Tag Archives: Varnado

Varnado Store Museum hosting presentation

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Varnado Store Museum hosting presentation | Bogalusa News

People interested in local history or those who just like a good love story are invited to stop by the Varnado Store Museum on April 8.

A presentation on the book “Now and Always: A Louisiana Love Story” will be held that day at 6 p.m. in the museum annex. The free event will include a PowerPoint presentation and a reading of letters from the book.

The book is a compilation of letters sent between Amanda Doerr Lancaster and Joseph Bradford Lancaster between the years 1901 and 1916, during their courtship and after their marriage. Many of the letters are signed “now and always,” Museum Director Terry Seal said.

“You can just feel the love these two people had for each other in the pages of this book,” she said.

The Lancasters’ granson, Christian Garcia, who lives in North Carolina, compiled the letters, edited the book and wrote the introduction. He also and spent many years collecting accompanying documents and photographs.

“Every time a reference was made to a place or an event in these letters, he would research that and find a photograph or a document or something to show it historically,” Seal said.

A number of photographs from the museum’s collection are featured in the book.

Much of the story, Seal said, takes place in Washington Parish.

Over the years, Joseph Bradford Lancaster was an attorney, a district attorney, a representative in the Louisiana Legislature, a judge and a superintendent of schools. He spent a good deal of time at the parish courthouse in Franklinton, also traveling to Covington, where the couple’s home was located, and Baton Rouge.

Seal said the letters provide information about early modes of transportation, the beginnings of the parish legal system, and things people did for entertainment during that era.

Garcia’s brother, Judge Peter Garcia, recently donated a copy of the book to the museum. Seal and other staff members who have been able to get their hands on the book so far were entertained and educated while reading it, she said.

Seal said the museum staff was thrilled and jumped at the opportunity when Judge Garcia called and said his brother would be in town April 8, and thus, available to do a presentation on the book. She is hoping the event will draw a crowd.

“I think anybody who is interested in history would love it,” she said.

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Varnado Store Museum hosting presentation

Devora “Dee” Foster

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Devora “Dee” Foster | Obituary | Bogalusa, LA

On Wednesday morning, Jan. 16, 2013, Devora “Dee” Foster had a visit from a Heavenly Angel that was sent to Lakeview Hospital to collect the perfect rose for the heavenly garden.

She answered the call, knowing that there would be sad hearts, some lonely, others shocked, but her total aim in life was to please God, so off she went to be with the other saints. She was loved by many and was a refuge for children who needed a mother, grandmother, aunt or whatever a person needed. Mondy Road has lost a precious gem and the community has lost a No. 1 citizen in the passing of Dee.

She was the mother of three, the late Reginald A. Foster, Yolanda (Donald) Bradham and Zella (Rev. Thadeus) Daggs; seven grandchildren, Justin Foster, Jasmine Hardge, Jordon Hardge and Jessica Hardge, all of Va., Jakyra D. Daggs, Michael and Myisha Bradham of Texas; three great-grandchildren, William Hardge, Jhyren Pigott and Isaac Foy; two brothers, William T. (Ella) Foster Jr. and Andrew (Frenchie) Foster; a first cousin, Freddie Frazier, who is called the baby-girl of the family; one aunt, Quida Fortenberry; and a host of nieces, nephew, cousins and friends.

Visitation will be held Friday, Jan. 25, at Cook-Richmond Funeral Home from 2-4 p.m. Visitation will continue from 6-8 p.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church on Jones Creek Road in Varnado, with the funeral to be held on Saturday at 11 a.m., with Rev. A.S. Nelson officiating. Interment will follow at Robinson Cemetery.

View and sign the guestbook at www. cookrichmondfuneralhome.com or on Facebook.

Devora “Dee” Foster’s obituary continued here:
Devora “Dee” Foster’s Obituary

The life and vision of Dr. King celebrated in Varnado

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The life and vision of Dr. King celebrated in Varnado | The Daily News | Bogalusa, LA

The Concerned Citizens group in Varnado held a parade and a program in the Varnado High School gym Saturday in celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the dream that he announced in his “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., during the March on Washington on Aug. 28, 1963.

Program Coordinator Levi Lewis Sr. was the host for this ninth annual presentation, which included the introduction and processional of the 2013 King and Queen, Donald and Sylvia Gholar, the first husband and wife duo selected to reign. The couple has been married for 35 years and are the parents of three children.

Lewis began the program saying, “You have to have a dream.” He continued saying that in order to stay focused on a goal “you have to get educated.”

In attendance were past royalty, including Maevella Moore and Wilton Moses, who were chosen as the first king and queen in 2005; Annie Pernell and Ozell Nichols, 2011; Vivian Peters, 2010 queen; and Freddie H. Jefferson I, 2007 king.

Varnado High School Principal Randy Branch welcomed everyone to the school and a short welcome by Guy Brumfield, assistant principal, followed his remarks.

Youth representatives from several area churches were brought up to the podium to speak, including Greater Center Baptist Church, Mary’s Chapel United Methodist Church, Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church and Wesley Ray United Methodist Church. Wesley Ray Elementary Principal Ginger Champagne spoke about the youth in the community and their involvement in civic events.

Directed by James Griffen Jr., the Varnado High School Wildcat Marching Band provided musical accompaniment for the entertainment by the VHS Blue Angels dance group, directed by Laquisha Mark.

In the audience was Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal, who was persuaded by Lewis to say a few words.

“I am honored to be here today, the first sheriff in Washington Parish to be from the Varnado/Angie area,” he said, to the delight of most of the citizens attending the event. Continuing his remarks, he talked about Dr. King, education and young people, before handing the mic back to Lewis.

The last speaker, Ozell Nichols, former king and president of Concerned Citizens, closed the well-attended event, followed by a benediction and a reminder to attendees that food would be available for everyone. The hot dogs, chips and cold drinks were well received.

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The life and vision of Dr. King celebrated in Varnado

Kyle Burris

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Kyle Burris, 33, a resident of Franklinton, died at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 18, 2013, at St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington. Born April 6, 1979, he was a 1997 graduate of Bowling Green School, a lifelong member of Centenary United Methodist Church and a very proud member of the United Methodist Men. He loved movies, his exercise buddies, his cats, and above all else, his family.

He is survived by his parents, Jimmy and Debbie Burris of Franklinton; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Ellen and Josh DeCuir and Emily and Chris Hester, all of Baton Rouge; his grandmother, Mary Margaret W. Burris of Franklinton; aunts and uncles, Jesse D. and Renee Burris of Franklinton, Gail and Bill Stiles of Covington and Carolyn Schwebel of Ponchatoula; cousins, Darrell Burris, Katie Burris, Mark Hayden, Jill Miller, Melanie Varnado, Brooke Peach and Garrett Schwebel; and a great-uncle and great-aunt, James and Sara Morrow of Ponchatoula.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather, James W. Burris Sr., and his grandparents, Coulson J. Primes and Geraldine Fletcher Primes.

Visitation will be held Sunday, Jan. 20, at Crain Funeral Home from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m., and will continue on Monday at Centenary United Methodist Church from 8:30 a.m. until time for the funeral service at 10 a.m., with Rev. Steve Bush officiating.

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

See Kyle Burris’s obituary here:
Kyle Burris’s Obituary

Danzell De’mond Wise

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Danzell De’mond Wise | Obituary | Bogalusa, LA

Danzell De’mond Wise, 22, born Oct. 5, 1990, passed away Friday, Jan. 4, 2013 in Varnado.

He leaves to cherish his memories his mother, Donnell Wise Callahan of Hammond; his father, James Callahan of Folsom; one son, Jyren De’mond Williams of Bogalusa; four brothers, Kennon Wise of Bogalusa, Cornelius Wise of Hammond and James Demond Wise and Brandon Wise, both of Bogalusa; three sisters, Rose Marie Wise Magee of Bogalusa, Tremaine Wise of Hammond and Jucienta Marie Wise of Arlington, Texas; and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Shannon L. Wise.

Visitation will be Friday, Jan. 18 from 2-6 p.m., with a family hour from 6-8 p.m. at Crain & Sons Funeral Home in Bogalusa. Funeral service will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Midway Church of Christ Holiness USA, 83359 Highway 25, Folsom, LA, with Elder Leroy Divinity officiating. Internment will follow at Hay Hollow Cemetery in Folsom.

Please sign the guestbook at crainandsons.com.

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Danzell De’mond Wise’s Obituary

Karl L. Bickham Sr.

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A resident of Franklinton for more than 60 years, Karl L. Bickham Sr., 83, died at 4:36 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, at his home, surrounded by his entire family.

Born March 28, 1929, he served in the United States Marine Corps from Feb. 17, 1947 until Feb. 16, 1950, when he was discharged as a corporal after spending part of his service in China. He worked for Southern Bell, South Central Bell and BellSouth for almost 31 years before retiring as a supervisor in 1982. He enjoyed traveling when possible and spent many pleasurable hours at local coffee shops with friends.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 61 years, Lois Fontenot Bickham of Franklinton; a son and daughter-in-law, Karl L. “Buster” Bickham Jr. and Jeannine Bickham of Franklinton; two daughters and sons-in-law, Karla and Larry Tullos of Flower Mound, Texas and Konnie and Mike Crain of Varnado; eight grandchildren and spouses, Karl L. “Len” Bickham III and April Bickham, Leslie and Ryan McGhee, Jamie Burkhalter, Cole and Wendy Bickham, Kyle and Whitney Burkhalter and Megan and Rick Thomas, all of Franklinton, and Shea Tullos and Krystal Henry, both of Flower Mound; a brother and sister-in-law, Truett and Evelyn Bickham of Chesapeake, Va.; a sister-in-law, Jo Bickham of Bogalusa; and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James O. Bickham and Maude Smith Bickham; a sister, La Rue Fleming; and a brother, J.L. Bickham.

Visitation was Tuesday, Jan. 15 at Crain Funeral Home from 5-8 p.m. and will continue on Wednesday, from 9 a.m. until time for the funeral service at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel, with Dr. Gene Richards, Rev. Denny Brumfield and Rev. Ralph Parks officiating. Burial will follow in Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Len Bickham, Ryan McGhee, Cole Bickham, Shea Tullos, Rick Thomas, Kyle Burkhalter and Tyler McGhee. Honorary pallbearers are all the members of his “Coffee Crew.”

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Community Care Hospice, 1007 West Thomas St., Suite A, Hammond, LA 70403.

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

The rest of Karl L. Bickham Sr.’s obituary here:
Karl L. Bickham Sr.’s Obituary

Suspects shuffled, victim recuperating

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While the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office continues the investigation into the Jan. 4 double murder outside Varnado, it has revealed the whereabouts of the three arrested suspects and identified the victim who survived the shooting.

The victim, shot multiple times in his legs, is James Wise, younger brother of Denzell Wise, who was killed along with Brandon Alexander. He is now out of the hospital and recuperating at home, according to Chief Deputy Mike Haley.

The suspect who was in the hospital has also been released.

“Kinoski Wilson was released from the hospital on Thursday and booked into Washington Parish Jail,” Haley said. “He was processed there and then transported to the Orleans Parish Jail.”

His brother, Alex Wilson, is now being housed at the Caldwell Parish Jail, and the third suspect, a cousin, Lasean Williams, was transferred to the St. Tammany Parish Jail, he said.

“The three murder suspects are now being housed in other parish jails for security reasons,” Haley said. “Due to the many friendships/kinships in a rural area like Washington Parish, there is always the possibility of retaliation from other jail inmates. That, coupled with the fact that the Washington Parish Jail has no cells for isolating/separating inmates from other inmates, we felt it best to house them in other jails.”

Investigators are still working to determine the motive for the shooting that reportedly stemmed from the potential sale of a four-wheeler.

Continued at The Daily News:
Suspects shuffled, victim recuperating

Parish school board to consider policy changes

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Pending the vote of the Washington Parish School Board during its meeting Thursday, a number of policy files will be revised, adopted or deleted, and Assistant Superintendent Richard Kennedy will be authorized to have withdrawal privileges on school board bank accounts.

Kennedy presented the proposed revisions to several school board policies during the board’s committee meeting Monday.

The first policy revision concerns the naming of facilities.

Reworded due to changes handed down by the state Legislature, the second policy, on homeless children and youth, would allow a foster child to stay in a school for the remainder of the academic year or until graduation, even if he or she is moved to a home in another district. The school system would be responsible for providing transportation. According to the definition in the policy, 15 to 20 percent of children in the school system are homeless, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance Frances Varnado said.

The third revision would be a change to the section on diabetes in the policy on the administration of medication.

Next, a new policy would give the school board the ability to sell surplus computers that are no longer needed at any of the schools to a student, parent, tutor or guardian without having to advertise for bids, Kennedy said. Another new policy would set the class size limits at 26 students for kindergarten through third grades and 33 students for fourth through 12th grades.

The board will also vote on deleting an old policy on the procedure for disposing of school properties.

Finance Director Beth Keaton discussed the proposal to authorize withdrawal privileges for Kennedy.

“We asked to do this because we’ve run into several instances in the past where the superintendent needs to be at a meeting the week that we need to sign payroll checks or the board president needs to be away, and it’s a hardship on them and on our payroll department,” she said. “So we ask that you give Richard Kennedy authority to sign, and then we would use two out of the three.”

In his superintendent’s report, Darrell Fairburn said an emergency plan meeting, with sheriff’s office, Franklinton and Bogalusa police departments and Washington Parish and Bogalusa City school board officials in attendance, will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. in the school board office’s media center.

Also on the agenda for the meeting to be held Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the school board office are the election of board officers and an executive session for the purpose of evaluating the superintendent.