Obituaries:  Mack L. Branch, 1962, Winn Parish, LA.
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From:  April 19, 1962 Winn Parish Enterprise-News American

Mack L. Branch, Senior Druggist, Dies April 14th


Mack L. Branch, who had a 55 year career in the drug business in
Winnfield, died April 14 in New Orleans where he was hospitalized for
several days before his death.

He was 82.

On March 8, this year, he announced the selling of his stock to the J. A.
West dry goods chain and said he was retiring.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. April 15 in the First Presbyterian
Church here and burial was in the Garden of Memories Cemetery under the
direction of Hixon Funeral Home.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Beulah G. Branch, two daughters, Mrs. Mary
Virginia Reinhard, Winnfield, Mrs. Robert Walsh, New Orleans, a sister,
Mrs. Carrie Tugwell, Winnfield, and one granddaughter, Carla Reinhard,
Winnfield.

Mr. Branch moved to Winnfield from Gaars Mill, November 11, 1901, and went
to work at the age of 21 for the Smith-Grisham Drug Store.  Seven years
later, he and Grisham erected a brick building for a second drug store to
be managed by Mr. Branch. 

This building now stands on the west side and adjoining the Enterprise
office at the corner of Court and Jones Streets.

By 1918, he had purchased Grisham's interests and passed the State
Pharmaceutical Board examination.  

He also purchased a building and until his retirement occupied that
structure.

In 1934 the Winn Parish Police Jury was increased to three members from
Ward One, and Gov. Oscar Allen appointed Mr. Branch to fill a two year
term.  He was reelected for another four years in 1936.  

He accepted the Walgreen Agency name in 1947 and kept it until he retired.

He was a deacon at the First Presbyterian Church and served on the
building committee there.

In years of service, Mr. Branch was the youngest of the trio of elder
businessmen in Winnfield.

The senior member is W. E. Heard who still operates People's Hardware two
doors down the street from where Mr. Branch operated.

The other member is J. W. Perdue, who retired from his jewelry business
here in January.  

Serving as pallbearers at Mr. Branch's service were J. R. Harrison, F. L.
Main, H. E. Powell, Jr., Kenneth Watts, Earl Applewhite, Robert Kraft, D.
L. Hoffman, and 
A. W. Radescich.