Obits: James L. Womack, 1997, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Annette Carpenter Womack
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James Leon Womack Obituary
Winn Parish Enterprise
September 1997

James L. Womack of Winnfield, La, died September 9, 1997 at Willis Knighten
Hospital, Bossier City, LA.  He was born November 19, 1925, at Sikes, LA,
to A. W. and Lona Head Womack.  He is survived by his wife, Geraldine A.
Womack of Winnfield, LA; a daughter, Michelle W. Lawrence and son-in-law,
Douglas Lawrence of Bossier City, La; a son, Michael L. Womack and daughter-
in-law, Vickie A. Raub of Memphis, TN.  He is also survived by his mother,
Lona Head Womack, and a brother, Karl L. Womack, both of Sikes, LA; and a host
of other relatives and friends.

Mr. Womack was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 
where he had served in many capacities at the Stake and Ward levels.  He 
served as Monroe, LA, Stake patriarch since 1969, and currently was serving as
a member of the Bishopric of the Winnfield, LA Ward.

Mr. Womack attended Louisiana Tech and was a 1954 graduate of LSU Law School
where he graduated 4th in his class and was honored with membership in the
Order of the Coif.  He was a member of the Louisiana and 8th Judicial District
Bar Associations.  He maintained an active legal practice in Winnfield until
his death.

Mr. Womack had served as Chairman of the Louisiana Crippled Children's
Association and was the 1957 Louisiana Easter Seal Campaign Chairman.  He had
been active in the Winnfield, LA Kiwanis Club, Salvation Army, American Cancer
Society, March of Dimes and American Heart Association, serving as chairman or
President of each.  He was an organizer of the Winn Sheltered Workshop and
served in various capacities.  He was a member of the Winn Sheltered
Workshop's Board of directors at his death.

Mr. Womack was an active supporter of the Boy Scouts of American and in 1968,
was awarded the Silver Beaver Award.  He was instrumental in organizing the
Disabled American Veterans in Louisiana and in 1876, was honored as the
National Outstanding Disabled American Veteran of the Year.  He served as
president of the Louisiana Chapter of the American Council For the Blind.  He
was a member of the Blinded Veterans Association and was awarded its National
Achievement Award in 1956.


The family suggests that memorials be made to the Boy Scouts of America or 
St. Judes Children's Research Hospital.

The family would like to express a special thanks to the Doctors and staff of
the Willis Knighton Bossier Medical Center.

Services under the direction of Southern Funeral Home will be held Friday, at
10:00 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.







Additional notes from submitter:

James Leon Womack was a charter member of the Winn Genealogical & Historical 
Association, Inc.  He was serving on the cemetery committee, the incorporation
committee, and on the publications committee at the time of his death.  He was
also a member of the Winn Historical Society.

Mr. Womack was a direct descendent of many of the pioneer families of Winn
Parish including: 

Grandparents: Abraham William Womack and Ellen Porter; 
              Isaac Leonard Head and Mary Elizabeth Davis. 

Great grandparents: Robert Womack and Wrizopa "Rispy" Southern
                    John Baxter Porter and Nancy Ann Hand
                    David Camille Head and Palestine Varnell
                    George Frank Davis and Josephine Smith

The Robert Womack family was the first Womack family in this area of Louisiana
but the Womack migrated from North Carolina to South Louisiana in the late
1700's, then up through Mississippi into Winn Parish.

The Porters migrated into Alabama where they intermarried with the Hands, then
came into Winn Parish directly from Alabama in the late 1850's.

The Heads and Varnells migrated into Winn Parish from Georgia and Mississippi,
respectfully.

The Davis and Smith families were from Mississippi also.

His heritage extends from Louisiana into Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North
and South Carolina, Virginia, and all the way up the coast even into New
Jersey and New York.  

Some of these surnames are:  Adams, Alexander, Anderson, Bernard, Bevill,
Childerss, Gaines, Green, Lucas, McDuffie, McNatt, Miller, Muscote, Newberry,
Osborn, Pew, Pryor, Puckett, Rardon, Stevens, Taylor, and Walker.  His
heritage has also been traced to royalty in England, France, Holland, Spain,
etc.