath Southside Chapel. Officiating will be Brother Robert Richardson and Brother Don Bush. Serving as pallbearers will be Johnny Brock III, D.P. Morris, and her grandsons. Interment will follow in Forest Park West Cemetery. The family will receive friends for visitation at the funeral home Sunday, October 7th, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Mrs. Sayers was born May 9, 1919 in Cheneyville, LA to Wesley and Florence Maddox. At 4:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, October 4, 2007 there was more laughter in heaven than ever before. Yvonne Sayers walked through the gates of heaven and filled the celestial with joy. She is now at rest. As a wife she stood strong by her husband of 68 years, Walter Aaron Sayers, with great love and devotion. As a mother for her three children Ronald Aaron Sayers, Linda Gayle Bancroft and Robert Don Sayers she was always there with enormous liveliness to encourage and lift up. She cherished her grandchildren, Rusty Sayers, Aaron Sayers, Susan Combs Holt, Spencer Combs, Amy Yvonne Sayers, and Bradley Sayers. Her great-grandchildren, Jackson Combs, Beckett Combs, Blake Holt, and Jacob Sayers were precious to her as well. Mrs. Sayers was affectionately known to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren as "Tha G". Mrs. Sayers served her Savior and Lord Jesus Christ with joy as a member of Kingston Road Baptist Church. Her service and fellowship also extended to her membership in the Sunset Chapter of The Eastern Star. As a friend to many she was full of vim and vigor and she brought a smile to everyone she met. To all who never had an opportunity to meet her we can only say, "What a wonderful blessing you missed." Just to be in her presence was an uplifting experience for all. Mrs. Sayers' family suggests her memory be kept by making memorial donations in her name to Kingston Road Baptist Church. Rose-Neath Funeral Home Southside Chapel 687-1256 Published in the Shreveport Times from 10/6/2007 - 10/8/2007. Joe D. Waggonner, Jr. BOSSIER CITY, LA - Joseph David Waggonner, Jr., 89, former Congressman for the Fourth District of Louisiana, died on October 7, 2007. A dedicated public servant, Mr. Waggonner was born near Plain Dealing on September 7, 1918, to Joseph David, Sr., and Elizzibeth Johnston Waggonner. Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, October 9, at Centenary College's Brown Chapel with interment to follow at the Plain Dealing Cemetery. Officiating will be Dr. Donald Webb, former President of Centenary College, assisted by the Reverend Lynn Malone, Pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Benton, LA. Visitation will be held at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Bossier City Monday, October 8 from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. Mr. Waggonner was a graduate of Plain Dealing High School and Louisiana Tech University where he also received an honorary doctorate. The lifelong Louisiana Tech supporter and Bulldog fan was named a charter recipient of the Tower Medallion for distinguished Tech alumni in 1977 and Alumnus of the Year in 1992. Two professorships - one in Political Science and one in Engineering - have been endowed in his name at the University. Mr. Waggonner, an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Plain Dealing, was Chairman of the Board of the church when the current sanctuary and educational building were constructed. He was an honorary alumnus of Centenary College of Louisiana and was a Life Member of its Board of Trustees. Mr. Waggonner served in the United States Navy during World War II where he attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Before serving again during the Korean Conflict, he was the Commanding Officer of Division 8-35 of the Naval Reserve. He operated a successful wholesale petroleum products distribution company in his hometown for many years and entered politics there when he was elected to the Bossier Parish School Board in 1954. During his terms on the school board, he served as President of the parish board. He was President of the Louisiana School Boards Association, served as President of the United Schools Committee of Louisiana, and was elected to the Louisiana State Board of Education in 1960. First elected to United States House of Representatives in a special election in 1961, Mr. Waggonner served nine terms. He was selected as the leader of southern conservative Democrats after only five years in the Congress and was widely acknowledged in the House of Representatives as the unofficial leader of the conservative forces. Upon his election to Congress, Mr. Waggonner became a member of the Science and Astronautics Committee and the House Administration Committee where he served until January 1971 when he was selected to serve on the Ways and Means Committee. He began his tenure on the Science and Astronautics Committee shortly after President Kennedy's declaration that America would land a man on the moon within the decade. He served on the Manned Space Flight Subcommittee and was actively involved with NASA as they pursued and achieved the President's lofty moon landing objective. One of the plaques left on the moon bears his name and the names of other members of the House and Senate Committees who were instrumental in sending men to the moon. As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, he was involved in issues involving tax policy and social security. He was named the first Chairman of the Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee and was Ranking Member on the Social Security Subcommittee. He served on various Ways and Means Committee task forces and chaired the Task Force on Tax Treatment of Singles and Working Couples in two sessions of Congress. Throughout his Congressional career, he worked to improve northwest Louisiana. He was instrumental in the planning and funding of Interstate 49 between Shreveport and New Orleans and in securing approval of and funding for the Inner and Outer Loops. Because of his efforts, a portion of Interstate 220 was named in his honor. He worked his entire career to bring navigation to the Red River and remained actively involved in developing the river until his death. In 1998, Lock and Dam No. 5 was named the Joe D. Waggonner, Jr. Lock and Dam in recognition of the vital role he played. Throughout his career and after his retirement, he actively promoted Barksdale Air Force Base and Fort Polk and their significance to the nation's security and the area's economy. Until his death, he was also active in the effort to secure Cyber Command for Barksdale Air Force Base. While he was privileged to count former Presidents and high ranking government and corporate officials among his friends, he treasured his Louisiana friends most. He never forgot his northwest Louisiana roots and throughout his career he was known as the "Plain Dealing man." He retired from Congress in 1979 and moved home. After retiring from public service, he remained active locally and on the national level. He served as Chairman and President Emeritus of the Greater Bossier Economic Foundation. President Reagan appointed him in 1981 to the 15-member National Commission on Social Security Reform, known as the Greenspan Commission, to study and make recommendations regarding the short-term financing crisis Social Security faced at that time. Mr. Waggonner, a member of many organizations, was active in the American Legion, the 40 & 8, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. A member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity at Louisiana Tech, he was active in the fraternity at the national level serving as Worthy Grand Master and on the Supreme Executive Committee and was named the fraternity's "Man of the Year" in 1973. He was a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason and received the Grand Cross Court of Honor and the Red Cross of Constantine. He was selected "Distinguished Salesman of Shreveport" in 1973 and "Mr. Shreveport" in 1976. In 1978, he received the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanities Award, recognizing him as a great humanitarian and a friend of the Jewish people. In 1979, he was presented the Liberty Bell Award on Law Day USA; and in 1998, he was named March of Dimes Citizen of the Year. He was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Susie W. Carroll; and two brothers, Sheriff Willie Waggonner and Johnnie J. Waggonner. He is survived by his wife of almost 65 years, Mary Ruth Carter Waggonner of Bossier City, LA; a daughter, Carol Jean Johnston, and her husband Billy Tom, of Benton, LA; a son, David Waggonner, of New Orleans, LA; and three grandchildren, Elizabeth Johnston Blackburn and husband Nate of Scottsdale, AZ; Sarah Johnston of Birmingham, AL; and Peter Waggonner of New Orleans, LA. Honoring Congressman Waggonner as pallbearers are Wayne Davis, James Davison, Joe Festervan, Ken Grainger, Roy Hurley, Don Jones, Modell Robinson, Byrum Teekell, David Walke, Jerry Webb, Tony Wolf, and grandson Peter Waggonner. Serving as honorary pallbearers are the loyal members of his Congressional staff. A special thanks is offered to Dr. Allen Cox and Dr. Michael Walton and the doctors, nurses, and caregivers at Willis Knighton Bossier and Promise Hospital Shreveport for their care and compassion over the years. Memorials can be made to the First United Methodist Church of Plain Dealing, 300 East Mary Lee Street, Plain Dealing, LA 71064; the First United Methodist Church of Benton, 4615 Palmet to Road, Benton, LA 71006; the Louisiana Methodist Children's Home, 901 South Vienna Street, Ruston, LA 71270; or the Louisiana Tech University Foundation - the Waggonner Center for Bipartisan Politics and Public Politics. Published in the Shreveport Times from 10/8/2007 - 10/9/2007.