The Era-Leader Obituaries, January 2003, Washington Parish Louisiana Submitted by Beth Van Cleave Date: September 8, 2006 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Franklinton , Franklinton, LA 01-01-2003 Dana Earl Cox, Thomas Dana Earl Cox, 34, a resident of the Thomas community, died at 5 p.m. Friday, December 20 in Alexandria from injuries received in an automobile accident. He was an operator with Asplundh Tree Service and a member of the Poplarhead Missionary Baptist Church. He was known by his friends and hunting companions as “Skoal Patrol”. He is survived by two sons, Timothy James (TJ) Cox and Shane Aaron Cox, both of Thomas; his parents, Tommy and Jessie Mae O’Bryant Cox of Thomas; a brother and sister-in-law, Dale Dewayne and Lynette Cox of Thomas; a sister, Debra Cox of Thomas; his grandfather, Arlie O’Bryant of Thomas; a nephew, Morgan Cox; two nieces, Brandy and Samantha Cox; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Elsie O’Bryant and paternal grandparents, Willie and Mamie Cox. Visitation was at Crain Funeral Home from 4 p.m. until 11 p.m. Sunday and after 9 a.m. Monday. Funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Monday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Jerry Cox and Eld. Lerand Hunt officiating. Pallbearers were Larry Scott Magee, Larry Magee, Chris Warren, Percy Johnson, Sammy McKnight and Joe Joe Mumphrey. Honorary pallbearers were Raymond Warren, Edward Warren, Randy Brabham, Bobbie Barber, Darren Warren, Raymond Phelps and Chuck Thomas. Interment was in the Thomas Cemetery. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Franklinton Era-Leader, Franklinton, LA 01-01-2003 John Dykes, Franklinton John Dykes, 65 a resident of Franklinton, died Saturday, December 21. He was receded in death by his mother, Rosetta Miller. A graveside service was held at 10 a.m. Monday at Morris Cemetery. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Franklinton Era-Leader, Franklinton, LA 01-01-2003 Gailyn P. Morse, Mt. Hermon Gailyn P. Morse, 64, a resident of Mt. Hermon, died Sunday, December 22 at St. Tammany Parish Hospital. She is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law; Peggy Sterioti and Phyllis and Leonse Carson; three sons, Frank Sterioti, Jesse Sterioti and Anthony Sterioti; two sisters, Gloria Domzalski and Jackie McCoy; 12 grandchildren; and three great- grandchildren. Bagnell and Son Funeral Home of Covington was in charge of private funeral services. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Franklinton Era-Leader, Franklinton, LA 01-01-2003 Starr Simundson, Bogalusa Starr Simundson, 75, a resident of Bogalusa died Tuesday, December 24 at Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Franklinton. She is survived by three daughters, Terry Lynn Burnstad, Tenna Lee Torres and Jody Simundson Watson; a son, Kenneth Edward Simundson; a brother, Darle Marquardt; a sister, Dorothy Smith; eleven grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren. A memorial services will be held at 4 p.m. January 10, 2003 at First Presbyterian Church of Bogalusa. Bagnell and Son Funeral Home of Covington is in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Franklinton Era-Leader, Franklinton, LA 01-08-2003 Viola Stephens Corkern, Amite Viola Stephens Corkern, 95, a resident of Amite, died at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday at the Riverside Medical Center. She was a member of the Sharon Missionary Baptist Church and the widow of John J. Corkern. She is survived by two sons, J.Q. Corkern of Hammond and Alfred Corkern of Ferriday; six daughters, Vernell Seal, Shirley Holden and Barbara Cox all of Amite, Margaret Ann Seal of Franklinton, Vicki Loomis of Ferriday and Sue Robertson of Kentwood; 23 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and 12 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, three step-children, Wilvie, Denver and J. B. Corkern and four grandchildren. Visitation was at the Crain Funeral Home from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Friday and after 8 a.m. Saturday. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home chapel with Eld. Mason Miley, Eld. Terry Robertson, Eld. Jerry Blackwell and Rev. Matt Peterson Officiating. Pallbearers were Jeff Cox, Allen Seal, Johnny Corkern, Chris Corkern, Jason Seal, Robert Holden, Greg Loomis and Terry Robertson. Interment was in the Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery near Amite. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Franklinton Era-Leader, Franklinton, LA 01-08-2003 Mary Conerly Bickham, Baton Rouge Mary Conerly Bickham, 83, a resident of Baton Rouge, died Sunday, December 29th at home. She was survived by her husband, Thomas C. “Preacher” Bickham of Baton Rouge; two daughters and sons-in-law, Beverly and Bill Hansen of Baton rouge and Rebecca and Nick Macaluso of Hammond; two sons and daughter-in-law, Thomas c. Jr. and Mona Bickham of Columbia, LA and Glenn Bickham and best friend, Debby Gremillion of Baton Rouge; eight grandchildren, Tom Bickham III, Carol Fannaly, Peyton Bickham, Jonathan Bickham, Gary Bickham, Steven Bickham, Jonathan Bickham, Gary Bickham, Steven Bickham, Chris Evans and Courtney Evans; and four great- grandchildren, Nicholas Bickham, Caitlin Fannaly, Brice Ortego, and Jodi Layne Bickham. She was preceded in death by an infant son, four brothers, two sisters and her parents. Visitation was at the Broadmoor United Methodist Church after 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 31st with funeral services at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Ken Carroll officiating. A graveside services was held at 3 p.m. at Ellis Cemetery in Franklinton. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Franklinton Era-Leader, Franklinton, LA 01-08-2003 Iristean S. Hart, Franklinton Iristean S. Hart, 67, a resident of Good Samaritan Nursing Home of Franklinton, died Saturday, December 28 at Riverside Medical Center. She is survived by her husband, Jerley Hart of Franklinton; two sons, Leon Smith and Leroy Smith of New Orleans; nine sisters, Louise Kagler, Ada Horton and Geraldine Thompson of Franklinton, Audrey Smith Verlean Vortice, Thelma Merrell and Vianne Patterson of New Orleans, Lillian Brown of Kentwood, and Lottie Jean Meuchelboeck of San Antonio, TX; three brothers, Johnnie Patterson and Alton Patterson of New Orleans and William Patterson of Franklinton; 11 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Visitation was at Crain and Sons Funeral Home Friday, January 3, 2003 from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. with the Wake Service from 7 p.m. until 8 p.m. Funeral Services were held Saturday, January 4, 2003 at 11 a.m. at the Greater Hayes Creek Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Jerome Warren, Sr. Officiating. Interment was in Patterson Cemetery. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Franklinton Era-Leader, Franklinton, LA 01-08-2003 Denva Myles Johnson, Baton Rouge Denva Myles Johnson, 81, a native of Franklinton, longtime resident of Long Beach, MS and currently residing in Baton Rouge, died at 2:30 a.m. Thursday, January 2 at Baton Rouge General Hospital. She was retired administrative assistant for Gulf Park Junior College for Women in Long Beach, MS. She served along with her husband in the U.S. Army during World War II and was stationed at many bases around the world. She is survived by a daughter, Nora Ott of Baton Rouge; two sisters and brother-in-law, Sally M. and Ray Varnado of Franklinton and Carolyn M. Fletcher of Baton Rouge; a sister-in-law, Elsie Myles of Franklinton; 2 grandchildren, Jennifer and Kristen Ott of Baton Rouge; and numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin E. Johnson, her parents Ambus and Effie Myles and a brother, O.D. Myles. Visitation was after 12 noon Saturday and until time for funeral services at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Dr. Rodney Wood officiating. Pallbearers were Lonny Myles, Scott Tullos, Bevan Myles, Chess Green, John Wood, and Alvin Wood. Interment was in the Ellis Cemetery. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Franklinton Era-Leader, Franklinton, LA 01-08-2003 Evelyn Jones Sharp, Enon Evelyn Jones Sharp, 79, a resident of the Enon community, died at 4:35 a.m. Wednesday, January 1, 2003 at the Riverside Medical Center. She was a member of the Oak Grove Baptist Church and the widow of Estus A. Sharp. She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law; Elaine and Daniel Passman of Bonner Creek and Dorothy Jean and Jimmy Corkern of Enon; three sons and daughters-in-law, Eddie A. Sharp of Enon, Charles R. and Chris Sharp of Madison Heights, MI and Jerry W. and Beverly Sharp of Jackson, MS; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Shawneee and Aline Murphy of Talisheek, Toby and Shirley Jones of Franklinton, and Dewitt “Red” and Chris Jones of Stateline; two sisters and a brother-in law, Bessie Lou and Marzine Williamson, Laurel, MS and Violet Sharp of Enon; 18 grandchildren; 12 great- grandchildren; other inlaws, Ernie Hearld of Sacramento, CA and Sharon E. Jones of Baton Rouge. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Thurston Murphy and J. L. Jones and a sister, Vivian Herald. Visitation was at Crain Funeral Home from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. Wednesday and after 8 a.m. Thursday. A funeral service was held at 1 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Webber Jarrell and Rev. Leon Hickman officiating. Interment was in the Spencer Cemetery. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Franklinton Era-Leader, Franklinton, LA 01-08-2003 Dale J. Magee, Franklinton Dale J. Magee, 68, a resident of Franklinton, died at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 1, 2003 at East Jefferson General Hospital. He was retired business manager for Sigma Coating in New Orleans, a U.S. Air Force veteran and a member of the First Baptist Church of Franklinton. He is survived his mother, Mildred B. Magee of Franklinton; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Gary and Alice Magee of Baton Rouge and Ken and Betty Magee of Hammond; nephews and nieces, Ken Magee Jr., Jennifer Evans, Richard Magee and Christy Smitherman. He was preceded in death by his father, Delos J. Magee. Visitation was after 9 a.m. Friday, January 3, 2003 until time of the funeral service at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. John Gilbert and Danny Von Kanel officiating. Pallbearers were Ellis Magee, Doyle Magee Jr., Ken Magee Jr., Richard Magee, Henry Burkhalter, Lane Evans and Doug Smitherman. Interment was in the Ellis Cemetery.