Obituaries - Kentwood News-Ledger, Apr 2, 2003 to Apr 30, 2003; Tangipahoa Parish, LA. Submitted to the USGenWeb Archives by Christine Shannon, May, 2003 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Wednesday April 2, 2003 Kentwood News Ledger Mary Evelyn Rimes Brumfield Mary Evelyn Rimes Brumfield died at 2:48am on Thursday, March 27, 2003 at North Oaks Rehabilitation Hospital in Hammond. She was 69, a native of Tangipahoa and a resident of Independence. She was a housewife. Religious services were held at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, interment at the Lighthouse cemetery in Independence. She is survived by five sons, Burlin B. Brumfield Jr., Baton Rouge, Hosea, Jack Brumfield Sr. both of Independence, Terry Brumfield, Kentwood and Charles Wayne Brumfield, Robert; twelve grandchildren, Brandon, Jeanette, Charles R., Jamie, Samantha, Marcy, Jack Jr., Kaylie, Charles "C.J.", and Macy Brumfield, Amy Gwin and Chaz Olsen; three great-grandchildren, Austin and Terry "Allen" McAlister, and Breanna Calvin; two sisters, Ann Rimes Courtney, Galvez, and Dorothy Waddell, Baton Rouge,; and a brother, Hugh D. Rimes Jr., Tangipahoa. She was preceded in death by her husband, B. Bryant Brumfield Sr., a grandson, B.B. Brumfield III, a sister, Jenny Rimes Bourgeois; and her parents, Hugh D. and Anna Hutchinson Rimes. Jimmie Ray Carter Jimmie Ray Carter died at 9pm on Sunday, March 23, 2003 at Hood Memorial Hospital in Amite. He was 66, a native of Tangipahoa Parish and a resident of Wilmer. Religious Services were held at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, conducted by Rev. John D. Stewart, interment in Lebo Cemetery, Chesbrough. He is survived by four sons, Jimmie, James and Luther Carter, all of Cleveland, TN and Dorris Carter, of Amite; a granddaughter; three brothers and four sisters-in-law, Donald and Dorothy Lebo, Wilmer, Bobby Douglas and Alice Lebo, Hacienda Heights, CA, Dalton and Carol Lebo, Kentwood and Frances Lebo, Tangipahoa; Valera McClendon, Ponchatoula, an aunt; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother and step-father, Irene McClendon and Monroe Lebo; his father, Dorris Carter; a bother, William Lebo, and a sister, Rosa Carter. Thomas J. Goings Thomas J. Goings Jr. died on Sunday, March 23, 2003, at his residence. He was 69, a resident of Baton Rouge and a native of Vicksburg, MS. He was the owner of Superior Wrecker Service in Baton Rouge. Religious services were held at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, conducted by Rev. Otis Hope and Rev. E. Rand Guy, interment in the Hope-Oliver Cemetery in Kentwood. He is survived by his wife, Billie Hope Goings; two sons, Thomas J. III and David W. Goings; a daughter and son-in-law, Karen Goings and Joseph Polo, all of Baton Rouge; and five grandchildren, Karen, William and Cherrelle Lee Goings, Joseph Polo, Jason Paul, Christopher Corey and Jeffrey Lynn Bourriague. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas J. and Mary Louella Stubbs Goings; a brother and sister, Percy Leon Goings and Mary Louise Anderson. His grandsons were his pallbearers. Wednesday, April 9, 2003 Kentwood News Ledger Edna Porter Egan Couch Edna Porter Egan Couch, a Mt. Hermon native and resident of Kentwood Manor Nursing Home, died on March 18, 2003. She was born April 5, 1908, and was 94 years old at the time of her death. Mrs Couch was a long-time member of Mt. Hermon Baptist Church, where she was instrumental in beginning and leading the senior adult group "The Happy Hearts" in the early 1970's. She had a great love for music, and was regularly in attendance at services sponsored by her church at Kentwood Manor. Mrs. Couch was an avid and talented quilter. She made many quilts and gave them away to family and friends, selling some to others from far away as New Orleans. She frequently hosted quilting bees in her home with the help of her sisters Vivian and Lorraine and dear friend, Eugenia Ott Powell. Mrs. Couch may also be remembered for her "quilting booth" at the Washington Parish Fair, located in the Crafts Building. She maintained this booth for a number of years. Mrs. Couch enjoyed news-writing, and wrote for both the Era Leader and the Kentwood News. Her articles regularly included scripture and sermon synopses as well as community news articles. She also painted and gave away numerous pictures of various floral and landscape scenes. Mrs. Couch is survived by one daughter and one son-in-law, Julia Egan Anderson and Don Anderson of Seattle, Washington; six grandchildren and a number of great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews all of whom are scattered around the United States. She was preceded in death by one son, Paul F. Egan of California; one grandchild, Barbara Anderson of Seattle, Washington; her parents W.E. and Nina (Spurlock) Porter, of Mt. Hermon; as well as brothers Carey Porter, Edgar Porter, Jesse Porter, Howard Porter, Julian Porter, George Porter, Alton Porter, J.W. Porter, and sisters Helen Porter Schilling, Lorraine Porter Stuart, Vivian Porter Miller, and Emma Mae Porter. Mrs Couch was the last remaining sibling of fourteen, ending a generation, she will be missed by family and friends. Rodney Gill Rodney Gill died Tuesday, April 1, 2003 at his residence. He was 64, a native of Kentwood and a resident of Shuqualak, MS. He graduated from Spring Creek High School, a U.S. Army veteran, the manager of the Piggly-Wiggly Food Store of Macon, MS for many years and was a member of the Macon Lions Club and had been voted as the "Lion of the Year". He enjoyed fishing and was especially avid and a talented gardener. He was a Planer Mill Supervisor. Religious services were held at Shuqualak United Methodist Church, conducted by Bro. Don Sampley and Bro. Del Blackmon, interment in the Pinetucky Cemetery, Shuqualak, MS. He is survived by his wife, Opal Gill, Shuqualak, MS; a step-daughter, Cynthia Symbalisty, White House, TX and a step-son, Tim Reeder, Houston, TX; four grandchildren and a great-grandchild; a sister, Bertha Pittman, Kentwood; and a brother, Fred Gill, Millington, TN. He was preceded in death by his parents, Freddie and Lucille Blake Gill. Wednesday April 16, 2003 Kentwood News Ledger Earl W. Bridges Earl W. Bridges died April 6, 2003 at Kenner Regional Hospital in Kenner. He was 79, a native of Osyka, MS., and resident of Metairie. He also attended Mississippi State University and graduated from LSU in 1941. He received a Purple Heart for his services in the North Atlantic during WWII. Retired from Proctor and Gamble. Religious services was held at the McNeally Funeral Home in Kentwood, interment at the Osyka MS Cemetery. He is survived by his sister, Evelyn B. LeTard; two sons, Ronnie and Glen and wife Angel and five grandchildren, Nikki, Lexie, Blake, Morgan and Taylor, a step-daughter, Debbie Deem and step-son, Don Olson and his wife Elaine and a daughter, Brittany Olson. He was preceded in death by his wife, Cela Thompson Olson Bridges. Wednesday, April 23, 2003 Kentwood News Ledger There are no obituaries in the paper this week. Wednesday, April 30, 2003 Kentwood News Ledger Ricky "Speedy" Barrios Ricky "Speedy" Barrios died at 9:24 a.m. on Sunday, April 20, 2003 at his residence. He was 43, a native of Marrero and a resident of Kentwood. He was a tire technician. Religious services were held at the Lord's Church, Kentwood, conducted by Rev. Chris Watkins, interment in the Greensburg Cemetery, Greensburg. He is survived by a daughter, Angie Barrios, Hammond; a brother, Randy Barrios and his mother, Judy Phillips, both of Kentwood; and an aunt, Eugenia Conti, Amite. He was preceded in death by his father, Octavia Joseph Barrios. Ivey Allen Simmons Jr. Ivey Allen Simmons Jr. died Sunday, April 20, 2003 as the result of injuries received in an automobile accident near Kerrville. He was 54, a resident of Webster, Texas, a native of McComb, MS. He was retired from BP/Amoco and worked in the Transportation Department of Friendswood ISD. He graduated from Texas City High School in 1965 and served as president of the League City Jaycee's in 1983. Religious services were held at Hope Lutheran Church, Friendswood, interment at Emken-Linton Funeral Home in Texas City. He is survived by Ivey Allen Sr. and Norma Jean Simmons of Kerrville, TX; sons Kevin Simmons of Ozark, Missouri, Kirk Simmons of Alvin, Texas, and Josh Simmons of Friendswood, Texas; his former wife Julie Simmons of Friendswood; grandsons Austin and Justin Simmons of Texas City; a brother, Donald W. Simmons of Sante Fe, TX; a niece Heather Bowie of League City, TX; and nephew David Simmons of Sante Fe, TX. Pallbearers were Glen Slaton, Charles Jordan, Bobby Jones, Rick Plair, Sam Kunkel, Paul Reynolds and Herbert Broyles. Walt D. "Hamp" Watson Walt D. "Hamp" Watson died at 1:26 p.m. on Sunday, April 20, 2003 at Hood Memorial Hospital in Amite. He was 80, a resident and native of St. Helena Parish. He was a carpenter and a veteran of the U.S. Army and WWII. Religious services were held at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, conducted by Rev. Bobby Joe Carroll, interment in the Amite Cemetery, Amite. He is survived by his wife, Jean Dees Watson; a son, Walt H. "Shot" Watson; two sisters, Martina Hall and Sybil McCray, all of Amite; and two grandchildren. Joseph Denman Coon Joseph Denman Coon died Sunday, April 20, 2003 at his residence. He was 41, a native of Amite and a resident of Laredo, TX. He was a boilermaker. Religious services were held at McKneely Funeral Home in Kentwood, conducted by Rev. Danny Smith and Rev. Richard Hagean, interment in the Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood. He is survived by two daughters, Kelly Ann Coon, Killcut, Iowa and Lydia L. Coon, Laredo, TX; a son, Joseph D.V. Coon, Laredo, TX; his father, D.V. Coon, Tylertown, MX; a brother and sister-in-law, Douglas Edward and Lori Ann Coon, Jayess, MS; a niece, Kristina L. Barnes; a nephew, Douglas I. Coon, all of Jayess, MS; numerous aunts and uncles. He was preceded in death by his mother, Bonnie Louree Raborn Coon and his wife, LaHondra Berrara Coon.