ERA Leader (10/22/2003) Obits, Washington Parish, LA Submitted for the LA GenWeb Archives by Bonnie M. Dier, Apr. 2004. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Lloyd Seals, Hilltop Community Looyd Seals, 50, a resident of the Hilltop Community died at 5:48 pm Sunday, October 12, 2003 at Bogalusa Community Medical Center. He was a carpenter and a member of Hilltop Missionary Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Cynthia Patricia Ard Seals of Hilltop Community; three sons and daughters-in-law, Hunter Seals, Phillip and Marinna Jarrell all of Hilltop Community and Ritchie and Jennifer Jarrell of Magnolia, MS; his mother, Eddie Merle Seals of Stateline; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Wade and Janice Seals, and Horace and Jeanell Seals all of Stateline; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Jean and Donnie Miller and Minnie and Jimmy Dunaway all of Stateline; three grandchildrren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a son Jason Lloyd Seals, his father, Hollis Conrad Seals and his father-in-law, Cecil Ard. Visitation was at Crain Funeral Home from 5 pm until 10 pm Monday and after 10 am Tuesday until 12 noon. Visitation continued after 12:30 pm at Hilltop Missionary Baptist Church until time for funeral service held at 2 pm at the church with Eld. Mark Hobgood and Eld. Everett Broom officiating. Burial followed in the Conrad Seal Cemetery at Stateline. Pallbearers were Randy Fortenberry, Brad Fortenberry, David Smith, Dickie Smith Gary Dale Thomas and Richard N. Thomas. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Walter Kozzie Payne, Thomas Walter Kizzie Payne, 85, a resident of Thomas Community died at 1:30 PM Monday, October 13, 2003 at his residence in Thomas. He was retired from Louisiana Department of Highways and a member of Thomas First Baptist Church. He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Kenneth B. and Jeannie Payne of Baton Rouge, and J.W. and Carolyn Payne of Thomas; a daughter and son-in-law, Imojean and James W. Crain of Baton Rouge; 11 grand- children, Mike, Mark and Jim Crain, Lauren, Kent, Clay, Ricky, Keith, Stacy and Clint Payne and Rodney Culpepper; 17 great-grandchildren; and a sister and brother-in-law, Maxie and Retus Riles of Baker. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lonie Thomas Payne; parents, Walter and Frances Payne; one brother and four sisters and three great- grandchildren. Visitation was at Crain Funeral Home from 5 pm until 9 pm Tuesday and after 11 am Wednesday. A funeral service was held at 3 pm Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Denny Brumfield and Eld. Willie J. Passman officiating. Burial followed in the Thomas Cemetery. Pallbearers were Stacy Payne, Ricky Payne, Kent Payne, Clay Payne, Mike Crain and Mark Crain. Honorary pallbearers were Keith Payne, Clint Payne, Rodney Culpepper and Jimmy Crain. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Leo V. Bankston, Baton Rouge Leo V. Bankston, 88, a resident of Baton Rouge and native of Franklinton, died at 2:30 pm October 13, 2003 at his home. He worked for Baton Rouge Water Works for 46 years and retired as vice- president and superintendent. He is survived by four daughters and sons-in-law, Betty B. and Desmond Toler of Mobile, AL, Alice B. and Albert Michel of Baton Rouge, Mary Frances B. and John Bertucci of Greenwell Springs, and Diana B. and George Willis of Henderson, TX; a brother, Jesse H. Bankston; a dear friend, Mary Helen Stracener; 8 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Foulks Bankston; parents, Allie Magee and Leon Victor Bankston; sisters, Mildred B. Garrett, Marie B. Scoggins, Zula B. Sweatman and Theresa B. Powell; brothers, Jake Magee Bankston, Cecil Noel Bankston, Roy Van Bankston, Albert Roland Bankston and Carl Leon Bankston. Visitation was at Ravenhorst Funeral Home in Baton Rouge from 4:30 pm until time for funeral service at 10 am with Rev. Jerry W. Ratcliff officiating. Burial was in the Roselawn Cemetery. In lier of flowers, a memorial donation may be made to the Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Maryland McNeese Hawkins, Amite Maryland McNeese Hawkins, 47, a resident of Amite, died at 2:05 pm Saturday, October 11, 2003 at her residence. She was a licensed animal control technician at the Tangipahoa Parish Animal Control Unit. She is survived by a companion, Wesley Seals of Amite; two sons, Richard Nelson Hawkins and Joshua Paul Hawkins of Amite; three grandchildren, Alix Wright, Gavin Hawkins and Hannah Hawkins; her mother, Lucille McNeese of Roseland; two brothers, Steve McNeese of Kentwood and Jimmy McNeese of Amite, Linda Franks of Kentwood, Elizabeth McNeese of Roseland and Sheila Wilcox of Atlanta; numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Milton McNeese. Visitation was at Crain Funeral Home from 6 pm until 9 pm Monday and after 8 am Tuesday. A funeral service was held at 10 am Tuesday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Lionel Johnson and Rev. Marshall Wallace officiating. Burial followed in the San Pedro Church Cemetery. Pall Bearers were Jason Foy, Lawrence Nayarre, Gerald Stevens, Steven McNeese, Jr., Rodney L. Hodges and Danny Hill. # # #