Christine Emely Bruns Saxton

Christine Emely Bruns Saxton | Obituary | Bogalusa, LA

Christine Emely Bruns Saxton, 63, born Nov. 15, 1949, passed away Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013 at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette.

She leaves to cherish her memory a loving husband of 33 years, Norman Saxton of Lafayette; two daughters, Akilah Eshe’ Saxton of North Hollywood, Calif. and Michelle Renee’ Saxton of Bronx, N.Y.; one son, Thabiti Adisa Saxton of New Orleans; one sister, Charlotte Bruns of Austin, Texas; five brothers, Dr. Atwood J. (Loreane) Luter of Bogalusa, Dr. Clinton (Clarette) Bruns of Benicia, Calif., Clarence Bruns Jr. of Bogalusa and Andree’ R. Powell of Hattiesburg, Miss.; a loving uncle, Jimmie Mondy of Inglewood, Calif.; a sister-in-law, Cynthia Bruns; three godsisters, Juanita Sue Hall (Howard Sr.), Antronette Skeete Hick and Juanita Wayman; several godchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence Sr. and Rosa Lee Polk Bruns; a brother, Chris Bruns; and grandparents, aunts and uncles.

Visitation will be held Friday, Jan. 11 in Crain & Sons Funeral Home Chapel in Bogalusa from 2-6 p.m., followed by a family hour from 6-8 p.m. The funeral service will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 432 Sullivan Drive, Bogalusa, with Rev. Dr. Atwood J. Luter officiating. Interment will follow at Duffy Memorial Cemetery.

Please sign the guestbook at crainandsons.com.

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Christine Emely Bruns Saxton’s Obituary

Marcus Lamar Smith

Marcus Lamar Smith, 45, a resident of Tylertown, Miss., passed away Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013, at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, Miss. He was born on May 5, 1967 in Walthall County, Miss.

He is survived by his wife, Caroline Davis Smith of Tylertown; three daughters, Ashley Davis of Tylertown, Sarah Davis of Panama City, Fla. and Demitry Permnova; one son, Erik (April) Smith of Bogalusa; his mother and stepfather, Ann (Joel) Hill of Franklinton; one sister, Melissa (Baron) Desmond of Tampa, Fla.; one brother, Matthew (Donna) Smith of Bogalusa; four grandchildren, Allysse Smith, Hallie Verlander, Callie Davis and Gage Dillon; and several nieces and nephews.

His father, Larry Smith, and a brother, Michael Smith, preceded him in death.

Visitation will be held Friday, Jan. 4 at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home from 5-9 p.m.

Visitation will continue on Saturday, from 9 a.m. until time for the funeral service at 11 a.m., with Bro. Randall Garcia officiating. Interment will follow at Ponemah Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Eric Smith, Michael Blackwell, Caleb Barnes, Dustin Barnes, Jonathan Smith and Jeremy Stafford.

To view and sign the online guestbook, visit www.pooleritchiefuneralhome.com.

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Marcus Lamar Smith’s Obituary

Donovan Maples Sr.

Donovan Maples Sr., 67, a resident of Sandy Hook, Miss., passed into eternal rest Friday morning, Dec. 28, 2012 at Forest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, Miss. He was born July 12, 1945 to Chester A. Maples and Minnie Lou Maples at Camp Stoneman, Calif. He was retired from NASSCO Shipyard in San Diego, Calif.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Bonnie Maples of Sandy Hook; a daughter, Susan Marie White of Florence, Miss.; two sons, Donovan C. Maples Jr. and Steven C. Maples, both of Sandy Hook; two grandchildren, Shelly Maples and Donovan W. Maples; and two sisters, Patricia Roley of Havasu City, Ariz. and Leminda (Lester) McGahhey of Rose Bud, Ark.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his grandparents, Fleet and Cleo Miler and Johnny and Leona Maples; a sister, Bonnie J. Quave; and his brother, Jewel Lee Simmons.

A graveside funeral service will be held Sunday, Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. at Mt. Hermon Cemetery. Obituaries can be viewed online at www.crainfh.com.

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Donovan Maples Sr.’s Obituary

Rebecca Jane Dillon Bryant

Rebecca Jane Dillon Bryant, 84, a resident of Franklinton born March 31, 1928, died Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012 at 5:30 a.m. at St. Tammany Parish Hospital.

She was retired from Rutter Rex after over 30 years as a seamstress. She was a longtime member of Mt. Zion United Pentecostal Church and loved flowers and her flower gardens. She was always a loving wife, mother and grandmother.

She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, J.W. and Thelma Bryant of Franklinton; a daughter, Pauline Mulford of Pine; nine grandchildren and spouses, Russell and Jeanie Bryant, Rachel Bryant, Rhonda Spears, Chad and Kristy Bryant, all of Franklinton, Lavell and Cindy Sumrall, Wesley and Stephanie Sumrall, all of Pine, William and Becky Sumrall of Tylertown, Miss., Adrine and Jimmy Brooks of Pine and Michelle Bryant of Gonzales; 26 great-grandchildren; a brother and sister-in-law, Jewell and Ruby Dillon of Hattiesburg, Miss.; and numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.She was preceded in death by her husband, Johnny Bryant; a son, John Wesley Bryant; her parents, Albert Dillon and Frances Leo Lee Dillon; sisters, Alberdine Popwell and Mary Frances Sawyer; brothers, James Willis Dillon and Charles Dillon; and a son-in-law, Dorman Sumrall.

Visitation will be held Friday, Nov. 23 at Mt. Zion Pentecostal Church from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. and will resume Saturday at 9 a.m. A funeral service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in the church, with Rev. Leon Hickman and Rev. Jerry Cox officiating. Burial will follow at Stateline United Pentecostal Church Cemetery.

Obituaries can be viewed online at www.crainfh.com.

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Joseph S. Fannin Jr.

Joseph S. Fannin Jr. | Obituary | Bogalusa, LA

Joseph S. Fannin Jr., 65, a resident of Bogalusa born Sept. 5, 1947, died Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012 in Bogalusa.

He grew up in Eatonville, a small community north of Hattiesburg, Miss.

He was a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and was editor and publisher of The Daily News from 2002 until 2004. He served in the Mississippi Army National Guard for 11 years and was information supervisor for the 114th Support Group, Hattiesburg.

He received many honors, including Citizen of the Year, Laymen of the Year and Kiwanian of the Year and was awarded the Mississippi Commendation Medal by Gov. William Winter while serving in the Mississippi National Guard. He was past president of the Mississippi Newspaper Advertising Executive Association.

He is survived by his wife, Pat Fannin; children, Joseph Fannin III, Ty Williams, Janet Tubb and Jackie Birckbichler; and grandchildren, Raven Camp, Nicholas Tubb and Ray Anne Husky.

Visitation will be held Monday, Nov. 19 at his childhood church, Providence Baptist Church, 1180 Eatonville Road, Hattiesburg, from 11 a.m. until time for the funeral service at noon. Attendees will walk to the graveside after the funeral service.

Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home in Hattiesburg is in charge of arrangements.

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Joseph S. Fannin Jr.’s Obituary

Milton R. Foster Sr.

Milton R. Foster Sr., 73, died Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012 at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, Miss.

He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Helen Faye Foster. He leaves behind four children, a son, Milton R. Foster Jr. of Bogalusa, three daughters, Karen Foster (Donnie) Seal of Franklinton, Pamela Foster of Gonzales and Teresa Foster (Jon) Roberts of Ozark, Mo.; three brothers, Eugene Foster, Donald Foster and Samuel Foster Jr.; three sisters, Lavern Hutson, Gloria Mizell and Diane Foster May. Also missing him will be 10 grandchildren, Kevin Adams, Sgt. Blake Adams, Jenny Adams, Hayden Dutro, Raven, Randall, and Ashton Foster, Britain Roberts Khat and Haley and Taylor Roberts, and four great-grandchildren, Savanna and Bella Adams, Dylan Adams and Harper Khat.

Visitation was held Friday, Nov. 9 at Freeman Funeral Home from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Funeral services were held Saturday, Nov. 10 at 2 p.m., followed by interment at Pine Crest Cemetery.

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Paul Wilson Hebert

Paul Wilson Hebert | Obituary | Bogalusa, LA

Paul Wilson Hebert, 61, passed away Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at his residence in Bogalusa.

He was a member of the Pine Lodge No. 264 since 1978.

He is survived by his wife, Loretta of Bogalusa; sons, Jody Hebert of Franklinton, Jacob Dinger of Hattiesburg, Miss., Joseph Cauthron of Dickenson, Texas and Timothy Cauthron of Lake Charles; daughters, Tracy Sprehe of Bogalusa and Paula Hebert of Mt. Hermon; a brother, Kenny Hebert of Folsom; sisters, Laura Windom of Covington and Marie Dupre of Port Allen; and 16 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilson and Ruth Hebert, and a brother, Ronald Hebert.

A memorial service will be held at a later date, with Brown-McGehee Funeral Home is in charge of arrangments.

Family and friends may view and sign the online guestbook at www.brownmcgehee.com.

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Paul Wilson Hebert’s Obituary

Kathleen Adelaide Welch Davis

Kathleen Adelaide Welch Davis, 71, a resident of Hattiesburg, Miss. born March 11, 1941, died Sunday, July 1, 2012 at 9:15 a.m. at Wesley Medical Center.

She was a native of St. Tammany Parish and longtime resident of Chico, Calif. and Covington. She enjoyed reading and listening to music and playing card games, especially solitaire. She loved snoballs, with her favorite being ice cream flavored with cream.

 She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Sandra and Joe Fournet of Sun and Lisa and Rick Reeves of Hattiesburg; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Herman and Susie Davis and Richie Nelson, all of Chico; a sister and brother-in-law, Cheryl and David Gerrard of Madisonville; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Buddy and Dimple Welch of Covington and Gregory Welch of Sun; 19 grandchildren and their spouses, Amy, Shabree, George, Denny, Billie, Levi, Jessica, Patrick, Eric, Sabrina, J.W., Shannon, Daniel, Shelley, Briana, Richard, Charlie, Shilo and River; 44 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Shelley Louise Davis; a son, Denman Davis; her parents, James Denman Welch and Agnes Heath Welch; a sister, Sabrina Welch; and a brother, Freddy Welch

Visitation will be held Thursday, July 5 at Crain Funeral Home, 1109 Bene St., Franklinton, from 11 a.m. until time for the funeral service at 3 p.m. in the funeral home chapel.

Due to Mrs. Davis’ wishes for cremation, in lieu of flowers the family requests donations to help cover funeral expenses.

Obituaries can be viewed online at www.crainfh.com.

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Retirement Service for Pastor M.D. Owens set for Saturday

Retirement Service for Pastor M.D. Owens set for Saturday | The Daily News | Bogalusa, LA

Born in Slagle to a family of 12, Rev. M.D. Owens felt the calling of God at age 16. Many consider him their lifelong example of godly living, Christ-like love and selfless pastoring. The full impact he and Sister Erma Owens have had on the lives of countless others will only be revealed in heaven.

Everyone whose life has been touched by Pastor and Sister Owens is urged to come and honor them this Saturday, June 30 at 7 p.m. at the Church of United Faith, 1100 Marshall Richardson Road in Bogalusa. Pastor Owens’ health is declining after 62 years of preaching and 58 years of pastoring. In his youth, Owens founded the First Pentecostal Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., the First Pentecostal Church in Hattiesburg, Miss. and the First Pentecostal Church in Scranton, Penn.

He pastored the First United Pentecostal Church in Bogalusa from 1972 until 1974 and the Church of United Faith from 1974 until 1982. He entered the foreign mission field and after his return pastored the First Pentecostal Church in Ringgold from 1984 until 2009. He felt led to return to the Church of United Faith in 2009. The Church of United Faith will be forever grateful as we miss the Owens’ loving care.

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Retirement Service for Pastor M.D. Owens set for Saturday

Parker, Hartfield To Exchange Vows April 14, 2012

Parker, Hartfield to exchange vows April 14 | The Daily News | Bogalusa, LA

Ronnie and Rebecca Parker are pleased to announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Lauren Ashlee Parker, to Billy Wayne Hartfield, the son of Mike and Patty Hartfield.

The bride-elect is employed by the Hattiesburg (Miss.) Clinic. She is the granddaughter of June Quinn.

The prospective groom is employed by Edward Jones Investments. He is the grandson of Montez Hartfield.

The nuptials will be celebrated at 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 14 at Good Hope Baptist Church in Purvis, Miss. Following a honeymoon in Gatlinburg, Tenn. the couple will reside in Purvis.

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Parker, Hartfield to exchange vows April 14