The Era-Leader Obituaries, 18 Oct 2000, Washington Parish Louisiana Submitted by Cathy Warren Date: January 2, 2007 ** ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ** The Era-Leader, 18 Oct 2000 James William Abron James William Abron, 54, a resident of Franklinton died as a result of a car accident, Saturday, October 7, 2000. He was a native of Tylertown, Mississippi. He is survived by one son, James Fortenberry of Franklinton; two daughters, Toni Fortenberry and Tara Fortenberry of Franklinton; four sisters, Charlean J. Stewart, Cynthia A. Lewis, and Vickie L. Anders of Franklinton and Samantha R. Abron of Fayetville, North Carolina; six brothers, Walter L. Abron, Charles E. Abron, Leroy Abron, Robert Abron, and Kenneth W. Abron of Franklinton and Wilbur Abron of Riverdale, Illinois; five grandchildren a God daughter, Lorraine Magee of Gulfport, MS, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Visitation was held Thursday, October 12 at Crain and Sons Funeral Home in Franklinton beginning from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. with family hour beginning at 7 p.m. Funeral services were held Friday, October 13th in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Wesley Jones officiating. Burial followed in Sweet Home Cemetery. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Arthur Joseph Tuite, Jr. Arthur Joseph Tuite, Jr., 53, a longtime resident of Hawaii and Franklinton died at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Resthaven Living Center in Bogalusa. He was a brick mason and a U.S. Navy veteran. He is suvived by his mother, Eva G. Tedder of Franklinton and two sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary and Kenneth Smith of Bogalusa and Kathy and Bo Creel of Franklinton. Visitation was held at Crain Funeral Home from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Monday. A graveside service followed at the Bennett Cemetery near Folsom with Rev. Leon Hickman officiating. Pallbearers for the service was James Creel, Jason Smith, Derrick Smith, Jimmy Smith, Kenneth Smith and Levert Smith. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Charles Joseph Cassidy Former Mayor and Bogalusa banker, Charles Joseph Cassidy, died at his home. He was 89 years old. The last surviving son of J.H. (Jack) Cassidy and Mable Burke Cassidy, early Bogalusa pioneers, Mr. Cassidy was a native son who made his own contribution to the city of Bogalusa and the Louisiana banking industry. Mr. Cassidy was well known as a businessman and entrepreneur throughout the South. Mr. Cassidy graduated from Bogalusa High School in 1928 and attended Louisiana State University from 1930-1933. In February, 1934, he was employed by the First State Bank and Trust Company where he was employed until 1942 when he was admitted to the F.B.I. Training Academy in Quandco, Virginia for training as a Special Agent. In the capacity, he served in Denver, Los Angeles and New Orleans under J. Edgar Hoover until his resignation and returned to Bogalusa in 1948. He then resumed his distinguished banking career which spanned 55 active years in the industry. A graduate of the first class of the School of banking of the south at Louisiana State University in 1952, Mr. Cassidy joined the faculty in 1969 and continued as Director until 1972. Active in both the Louisiana Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association, he served as President of the Louisiana Bankers Association in 1965-1966 and Vice President of the American Bankers Association for Louisiana in 1979. Mr. Cassidy held the distinction of having the second longest tenure in baking in Louisiana. Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of First State Bank and Trust Company, Mr. Cassidy retired in 1995 when First State Bank merged with Hibernia National Bank. A dedicated public servant, Mr. Cassidy served as President of the Bogalusa City School Board from 1952-1956. In 1956, he was elected Mayor of Bogalusa, the first native-born Bogalusan to become Mayor. He was at that time the city’s first mayor to win a second term unopposed since W.H. Sullivan, Bogalusa’s first mayor. During that time, he also served as President of the Louisiana Municipal Association. In addition to holding banking positions and elected offices, Mr. Cassidy was elected in 1966 to the Board of Directors of Louisiana Power and Light Company, a position he held for 17 years before being named Director Emeritus. He was a member of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Bogalusa. Mr. Cassidy is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Evelyn Dick Cassidy; a sister, Mrs. John (Dorothy) Gayden of Jackson, Mississippi; a son and daughter- in-law, Charles Michael Cassidy and Bette Killingsworth Cassidy; a daughter and son-in-law, Carol Cassidy Bush and Nathan W. Bush; ten grandchildren, Charles (“Chip”) Michael Cassidy, II, Mark Patrick Cassidy, Tyfanni Cassidy Fowler, Stephanni Jean Cassidy, Kamala Cassidy Jones, Kellie Cassidy Sanborn, Meghann Michelle Cassidy, Whitney Kathryn Cassidy, Michael Patton Bush, Cassidy Bush Primes; fourteen great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, Mr. Cassidy was preceded in death by three brothers, William E. Cassidy, H. Edward Cassidy, and J. Herbert Cassidy; and a sister Elizabeth Ann (“Peaches”) Travis. Visitation was held at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home, Wednesday, October 11, 2000 from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. and continued Thursday after 9 a.m. until time for funeral services at Annunciation Catholic Church in Bogalusa. at 3 p.m. with Father Lawrence Phelps officiating. Burial followed at the Ponemah Cemetery in Bogalusa. It is the wish of the family that Memorial donations be made to Hospice of St. Tammany, at 1202 S. Tyler Street, Covington, Louisiana 70433. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Natasha Renee Hart Natasha Renee Hart, 25, died Wednesday, October 11, 2000 at Riverside Medical Center in Franklinton. She was a resident and native of Franklinton. She is survived by her mother, Mary Henderson of Franklinton; her father, Edward Mitchell “Bo” Smith of New Orleans; her step-father, Victor Henderson of Franklinton; two brothers, Kevin and Kobe Henderson of Franklinton; grandmothers, Ozzie Mae Hart and Elnora Smith both of Franklinton and Ethel Mae Henderson of Ponchatoula; her great-grandmothers, Corrine Brumfield and Emma Hart of Franklinton and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Visitation was held Friday, October 13, at Crain and Sons Funeral Home in Franklinton from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. with a family hour beginning at 8 p.m. Funeral services were held Saturday, October 14 at 10 p.m. at the New Life Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Carlis Hart officiating. Burial followed at the Smith Family Cemetery. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bill S. Miller Bill S. Miller, 74, a resident of Mt. Hermon died at 10:30 p.m. Monday at Riverside Medical Center. He is survived by his wife, Charline Morgan Miller of Mt. Hermon; one son and daughter-in-law, Donnie Ray and Evie Jean Miller of Stateline; four daughters and sons-in-law, Donnie Ray Brenda and Jake Penny, Sue and Robin Burch all of Mt. Hermon; Ann and George Hingle of Franklinton, Faye and Clayton Givens of Osyka, MS; ten grandchildren, Patrick and Kyle Miller, Stacey Breaud, Melissa Penny, Kevin and Erica Burch, Kristen and Kelli Hingle and Katie Christopher Givens; one sister, Gladys Langalois of Picayune, MS. Visitation was held at the Crain Funeral Home from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Tuesday and after 8 a.m. Wednesday. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with Dr. Joe Baugh, and Rev. Jim Hearn officiating. Burial followed in the Mt. Hermon Cemetery. Pallbearers for the service were George Hingle, Robin Burch, Clayton Givens, Jr., Jake Penny, Charles Schilling, and Glen Morgan. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mose Barber Mose Barber, 78, a resident of the Pine Community died at 9:30 p.m. Monday at Heritage Manor Nursing Home. He was a member of Pine Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Barber is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Gwindale and Sharon Barber, and Eddie and Patricia Barber all of Bogalusa; one daughter and son- in-law, Cindy and Chad Thomas of Tylertown, MS; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Beola Orr of Franklinton, and Rosalie Martin of Pine; and two half-sisters. Visitation was held at Crain Funeral Home from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. Wednesday and after 9 a.m. Thursday. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Eld. Clyde Cooper and Rev. Lynn Martin officiating. Burial followed in the Nobles Cemetery. Pallbearers for the service was Mark Barber, Troy Barber, Larue Martin, Steve Barber, Acy Barber, and Laroy Barber. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Buford Creel Buford Creel, 79, a resident of Franklinton died at 2 p.m. Monday at East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie. He was a retired supervisor with the La. Dept. of Highways and a member of the Lawrence Creek Missionary Baptist Church. He was a member of Pine Masonic Lodge No. 264. He is survived by his wife, Victoria Branch Creel of Franklinton; one son, W.C. Creel of Mt. Hermon; three daughtes, Melda Fay Jarrell, Shirley Morgan, and Bronis Brumfield all of Franklinton; three step-children, Huey Seals of Crain’s Creek, Diana Sue Scoggins of Bogalusa, and Carol Nelson of Franklinton; two brothers, Hubert Creel and Earl Creel both of Franklinton; sixteen grandchildren; twenty-eight great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; ten step-grandchildren; and fourteen step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Audrey Magee Creel. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Wiley W. and Alma Crain Creel, five brothers, Otis, Charlie, Vernon, Ott, and Louie Creel and a sister Audrey Creel. Visitation was held at Crain Funeral Home from 6-10 Tuesday with a Masonic service to be held at 7:30 p.m. and continued after 8 a.m. Wednesday. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Chapel at Crain Funeral Home with Eld. Don Jacobs, Eld. Clyde Cooper, and Eld. Richard Magee officiating. Burial followed in the Acys Creek Cemetery.