Bogalusa Daily News (June 28-30,2003) Obits, Washington, LA submitted by: Bonnie Dier ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Avis Boyd Corkern (Died June 27, 2003) DENVER, CO n Longtime Washington Parish resident, Avis Boyd Corkern, died in Denver Friday. She was 93. A classroom teacher in the parish, beginning her career in a one-room schoolhouse in the Sheridan community almost 75 years ago, she taught several generations of students in Bogalusa City, Washington Parish, and local private Schools. She held degrees from Whitworth College, South-eastern Louisiana University, and the University of Southern Mississippi and was an avid quilter and china painter. She moved to Colorado in the summer of 1995 to be nearer her son and his family. Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Cilfton "Corky" and Gail Corkern of Evergreen, CO; her two grandsons, Clifton "Trey" Corkern III of Morrison, CO, and Miles Corkern of Boulder, CO; her niece, Maurice Adams of Bogalusa; and nephew, Tazwell Boyd of Baton Rouge; and her brother-in-law and family, the Daniel Corkerns of the Sheridan community. Her husband, Clifton Corkern; her two sisters, Flora McGehee and LaVergne Hilbun; and her brother, W. Earl Boyd preceded her in death. Visitation will be held today at Brown-McGehee Funeral Home from 9 a.m. until time of the funeral service, to be conducted from the funeral home chapel at 11 a.m. Eld. Duane Ball of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, and Eld. Clyde Cooper will officiate at the service. Burial will be in the Smith Family Cemetery in Sheridan. The family suggests that consideration be given to a donation to the Sunny Acres Foundation in lieu of flowers. The foundation is a charitable, tax-exempt organization that supports the facility where Corkern lived for the past eight years. Donations should be addressed to the Sunny Acres Foundation, 2501 East 104th Avenue, Thornton, CO 80233 with a notation indicating Avis B. Corkern Memorial. James Bickham Jr. (Died June 29, 2003) SANDY HOOK, MS n Junior Curtis Magee, 27, a resident of Upper Sunlight Road in Sandy Hook, died Sunday. He is Survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.C. (Maxie Ruth) Magee of Sandy Hook; a daughter, MaKayla Magee of Improve, MS; four brothers, Phillip Magee, Charles Magee, both of Bogalusa, James Magee, and Rodney Magee, both of Sandy Hook; six sisters, Judy Bullock, Janice Magee, Sabrina Magee, Patricia Magee, Betty Magee, all of Bogalusa, and Lola Hutchinson of Sandy Hook. A funeral service will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Spring Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Sandy Hook. The Rev. Versie Dee Lee will officiate at the service. Interment will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery in Sandy Hook. Crain and Sons Funeral Home in Bogalusa is in charge of arrangements which are incomplete Walter Ray Sylvest (Died June 28, 2003) BOGALUSA n Bernard Augustus Grass, 60, a resident of Bogalusa, died Saturday in the LSU Medical Center in Bogalusa. He is survived by a daughter, Eileen Young of Bogalusa; two sons, John Grass and Thomas Grass, both of Bogalusa; his parents, Arnold and Leona Grass of Tekamah, NE; a sister, Rebecca Anderson of Tekamah; and two brothers, Russell Grass and Ronald Grass, both of Tekamah. A memorial service will be held today at 5:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church. Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Avis Boyd Corkern (Died June 27, 2003) DENVER, CO n Longtime Washington Parish resident, Avis Boyd Corkern, died in Denver Friday. She was 93. Born Jan. 28, 1910, she was a classroom teacher in the parish, beginning her career in a one-room schoolhouse in the Sheridan community almost 75 years ago, she taught several generations of students in Bogalusa City, Washington Parish and local private Schools. She held degrees from Whitworth College, Southeastern Louisiana University, and the University of Southern Mississippi and was an avid quilter and china painter. She moved to Colorado in the summer of 1995 to be nearer her son and his family. Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Cilfton "Corky" and Gail Corkern of Evergreen, CO; her two grandsons, Clifton "Trey" Corkern III of Morrison, CO, and Miles Corkern of Boulder, CO; her niece, Maurice Adams of Bogalusa; and nephew, Tazwell Boyd of Baton Rouge; and her brother-in-law and family, the Daniel Corkerns of the Sheridan community. Her husband, Clifton Corkern; her two sisters, Flora McGehee and LaVergne Hilbun; and her brother, W. Earl Boyd preceded her in death. Visitation will be held tomorrow at Brown-McGehee Funeral Home from 9 a.m. until the funeral service, to be conducted from the funeral home chapel at 11 a.m. Eld. Clyd Cooper of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church will officiate at the service. Burial will be in the Smith Family Cemetery in Sheridan. The family suggests that consideration be given to a donation to the Sunny Acres Foundation in lieu of flowers. The foundation is a charitable, tax-exempt organization that supports the facility where Corkern lived for the past eight years. Donations should be addressed to the Sunny Acres Foundation, 2501 East 104th Avenue, Thornton, CO 80233 with a notation indicating Avis B. Corkern Memorial. Frank Saunch (Died June 30, 2003) BOGALUSA n Frank Saunch, 81, a resident of Davenport Avenue in Bogalusa, died yesterday in his home. Crain and Sons Funeral Home of Bogalusa is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete. Avis Boyd Corkern (Died June 27, 2003) DENVER, CO n Avis Boyd Corkern, 93, a long-time resident of Washington Parish and a resident of Denver, died Friday in Denver. Brown-McGehee Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete . Donald Prentiss Miley (Died June 29, 2003) BOGALUSA n Donald Prentiss Miley, 65, a native and lifelong resident of Washington Parish, died Sunday in his home in Bogalusa. He was a member of Temple Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, JoAnn Varnado Miley of Bogalusa; three sons, Michael W. Miley and his wife Staci Lynn of Pearl, MS, Ronald Prentiss Miley and his wife Fay Lorraine of Bogalusa, and Blake O. Miley of Bogalusa; three brothers, Terry Dale Miley and his wife Wilma Dee, Kendall Wayne Miley and his wife Darlene, and Darryl Leston Miley and his wife Rose, all of Pine; a sister, Jerri L. Coulon and her husband Jack of Pine, and four grandchildren, Ashley Ann Miley of Pearl, Brittany Pigott, Anna Elizabeth Miley, and Clint Cotton, all of Bogalusa. Preceding him in death were his parents, John Prentiss Miley and Sedgie Rowena Martin Miley. Visitation was held Sunday from 6-10 p.m. and yesterday at Brown-McGehee Funeral Home from 8 a.m. until the chapel funeral service at 11 a.m. The Rev. Webber Jarrell officiated. Interment followed in the Miley Cemetery in Pine. Pallbearers were Scott Miley, Travis Miley, Winston Robbins, Bruce Smith, Jason Smith and Josh Murphy. Honorary pallbearers included John Alan Moody, Lloyd Spencer, Hillary Crain, Robert "Buzz" Carter, Chester Moody and Quincy Adams. Hazel Ophelia Dykes Kirby (Died June 28, 2003) JACKSON, MS n Hazel Ophelia Dykes Kirby, 85, a former resident of Bogalusa and a resident of Jackson, MS, died Saturday in Forrest Hill Health Center in Jackson. She is survived by a niece, Susie B. Pierce of Jackson; and a nephew, I.B. Bienvenu Jr. of Brandon, MS. Preceding her in death was her husband, William Howard Kirby; and her parents, Edwin and Sally Dykes. Visitation will be held at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home tomorrow from 1:30 p.m. until the chapel funeral service at 2 p.m. The Rev. Bob Adams will officiate. Interment will follow in Ponemah Cemetery. Owilda Sheridan Byrd (Died June 30, 2003) FRANKLINTON n Owilda Sheridan Byrd, 87, a resident of the Springhill community, died at 1 a.m. yesterday in her home. She was a member of Springhill Baptist Church and the widow of Virgil Byrd. Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Terry L. and Linda Byrd of Franklinton and Robert Wayne and Donnie Byrd of Denham Springs; a daughter and son-in-law, Camelia Ann and Billy Wagner of Lucedale, MS; two brothers, Van Sheridan and Huey Sheridan, both of Bogalusa; a sister, Hilda Magee of Franklinton; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by a son, Jerry Virgil Byrd; four brothers; and four sisters. Visitation will be held at Crain Funeral Home from 5-9 p.m. today and tomorrow from 9 a.m. until the chapel funeral service at 2 p.m. The Revs. Pete Williams and Tommy Morgan will officiate. Burial will follow in the Byrd-Letchworth Cemetery. Bernard Augustus Grass (Died June 28, 2003) BOGALUSA n Bernard Augustus Grass, 60, a resident of Bogalusa, died Saturday in the LSU Medical Center in Bogalusa. He is survived by a daughter, Eileen Young of Bogalusa; two sons, John and Thomas Grass, both of Bogalusa; his parents, Arnold and Leona Grass of Tekamah, NE; and two brothers, Russell Grass and Ronald Grass, both of Tekamah, NE. A memorial service will be held tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church. Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Hazel Kirby (Died June 28, 2003) JACKSON, MS n Hazel Kriby, a former resident of Bogalusa and a resident of Jackson, died Saturday in Forrest Hill Health Center in Jackson. Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete at this time. Bernard Augustus Grass (Died June 28, 2003) BOGALUSA n Bernard Augustus Grass, 60, a resident of Bogalusa, died Saturday in the LSU Medical Center in Bogalusa. Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete at this time. Donald Prentiss Miley (Died June 29, 2003) BOGALUSA n Donald Prentiss Miley, 65, a native and lifelong resident of Washington Parish, died yesterday in his home in Bogalusa. Survivors include his wife, JoAnn Varnado Miley of Bogalusa; three sons, Michael W.Miley and his wife Staci Lynn of Pearl, MS, Ronald Prentiss Miley and his wife Fay Lorraine of Bogalusa, and Blake O. Miley of Bogalusa; three brothers, Terry Dale Miley and his wife Wilma Dee, Kendall Wayne Miley and his wife Darlene, and Darryl Leston Miley and his wife Rose, all of Bogalusa; a sister, Jerri L. Conlon and her husband Jack of Pine, and four grandchildren, Ashley Ann Miley of Pearl, Brittany Pigot, Ann Elizabeth Miley, and Clint Cotton, all of Bogalusa. Preceding him in death were his parents, John Prentiss Miley and Sedgie Rowena Martin Miley. Visitation was held yesterday from 6-10 p.m. and will continue today after 8 a.m. at Brown-McGehee Funeral Home until time of the funeral service, to be held at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. The Rev. Webber Jarrell officiating. Interment will follow in the Miley Cemetery in Pine. Pallbearers will be Scott Miley, Travis Miley, Winston Robbins, Bruce Smith, Jason Smith, and Josh Murphy. Honorary pallbearers will be John Alan Moody, Lloyd Spencer, Hillary Crain, Robert "Buzz"Carter, Chester Moody, and Quincy Adams. Owilda Sheridan Byrd (Died June 30, 2003) FRANKLINTON n Owilda Sheridan Byrd, 87, a resident of the Springhill community, died at 1 a.m. today in her home. She was a member of Springhill Baptist Church and the widow of Virgil Byrd Survivors include two sons, Terry L. Byrd of Franklinton and Robert Wayne Byrd of Denham Springs; a daughter, Camelia Ann Wagner of Lucedale, Texas; two brothers, Van Sheridan and Huey Sheridan, both of Bogalusa; a sister, Hilda Magee of Franklinton; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by a son, Jerry Virgil Byrd; and a sister, Mae Williams. Visitation will be held at Crain Funeral Home from 5-9 p.m. tomorrow and will continue after 9 a.m. tomorrow until time of the funeral service, to be conducted from the funeral home chapel at 2 p.m. The Revs. Pete Williams and Tommy Morgan will officiate at the service. Burial will follow in the Letchworth Cemetery. William Ryan 'Pee Wee' Rowell (Died June 26, 2003) FRANKLINTON n William Ryan "Pee Wee" Rowell, 36, died at 5:55 p.m. Thursday at the LSU Medical Center in Bogalusa. He was the owner/operator of Winona's Pre-casting Ornamental Concrete business and a member of the Lighthouse Pentecostal Church in Sheridan. He is survived by his mother, Willie Pearl Creel Rowell of Thomas; father, Lydonis Rowell of Thomas; sister, Lydoris Jones of Foxworth, MS; a brother, Stanley Rowell of Thomas; his grandmother, Lexie R. Jenkins, also of Thomas; and a niece, Lydonia Jones Randall of Houma. He was preceded in death by a sister, Winona Rowell; and grandparents, Willie D. and Lucy Lewis Creel, Edgar Rowell and Fred Jenkins. Visitation will be today at Crain Funeral Home in Franklinton from 5-10 p.m. and tomorrow from 8 a.m. until the chapel funeral service at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Charles Reese officiating. Burial will follow in the Creel-Thigpen Cemetery in the Oak Grove community. Dr. David Minckler (Died June 23, 2003) BATON ROUGE - Dr. David Minckler, 47, an optometrist at Lens Crafters in Cortana Mall, died at his home in Baton Rouge Monday. He is survived by his wife, Linda Waddell Minckler; a son, Aaron Michael Minckler; his mother, Agatha Rusk Minckler; two sisters, Celeste and her husband, Jim Fleming and Jacquline Minckler; and three brothers, Gordon and wife Kay Minckler, Harold and wife Cheri Minckler and Roy and wife Lynn Mickler. He was preceded in death by his father, Jack Morris Minckler. Visitation was held Wednesday at Greenoaks Funeral Home in Baton Rouge from 5 p.m. until the memorial service at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph Hospice, 5215 Essen Lane, Suite 10, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. Bevie Gerald Kemp (Died June 25, 2003) PINE n Bevie Gerald Kemp, 91, a resident of the Pine community died at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday in her home. She was the widow of Sidney Kemp and a member of the Pine Missionary Baptist Church Survivors include two daughters, Louise S. Crain and Carolyn Knight, both of Pine; a son and daughter-in- law, Lavon and Betty Kemp of Lumberton; two daughters-in-law, Louisie Kemp of the Stateline community, and Nadine Kemp of Pine; 14 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and five great-great- grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by two sons, Lamar and Alvin Kemp; her parents, William P. "Barlow" and Marthey Stanford Gerald; nine brothers; and three sisters. Visitation was held at Crain Funeral Home in Franklinton from 5-9 p.m. Friday and yesterday from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. A funeral service was held yesterday at 2 p.m. at the Pine Missionary Baptist Church with Elds. Clyde Cooper, Glynn Erwin, Brent King and James Broome officiating. Burial was in the Pine Community Cemetery. Robert J. 'R.J.' Creel (Died June 27, 2003) FRANKLINTON - Robert J. "R.J." Creel, Col. U.S. Army (Rtd), 83, and a resident of Franklinton, died at 8:30 a.m. Friday at his home. He was a veteran of World War II, an active member of the Homer Magee Post No. 113 of the American Legion and a member of First Baptist Church in Franklinton. Following his military career, he retired from the Louisiana Unemployment Agency in New Orleans. He was past-president and chaplain of the Retired State Employees Association. He is survived by his wife, Eunice Fay Allgood Creel of Yazoo City, MS; two granddaughters and their spouses, Regina and Lloyd Chappetta of Franklinton and Raetta and John Verdin of Houma; a grandson, Derrick Norberg, also of Houma; and eight great-grandchildren including a special great-grandson, Loiden "Little Buddy" Chappetta. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Dorothy Foret Creel; a son, Robert J. Creel Jr.; a daughter, Gwendolyn Creel Norberg; two grandchildren; a brother, Vernon Creel; and a sister, Dorothy Creel Rester. Visitation will be at Crain Funeral Home in Franklinton today from 4-9 p.m. and tomorrow from 9 a.m. until the chapel funeral service at 2 p.m. Burial will follow in the Poplarhead Church Cemetery in Franklinton.