BOSSIER CITY – Celebration of life for Deacon Johnny Brown, 67, will be 2:30 p.m., Saturday, February 28, 2015 at Ebernezer B.C. 214, Ebernezer Rd, Elm Grove, La. Rev. Gabriel Horton, pastor. Pastor Edward Hatcherson, officiating. Interment will be 10 a.m. Monday, March 2, 2015 at Northwest, La. Veteran, Keithville, La. Family hour will be from 8 to 9 p.m., Friday at Heavenly Gates.

Mr. Brown entered into eternal rest on February 23, 2015 after a brief illness.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years; Brenda Hatcherson Brown, 6 children, 3 sisters, 1 brother, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

HAUGHTON – Services celebrating the life of Karen Sue Meunier Gaines will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 10:00 a.m., at Hill Crest Memorial Chapel in Haughton, LA with Pastor Mark Briggs officiating, followed by a memorial ceremony held by the Eastern Star. Visitation will be at 9:00 a.m. prior to the service.

Karen was born on June 17, 1958 in Rapid City, South Dakota, and unexpectedly received her angel wings on February 20, 2015 at her home in Haughton, Louisiana.

She served the community as a nurse for over 30 years, portraying her loving spirit.

Preceding her in death is her parents, Richard John and Phyllis Ann Meunier. She is survived by her loving husband Donald J “Jeff” Gaines and her stepsons, Jeffery Blake Gaines, and Jacob R Gaines and wife Amanda, her three grandchildren, Chloe Morgan Murphy, Ava Elizabeth Gaines, and Isabella Katherine Gaines. She is also survived by sister, Cheryl Williams and husband John; and two brothers, Stephen M. Meunier and wife Becky, and Richard Meunier and wife Rebecca; and several nieces and nephews. Karen was a devoted wife, stepmother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She will truly be missed by all.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Shiners Hospital for Children in Shreveport, LA.

You may share your memories with the family by visiting www.hillcrestmemorialfh.com.

BOSSIER CITY – Mickey Pellegrin passed away on Tuesday February 24, 2015 after a brief illness. Services for Mickey will be held at 10am in Rose-Neath’s Southside Chapel. Visitation will be held from 9am until service time. The service will be officiated by Dr. James Hill her former pastor. Burial will follow at Forest Park West Cemetery.

Mickey was born on September 6, 1927 in Platte, MO to Hiram and Gertrude Issacs. She was the youngest of 5 children. All have preceded her in death.

Mickey married Carroll Joseph Pellegrin on April 11, 1948. To this union 7 children were born. They lived in several areas of Louisiana before settling in Blanchard, LA where they were active members of First Baptist Church of Blanchard.

Mickey was preceded in death by her husband Carroll and 3 children, Ray, Chris, and Donna. She is survived by 4 children, Dan of Panama, Joe (Cyllene) of Okalhoma City, Rick (Debbie) of Blanchard and Barbara (Randy) of Houston; 2 daughters-in-law Chris Ann and Kim; and son-in-law John Oswalt.

She is also survived by 18 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.

The family would like to thank the staff of Heritage Manor Bossier for their excellent care of our mother during her stay.

James Durwood “Dub” Pierce peacefully departed this life on February 23, 2015. Dub attended LA Tech University and after his studies he represented Texas Eastern Oil and Gas as the Area Manager for the Beaumont, Texas region. Dub proudly served his country in the US Army. Dub took great pleasure in being outside, where he hunted, fished and walked in natures beauty.

Visitation will be at Boone Funeral Home in Bossier City, LA from 3 until 5 p.m. on Friday. Funeral services will be held on Saturday February 27, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. on February 27, 2015. Interment will follow at Union Springs Cemetery, near Shongaloo, LA.

Those who survive him are his mother, Louise Matlock Pierce; Jackie Minogue Pierce, his companion; David Pierce, his son; Susan (Rick) Cavalier and Tammie (Billy) Warren, his daughters; Charles (Diane) Pierce, his brother; Lois Kinney, his sister; four grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by John D. Pierce, his father. Dub was a kind and gentle person whom we will all miss.

BOSSIER CITY – On the evening of Monday February 23, 2015, Reverend James E. Sweeney passed peacefully from this life, and went home to be with the LORD. Reverend Sweeney was born on June 16, 1939 in Shreveport, Louisiana becoming a life long citizen of Bossier City, Louisiana. He is a graduate of Bossier Colored and Charlotte Mitchell High School, later obtaining a Bachelors degree in Theology from Shreveport Bible College. Reverend Sweeney not only loved God but he loved his country and served it well. He traveled around the world as a Sergeant in the United States Army shortly after the Korean War. Some of his most memorable assignments involved tours in Fort Sill, OK, Fort Eustis, VA and Fort Bliss, TX.

Answering a call to the ministry he pastored Rocky Mount Baptist Church for 23 faithful years having dedicated a total of 32 years to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and mentoring many young preachers.

Reverend Sweeney served as one of the first Black Police Officers in Bossier City for approximately 10 years. He later was employed by the Bossier Parish School System as a Bus Driver, and retired with 37 years of service. During his tenure he served as a mentor to inspire many young people to succeed in life. He was an active community leader and a founder of the Bossier Concerned Citizens and the first chapter of the Bossier NAACP. He participated in many events to help uplift his community.

Preceded him in death were his parents, Reverend and Mrs. Louis Sweeney and six siblings. He leaves to cherish his memories: His loving wife of 55 years Blondie J. Sweeney; children – Yvette Sweeney Pugh (Huey), Arlington, TN, Colonel (R) Eric Sweeney (Maya), U.S. Army Ida, La; Major (R) James Sweeney, Jr., U.S. Army Fort Hood, TX; and Harriet Sweeney Brewer (Erick), Fort Hood, TX, Jennifer Wright (Chester), CA; Alisa Rounds, CO; two sisters – (Betty M. Jones of San Antonio, TX, Willie S. Blackshire of Bossier City, La. He (Big Daddy) will be greatly missed by his grand and great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Services for Reverend Sweeney will be held on February 28, 2015 at 10:00 am at Bossier Missionary Baptist Church 809 Hamilton Road in Bossier City, La. 71111. Visitation hours are from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm (February 27) at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport, La. and 9:00 am to 10:00 am (February 28) at Bossier Missionary Baptist Church.

PLAIN DEALING – Funeral services for Mrs. Ethelene Hilburn Harris, age 84, will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, February 28, 2015, at the Plain Dealing Baptist Church, Plain Dealing, LA, with her grandson, Matt Impson officiating and assisted by Rev. James Hill. Interment will follow in Plain Dealing Cemetery under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home, Plain Dealing, LA.

Visitation will be held Friday, February 27, 2015 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the funeral home.

Mrs. Harris was born on August 10, 1930 to Ollie and Pauline Smith Hilburn in Plain Dealing, LA and passed away Monday, February 23, 2015 in Bossier City, LA. She was a lifelong resident of this area, was a member of the Plain Dealing Baptist Church and was a retired caregiver and bookkeeper.

She is survived by two daughters, Kathy Moore and husband, Don of Vicksburg, MS; Tina Hammett and husband, Max of Doyline, LA; two sons, Don Impson and wife, Susan of Shreveport, LA; Robert “Bobby” Harris and wife, Paula of Keithville, LA; brother, David “Buddy” Hilburn of Plain Dealing, LA; sister, Lorene Rachal and husband, Joe of Blanchard, LA; very special friend, Mary Helen Stoval of Plain Dealing, LA; eleven grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Mrs. Harris was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Lafayette Harris, Jr. on April 30, 1977; her parents, sisters, Clariece Hamiter, LeErma White; brothers, Wilford, James and Reese Hilburn.

Serving as pallbearers will be Mike Strayhan, Gene Brown, Doug Hines, Ricky Hays, Terry Sullivan and Donnie Gray. Honorary pallbearer will be G.M. Dodson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Baptist Children’s Home in Monroe, LA.

Sign our online guest book at www.baileyfuneralhome.net.

BOSSIER CITY – Funeral services for Jerry Harris will be 11:00 AM, Friday, February 27, 2015 at Boone Funeral Home-Bossier. Officiating Rev. Jerry Kennedy will officiate. Interment will be at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery.

The family will receive friends between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM on Thursday, February 26, 2015 at Boone Funeral Home.

Jerry was born in Bradford, IL on November 11, 1935 and passed away on February 21, 2015, after a courageous battle with cancer and Alzheimers. Jerry proudly served his country by serving 21 years in the USAF, as a Missile Technician. After his retirement he worked for the Bossier Parish School Board. In his spare time he enjoyed working on cars, fishing, building anything with wood, but most of all he loved playing with the grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, and four brothers. Left to cherish his memories are, wife of 60 years, Marie Harris; children, Mark Harris, Jerri Hammontree (Randy), Joni Harris, Debbie Smith (Joey), Craig Harris, Steve Harris, and David Harris; nine grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren; one brother and two sisters.

Jerry will be honored with full military rites.

BOSSIER CITY – Eva was born in Waco, TX on Feb 3, 1920 to Annie and Everett Cardwell. The family moved to Waxahachie, TX and then to Bossier City, LA in 1932. She graduated from Bossier High School and attended LA Tech where she was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. After college she worked for Ark-La-Tex Gas Co. About this time she met “Red”, her future husband, Walter F. Kirkland, Sr. He was immediately drafted by Uncle Sam. They got married in 1944 and he was shipped overseas. They were married for 43 years. God blessed them with only one child.

Eva started work part-time as Church Secretary at the First Methodist Church on Ogilvie St. in 1950. She loved the church and everybody in it, and served in about all committees and groups over many years, including Church Historian. She especially enjoyed the Silver Fox exercise group, the Young at Heart Group and her card playing bunch. She was a member of the Mary Ewing Sunday School Class. Her church was her main stay. Eva retired in 1985 after 35 years

She enjoyed square dancing, bowling, golf, tole painting with Frances Pierce, sewing and needlework.

Eva was preceded in death by husband, Walter F. Kirkland, Jr.; parents, Annie Uzzle Cardwell and Everett Aubrey Cardwell; brother, J.J. Cardwell and wife Dorothy; and nephew, Cary J. Cardwell.

She leaves behind her daughter, Carol Kirkland of Mandeville, LA and companion Rob F. Logan; niece, Karen Baker and husband Raeford of New Orleans, LA; cousin, Helen Rose and husband Jerry of Coppell, TX.

Thanks to special friends Geneva and Bill Hensley and Jane Cooper for all of their help in time of need.

A memorial service to honor Eva’s life will be 11:00 AM, Friday, February 20, 2015 at First United Methodist Church of Bossier. Officiating will be Rev. David Dietzel. The family will hold a private interment.

On Monday, February 23, 2015, Will L. Loftin’s Lord and Savior perfectly healed him from the cancer he endured for the past four years. While hearts are saddened here on earth, Will is pain free and enjoying a heavenly homecoming.

Services to celebrate Will’s life will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, February 27, 2015, at First Baptist Bossier in Faith Chapel. Interment will follow at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport, LA. The family will receive visitors Thursday, night from 5:00 – 7:00 at Centuries Memorial. Dr. Brad Jurkovich of First Baptist Bossier will be officiating the services with Will’s brother-in-law Reverend LeRoy Skipper assisting.

Will was born on April 1, 1940 to X.L. and Willie Loftin, who preceded him in death. Will was the first of ten Loftin children. Also preceding Will in death are brothers, Hubert Loftin, Paul Loftin, Jerald Loftin; and sisters, Melba Skipper and Jan McCrary.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 31 years, Judy Harper Loftin, and children: Jeff Loftin (Leasha), Donna Curley (Hal), and Laura Loftin; grandchildren Stephen Curley (Kayla), Chris Curley, Timothy Neill, Sarah Loftin, Jeffrey Loftin, and Justin Hargis; siblings Mike Loftin, Roy Loftin, Carolyn Taylor, and Betty Beatty.

Will took dreams and turned them into realities. In 1980, Will began Executive Consultants, an employment agency that matched computer technologists with firms benefiting from their services. After many successful years, Will formed EDgear, an educational software company which was one of the first to provide schools with electronic records, report cards, etc. and parents with immediate knowledge of their child’s progress in school. This software now has an international presence.

Will was a quiet man, with a generous heart. One of his greatest joys was doing for others. In lieu of flowers, Will and his family would prefer memorials which will further God’s kingdom and assist others; First Baptist Bossier “Freedom Fields”, 2810 East Texas, Bossier City, LA 71111 or The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, 7200 Desiard St., Monroe, LA 71203.

Honoring Will as pallbearers will be his grandsons, Stephen Curley, Chris Curley, Timothy Neill, Jeffrey Loftin, Justin Hargis and nephews Brian Loftin, Michael Loftin, and Kenneth Loftin.

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

- Isaiah 40:28-31

BOSSIER CITY – A Funeral Mass for CMSGT Robert (Lou) Louis Wells will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, February 26, 2015 at Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church with Fr. Joseph Ampatt officiating. A visitation will be held at 9:30 AM at the church followed by a 10:30 Rosary. Interment will be at Hill Crest Memorial Park. A traditional visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home.

Lou was born on June 3, 1940 and passed away on February 23, 2015. He was preceded in death by his parents Mary Edith Davenport and Louis C. Wells. Left to cherish his memory, is his loving wife of 53 years Karen B. Wells, children Nancy Wells Reiland and husband Philip, Julia (Judy) Erdie and husband Colonel James Erdie, Cynthia (Cindy) Czajka and husband Colonel Michael Czajka, siblings Donna Wells Campbell and husband Ron, grandchildren Danielle and Adrienne Seal, Carmen and Robert Erdie, Elizabeth and Christopher Czajka, and nephews Craig Campbell and Chad Wells.

Lou had a lifelong love of airplanes, and the idea of air flight. He joined the United States Air Force at age 18 and retired as a Chief Master Sergeant in 1985. After retirement he continued to serve his country and fellow veterans in his second career at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Shreveport. Lou was an avid modeler and took pride in the fact that some of his work was displayed in the Eighth Air Force Museum.

He married his other lifelong love Karen (Kay) Frances Bingham June 25, 1961 and their adventure began. They raised their three daughters at assignments all over the world and ultimately retired in Bossier City. Then grandchildren came along and he was a loving, caring “Poppy” to them all.

Lou and Kay were involved with the Holy Family Catholic Chapel on Barksdale Air Force Base where they continued to minster to single airmen and young married couples. They ultimately became parishioners at Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church.

Through his thirty plus year battle with renal disease he was cared for by many professional, loving health care providers. There are too many to thank in this small space but whose concern and attention were no small gift. The family is sincerely grateful.