Obituaries from Bogalusa Enterprise, Washington Parish Louisiana Submitted by Beth Van Cleave Date: September 1, 2006 ** ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ** Bogalusa Enterprise, Bogalusa, LA 08-05-1949 Mrs. Blanchard’s Father Buried Funeral services were conducted Sunday at Chesborough church for John Lea, 74-year-old retired lumberman, who died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Phillip Blanchard, formerly of Bogalusa, but now of Kentwood. Mrs. Lea was also the father of Mrs. Christine Blanchard, former Bogalusan but now of New Orleans, Mrs. Norma Faeszt of Lacombe, Mrs. Georgia Price of Lee’s Landing, C.B., Johnny, Ralph and James Lea of Chesborough. His widow, Mrs. Margaret Hyde Lea of Chesborough, a brother, James Lea and a sister, Mrs. Mamie McDaniel, both of Beaumont, Tex., also survived him. Interment was in Chesborough cemetery with Poole Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bogalusa Enterprise, Bogalusa, LA 08-05-1949 Carney’s Father Buried Sunday Funeral services were conducted in Foxworth, Miss., Sunday at 3:30 p.m. for J. G. Carney, 60, who died suddenly Saturday night of a stroke. He was the father of C.E. and Harry Carney of this city. Interment was in Foxworth Cemetery following services at the Foxworth Baptist church. A number of persons from this city attended the funeral. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bogalusa Enterprise, Bogalusa, LA 08-05-1949 Former Resident Dies in Jonesboro Oscar Hodges, about 50, formerly of this city, but who has been a resident of Jonesboro about 15 years, died Saturday about noon in Jonesboro. Mr. Hodges was the father of Mrs. Philip Guileyardo of this city. A short service was held in Jonesboro on Monday, following which the body was brought to Bogalusa. Funeral services were conducted Tuesday at 2:30 at the First Penecostal church. Interment was in the McGehee Cemetery with Poole Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bogalusa Enterprise, Bogalusa, LA 08-05-1949 Mrs. Jones Was Buried Saturday Funeral services were conducted at 4 p.m. Saturday for Mrs. Sarah Joyce Jones, 58, who died at her home in Plainview at 5 p.m. Friday after a lingering illness. The Rev. Dexter Rushing officiated at the funeral services, and interment was in Spencer Cemetery with Brown Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Jones is survived by her husband, Ed Jones; two sons, Bill Jones of Amite, and Dennie of Bogalusa; two daughters, Mrs. Earl Sanders of Franklinton, and Mrs. Elton Jenkins of Covington; one brother, James George of Enon; four sisters, Mrs. Mattie Leonard of Bogalusa, Mrs. Rachael Brooks of Bogalusa, Mrs. Buie Jenkins of Folsom and Mrs. Beckie Ward of Isabel. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bogalusa Enterprise, Bogalusa, LA 08-05-1949 Mrs. Mickenhime Died in Jackson Mrs. Louis Mickenhime, 56, died Tuesday night at 10:30 o’clock in a Jackson, Miss., hospital only a few hours after admission with a stroke. Mrs. Mickenhime is a former resident of Bogalusa. She lived here throughout most of her life moving to Jackson three years ago when Mr. Mickenhime was transferred from the GM&O Shops here to the Shopyard in Jackson. Only last week she visited her father-in-law, August Mickenhime, who is seriously ill at his home here. Funeral services will be conducted this afternoon (Thursday) at 4 p.m. in McComb, Mrs. Mickenhime’s birthplace. Interment will be in the McComb cemetery. A number of Bogalusans are expected to attend the funeral. Besides her husband, Mrs. Mickenhime is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Richard Simmons of this city; two sons, Cullen and George Phepps, both of McComb. She was a sister-in-law of Rudolph Mickenhime and Mrs. Julia Mickenhime of this city. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bogalusa Enterprise, Bogalusa, LA 08-05-1949 Funeral Held for Miss Walker Funeral services were conducted Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in McComb, Miss, for Miss Annie Louise Walker, 19, who died on Monday night at 7:30 at Desporte Clinic of a heart ailment. Miss Walker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Walker of McComb was a niece of Iley O’Brien, Otis Deer and Mrs. Magee Fowler of this city, and the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Creek, also of Bogalusa. One sister also survives. The funeral was at Catchings Funeral Home in McComb with interment in the Hollywood Cemetery at McComb. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bogalusa Enterprise, Bogalusa, LA 08-19-1949 Former Resident Dies in Accident Edgar G. Gibson, 27, formerly of this city but now of Baton Rouge, died in an automobile accident at 2 a.m. Sunday in El Dorado, Ark. Funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the chapel of the Brown Funeral Home with the Rev. H. L. Courtney and the Rev. D. W. Nix officiating. Interment was in the family plot at Ponemah Cemetery. The American Legion conducted military rites at the cemetery. Mr. Gibson is the son of Edgar Gibson, formerly of Bogalusa, but now of Palestine, Tex., and Mrs. J. P. Nash, of Baton Rouge. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bogalusa Enterprise, Bogalusa, LA 08-19-1949 John Mason Died Tuesday John W. Mason, 84, one of the pioneer settlers of this area, died Tuesday night at 9:20 p.m. at the Bogalusa Medical Center of injuries sustained when he was hit by an automobile on Highway 7 about two weeks earlier. Mr. Mason was born in Ponchatoula, but came here at the age of 24. He worked on a riverboat on Pearl River for some 30 years, following which he established the first mercantile business in this area. For 56 years, he lived at the same place in the Lee’s Creek community. Funeral services were conducted Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the chapel of the Poole Funeral Home with the Rev. W. F. Hutson, pastor of Lee’s Creek Baptist church, officiating. Interment was in Lee’s Creek Cemetery. Mr. Mason is survived by his widow, Mrs. Hardenia D. Mason; one son, George Mason; two daughters, Mrs. Beatrice Byrd of Bogalusa and Mrs. Lillian Webb of Baton Rouge; two grandchildren, Nelson and Deborah Mason of Bogalusa, and one step-nephew, Winfield McCahill of Ponchatoula. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bogalusa Enterprise, Bogalusa, LA 08-19-1949 Playmate Rescues Brother of Drowning 9-year-Old Boy A 9-year-old boy was drowned and his younger brother escaped the same fate due to a neighborhood playmate’s ability to swim as the three went in swimming in Coburn’s Creek in the Gaylord pasture adjacent to the Terrace Tuesday morning. Dead is Burdette Sumrall, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis I. Sumrall, 706 St. John street. The two boys who survived the drowning tragedy are Hollis Summrall, 7, and Johnny Gentry, 8. Only the latter could swim The three went down on the creek for a swim about 10 o’clock Tuesday morning. The neighborhood playmate, who is the son of H. C. Gentry and Mrs. John Scarborough, told of the drowning shortly after it occurred: Johnny was getting ready to go into the creek when Hollis went in. The 7-year-old began to sink in water five feet deep. So, his older brother, Burdette, went into the creek to save him. The two struggled in the water, Johnny said. Then the little red-headed, freckle-faced playmate dived into the water to attempt to rescue both of them. Johnny told calmly of his struggle to pull the boys from the water. He was able to catch Hollis’ hand, he said and pull him into shallow water from where he waded to safety. He searched for Burdette who had disappeared from sight, Johnny said. Unable to locate the body, he ran up the hill to get Shelton Pittman, 12 of Lucerine street. Shelton searched for a short time and then went to get Charles Fortenberry, 15- year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. J. LO. Fortenberry of Villerie and Harrison streets who pulled the limp body from Coburn’s Creek. Artificial respiration was administered by different persons who had reached the creek banks by that time. Local police and Coroner R. R. Ward were summoned to the scene. The coroner attributed death to drowning. Burdette, one of 13 children had escaped death several times during the last three years when he had stayed in hospitals in a critical condition from burns sustained when kerosene got on his clothes and he caught fire while playing in a garage in 1944. He had completely recovered from the burns and had had his last check-up on his burn-scarred legs in 1948. The drowned child was a member of the Union Avenue Baptist church and a third grade pupil of Superior Avenue school. He, Hollis and Johnny frequently played together as they live only two blocks apart. Burdette and Johnny were in the same class in school Besides his parents, Burdette is survived by the following sisters and brothers; Mrs. Sybil Bowler of Foxworth, J. W. Sumrall of the U. S. Army now stationed in Alaska, Mrs. H. B. Lewis, Mrs. Marie Hall, Melvin Armite, Larry, Betty Jo, Reneau and Renette, Hollis and Imogene Sumrall, all at home. Funeral services had not been set as The Enterprise went to press. The brother in Alaska is expected to arrive today (Thursday), and services will likely be held Friday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bogalusa Enterprise, Bogalusa, LA 08-26-1949 Funeral Conducted Today for Former Pastor Estes The body of the Rev. Dr. O. P. Estes, former pastor of the First Baptist church of this city, will be interred at 2 p.m. today in Ponemah Cemetery. Dr. Estes, who was one of the most beloved pastors ever to preach in this section of the country, succumbed to a heart ailment at 1 a.m. Wednesday at his home in Picayune, Miss., where he was pastor of the First Baptist Church. The Rev. Dr. Estes had been in falling health for several weeks. He had delivered only one sermon at his church since the latter part of last June when he became ill with virus pneumonia. The day before his illness came, the pastor had made transcriptions for broadcast on the Baptist Hour, a radio program on Mississippi Radio Stations. The active energetic minister came to Bogalusa 25 years ago to become pastor of First Baptist Church. Under his leadership, the church grew and many improvements were made. For 15 years, he remained in this city, preaching the Gospel, comforting the sick and performing all the other duties required of a good pastor. He was always busy in his work here. The Rev. Dr. Estes was president of the Washington Parish Baptist Association for a number of years, and for several years, he also headed the Louisiana Baptist Convention as president. He was once listed in a book of outstanding religious leaders in Louisiana. The former First Baptist pastor was the only Louisiana member of the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention for many years. Born in Whitehouse, Tenn., 63 years ago, the Rev. Dr. Estes was educated at Mississippi College in Clinton, and later attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. While he was pastor in Bogalusa, Louisiana College conferred the degree of doctor of divinity on Dr. Estes. The preacher of more than three decades left Bogalusa on August 8, 1939 for Picayune to again become pastor of the First Baptist Church there. Funeral services were conducted for Dr. Estes at the First Baptist Church in Picayune at 10 a.m. today (Thursday). Hundreds of local persons were waiting at Ponemah Cemetery as the Enterprise went to press for the body of the beloved preacher to arrive here for burial. Others from Bogalusa went to Picayune for the services this morning. Only a prayer service was scheduled for the grave side. As evidence of the high esteem in which Dr. Estes was held by the people of Picayune, the Chamber of Commerce Wednesday morning voted to close all businesses there today from 9:45-11 a.m. while the funeral services were conducted. In addition, the mayor issued a proclamation. Dr. Estes is survived by his widow, Mrs. Frances Roberts Estes; two sons, David and O. P. Estes, Jr. both of New Orleans; two daughters, Miss Dorothy Estes of New Orleans, and Miss Frances Estes of Picayune. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bogalusa Enterprise, Bogalusa, LA 08-26-1949 Miss C. Parker Buried Today Miss Clara Mae Parker, 40, died Sunday at the East Louisiana State hospital after a lingering illness. Funeral services were conducted this morning at 10 a.m. at the Holmes Cemetery at Talisheek with the Rev. D. W. Nix officiating. Interment was in the same cemetery with Poole Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Miss Parker is survived by her mother, Mrs. Emma Parker of South Columbia Road; one brother, Ralph W. Parker of New Orleans; two sisters, Miss Juanita Parker of New Orleans, and Mrs. G. C. Thomas of Bush. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bogalusa Enterprise, Bogalusa, LA 08-26-1949 Monroe Rutland Buried Tuesday Monroe Rutland, father of Johnny Rutland of this city, died at 7:40 a.m. on Monday morning at the East Louisiana State hospital. Funeral Services were conducted at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the chapel of Poole Funeral Home with the Rev. J. W. Magee officiating. Interment was in the Ponemah cemetery with Poole Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements. Mr. Rutland’s lone survivor is his son, Johnny, of this city. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bogalusa Enterprise, Bogalusa, LA 08-26-1949 B. Simmons Died Tuesday Richard Benjamin Simmons, 81, who made his home with Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Mixon on the Franklinton Highway, was found dead in bed early Tuesday. Death is said to have come between 11 p.m. and midnight Monday from a heart attack. Mr. Simmons, who had lived in Bogalusa only a few months, was Mrs. Mixon’s father, and a member of the Union Avenue Baptist church. Funeral services were conducted Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Floyd Walters home at Warnerton with the Rev. W. M. Melton officiating. Interment was in Tylertown, Miss cemetery. Mr. Simons is survived by four sons, Leon, Carl, Byron Simmons, all of Warnerton, and Richard Simons, of Magnolia, Miss; three daughters, Mrs. Bertha Walters of Warnerton, Mrs. Mixon of Bogalusa and Mrs. Lissie Belle Thompson of Amite. He is also survived by 23 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bogalusa Enterprise, Bogalusa, LA 08-26-1949 Postmaster Dies of Heart Attack James Freeman Willis, 59-year-old postmaster at Varnado, died at the post office on Monday at 3:50 p.m. of a heart attack. Mr. Willis, who had lived at Varnado for the past 30 years, had been in ill health, but death came suddenly. Funeral services were conducted Tuesday at 4 p.m. from the chapel of the Poole Funeral Home. Interment was in Seals Cemetery near Varnado with the Rev. J. K. Tunis officiating. The deceased is survived by his widow, one son, James F. Jr., of New Orleans, one daughter, Miss Nellie Ruth Willis of Varnado; two sisters, Mrs. Lizzie W. Blake of Varnado and Mrs. Kate Willis Lewis of New Orleans.