The Era-Leader Obituaries, 8 Mar 2000, Washington Parish Louisiana Submitted by Cathy Warren Date: September 6, 2006 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ The Era-Leader - Franklinton, Washington Parish Louisiana 8 Mar 2000 Coleman Bernstein Coleman Bernstein, age 81, a native of New Orleans and resident of Franklinton and Mandeville, died Tuesday at his Mandeville home. Bernstein received a bachelor’s degree from Tulane University in 1937. He was a councilman in Franklinton for eight years and the mayor pro tem for six years. He was instrumental in getting the Franklinton Airport built and in securing the land for Riverside Medical Center in Franklinton. Bernstein was a former owner of The Boston Stores; a member of the Lion’s Club, The American Legion, The Franklinton Country Club, the Masonic Lodge, the Skeet Club and the Northshore Jewish Congregation. He was a Navy veteran of World War II where he served in the Pacific Theater. He is survived by his wife, Doris Ziberman Bernstein; a daughter and son-in-law, Janice and Ernie Langlinais; a son, Arthur S. Berstein and four grandchildren. A graveside service was held at Hebrew Rest Cemetery No. 3 in New Orleans on March 3. Shirley Vernon McKnee Robinson Coney Shirley Vernon McKnee Robinson Coney, 91, a resident of Chicago, Illinois and a former native of Mt. Hermon died Friday, February 25, 2000. She is survived by one daughter, Josephine Murral (Robert) Bond of Chicago, Illinois; two sons, Joseph R. (Camille) Robinson of Fairfield, California and Clinton Earl (Anita) Robinson of Los Angeles, California; three sisters, Maria Crain of Franklinton, Theresa Overstreet of Richmond, California and Creola Batchelor of Los Angeles, California; one brother, James Murray “Murl” (Eddie Joe) Vernon of Mt. Hermon; four sisters-in-law, Leonia Webb of McComb, Mississippi, Edna Mae Vernon of Arizona, Doretha Vernon and Ruth Vernon of Franklinton. Also ten grandchildren, Rhonda E. (Lloyd) of Arlington, Texas, Clinton E.G. Robinson, Jr. and Rebecca E. Robinson of Los Angeles, California, Beverly Taylor of Modesto, California, Jacqualin (Jimmy) Colden, Michael (Tracey) Robinson, Daniel Robinson, Clayton (Angela) Lloyd and Kenney Lloyd of Fairfield, California, and Charles Lloyd of Texas; ten great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren; a special daughter, Rita M. Williams and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Visitation was held Thursday, March 2 and from 9 a.m. until time for the funeral services. Funeral services were held Thursday, March 2 at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Elbert Thomas Haley Elbert Thomas Haley, 74 and a resident of Franklinton died at 1:45 at Riverside Medical Center in Franklinton. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II and received a Purple Heart. He was also a member of Hays Creek Baptist Church. He is survived by one son, Kenneth Haley of Franklinton and four daughters, Carolyn Whaley, Jean Graves and Ranee Athley, all of Franklinton and Linda Kay Smith of Tylertown. Also survived two brothrs, Walter F. Haley and Walter Glynn Haley, both of Denham Springs; one sister, Maudien Passman of Franklinton; 18 grandchildren; 23 grandchildren and his former wife and mother of his children, Wilda Hill. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Ada Crowe Haley; a sister, Pauline Morgan; a brother, Ray Haley; a great-grandson, Gary Trey Athley and a son-in-law, Terry Graves. Visitation was on Thursday, March 3 from 6 PM until 10 PM and after 9 AM Friday. A funeral service was held on Friday at 2:00 PM in the chapel with Elder Don Jacobs and the Rev. Luther Sanford officiating. Pallbearers were Terry Passman, Bruce Passman, Ben Passman, Randy Courtney, James Haley and Tommy Haley. Burial was in Hays Creep Baptist Church Cemetery. Esther “Esma” Parks Girard Ordoyne Esther “Esma” Parks Girard Ordoyne, 71, died in Baton Rouge, Tuesday, February 8, 2000 at 1 AM. The beloved wife of the late Louis “Noot” Girard and Charles J. Ordoyne and the mother of Louis Girard, Marilyn Girard, Darlene Dehner and Gary Girard, She is the grandmother of Scott and Shelly Dehner, Mathew Dehner, Thomas and Donielle Lambert, Clarence Lambert and Ashie Bass Dehner. Also the mother-in-law of Raymond Dehner, Linda Girard and Ismae Girard and great-grandmother of Madeleine and Nicholas Dehner, sister of Ernest Parks, Bulah Estay, Lester Parks, Pearly Emmons, Thelma Desselle, Johnny Parks, Rosallie Pointhieux, the late Murphy and Justin Parks Sr., Shirley Nelson and Erna Estay. She was the daughter of the late Thomas and Evellie Parks. Also survived by devoted friends, Pat Fairleigh, Whitney Verdin and Ira Jenkins. A funeral mass was celebrated at the Jefferson Chapel of Tharp Sondtheimer Tharp Funeral Home on Friday, February 11. Interment was in St. Louis #3 cemetery. Joyce M. Miller Joyce M. Miller, 89, a resident of Franklinton died at 1:35 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center in Baton Rouge. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church. Mrs. Miller is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Bobby L. and Marilyn Miller, Paul and Jo-Ann Miller all of Baton Rouge, and Jackie and Delane Miller of Franklinton; one daughter-in-law, Helen S. Miller of Spillman, LA; seventeen grandchildren; twenty-eight great-grandchildren; and three great- great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Marvin Miller, Sr.; two sons, Marvin Miller, Jr., and Stanley R. Miller. Visitation was held at Crain Funeral Home from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Thursday and after 10 a.m. Friday until time for the funeral services at 12 noon in the funeral home chapel with Dr. Jerry Barlow, the R-ev. Karl Tingle, and Dr. Joe Baugh officiating. Burial followed in the Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers for the service were Kenneth Miller, William Moore, Glen Miller, Andy Miller, Darryl Miller, and Joey Miller. Honorary pallbearers for the service were T.J. Burch, Winton Earl Turner, Waylon Crowe, George Forrest, Winton Fussell, Glen Baker, Ray Seals, and Greg Miller. Felton Johnson Felton Johnson, 58, died Wednesday, February 23, 2000 died at his residence. He was a resident of Franklinton and a former resident of New Orleans. He is survived by his wife, Mary L. Johnson of New Orleans, LA; his mother, Mattie Johnson of Franklinton; his father, Sidney Johnson, Sr. of Franklinton; one daughter, Sonya Johnson Baptiste of New Orleans; one son, Brian Johnson of New Orleans; five brothers, Charles Johnson, Sidney Johnson, Jr., Michael Johnson, Jerry Warner Johnson of Franklinton, and Clude Johnson of New Orleans; two sisters, Verra Magee of Seattle, Washington and Linda Holmes of Franklinton; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Visitation was held Saturday, February 26, 2000 at Greater Hayes Creek Missionary Baptist Church from 1 p.m. until time for the funeral services. Funeral services were held Saturday, February 26 at 2 p.m. at Greater Hayes Creek Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Jerome Warren officiating. Burial following in Greater Hayes Creek Cemetery. Myrtle Jane McKenzie Griffin Myrtle Jane McKenzie Griffin, 85, died Saturday, February 19, 2000 at Walthall County General Hospital is Tylertown, MS. She was a member of Salem Baptist Church. She is survived by two daughters, Madge G. Martin or Atlanta, GA, and Bettye Bracey of Brookhaven, MS; one brother, Henry Ford McKenzie of Franklinton; four grandchildren, Cindy Carter of Taylorsville, GA, Yvette White of Canton, GA, Victor Martin of Hiram, GA, and Joel Martin of Taylorsville, GA; four great- grandchildren, Elizabeth White, Zachary White and Rebekkah White all of Canton, GA and Madison Martin of Hiram, GA; and a hose of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two sons, John a. and Huey Griffin; three brothers, Cecil, Wink and Clark McKenzie. Visitation was held at Capps Funeral Home in Tylertown from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. Sunday, February 20, 2000. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Monday, February 21, 2000 at Salem Baptist Church with Rev. Thomas Graves officiating. Burial followed in Boyd Cemetery in the Salem Community, Walthall County, MS. Pallbearers for the service were Hance McKenzie, Dan McKenzie, Carter McKenzie, Marion McKenzie and Ralph Ward. Ladonis Marks Ladonis Marks, 38, died Tusday, February 29, at Riverside Medical Center in Franklinton. She is survived by three daughters, Ciji M. “Red” Marks, Gigi N. “Choc” Marks, and Shaniqua Nonae Marks; three sons, Adrian Renard “Nad” Marks, A’Laijwon Marks and A’Lajide Marks, all of Franklinton. She is also survived by her mother, Mrs. Dixie Lean Varnado of Franklinton and Earl Varnado, also of Franklinton; six sisters, Loretta Gatlin, Mona Lisa Anders, Sharon Henry, Vickie Anders, Sandra Hewitt and Mary Lee Fabre’, of Franklinton; six brothers, Harry “Bunkie” Anders Jr. of Baton Rouge, Rickard Earl “Ollie Ball” Anders of Lafayette, Daryl “Tigg” Anders of Atlana GA, Bobby Earl Varnado of Los Angeles, CA, Vince Ladell “Kojak” Varnado of Franklinton and Major “Man” Herron of New Orleans. Also survived by her grandmother, Gertrude “Miss Pitt” Pittman of Franklinton and a special friend, Roosevelt “Sonnie” Smith of Franklinton and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Visitation was held on Monday, March 6 at Crain and Sons Funeral Home in Franklinton. A funeral service was conducted on Tuesday, March 7, by the Rev. Mallory Callahan at Sweet Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Franklinton. Burial was in Sweet Rest Memorial Park. Reginald Crain Reginald Crain, age 70, died Thursday, March 2 at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in New Orleans. He was a World War II veteran of the United States Army where he served for six years. He also was a retired skycap for the New Orleans International Airport. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Crain of New Orleans, LA; daughters, Gwendolyn “Gwenie” Magee of Franklinton and Michelle Calahan of New Orelans; sons, Reginald Crain Jr., Douglas Crain and Dr. Anthony Crain of New Orleans. Also survived by three sisters, Oradee C. Saunders of Baton Rouge, Mattie C. Sherard of Columbia, SC and Josephine C. Williams of New Orleans; three brothers, Rushell Crain and Brisco Crain of Franklinton of Franklinton and Elder McDonald Crain of Baton Rouge. He had 16 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Visitation was on Sunday, March 5 at Crain and Sons Funeral Home in Franklinton with a wake service in the evening at Sweet Rest M.B. Church with the Rev. Mallory Allahan officiating. Funeral services were held Monday, March 6 at Union Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church on Thalia Street in New Orleans. The Rev. Thomas B. Brown officiated. Internment was in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in New Orleans. Rutha Taylor Bell Rutha Taylor Bell, 92, died on Friday, February 25, 2000, at Mercy Hospital in New Orleans. She was a former resident of Franklinton. She is survived by two sons, Raymond Bell and Willie Bell and a daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Sensley Bell, all of New Orleans. Also survived by a special nephew, Junior Fields; three special aunts, Margaret Jackson, Helen Bickham and Augustine Bickham of Franklinton and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, America and John Taylor, six brothers, Leviticus, Wayne, Oscar, Rufus, Ezekiel and Gene Taylor; three sisters, Safronia, Asanne and Vera; three sons, Clinard, Obrien and James Bell; two daughters, Ellender Bell and Catherine Bell Magee. A funeral service was held on Friday, March 3 at Sweet Home Church of Christ Holiness with Elder Washington Drake officiating. Crain and Sons Funeral Home in Franklinton was in charge of arrangements. Interment was at Sweet Home Cemetery in Franklinton.