AGNES ALENE COOPER PILKINGTON GUNTER
Agnes Alene Cooper Pilkington Gunter, 98, of Mansfield, Louisiana, passed away on Monday, October 4, 2021, surrounded by family at Toledo Nursing Center in Zwolle, Louisiana.
Agnes was born on September 23, 1923, in Many, Louisiana. She was one of 13 children born to William and Mary Alice Dew Cooper. She graduated from Many High School in 1942 and married her husband of 41 years, Tom E. Pilkington, on Christmas Eve of that same year. They went on to have five children.
After 21 years of service, Agnes retired from the Zwolle Schools cafeteria in 1986. She stayed involved in square dancing where she met her second husband of 26 years J.O. Gunter. After retirement she continued to remain active in her volunteer work at the Christian ministry Feed & Seed, Clara Springs Baptist Encampment, the First Baptist Church Esther Sunday school class, the DeSoto Parish Quilters and women’s auxiliary, the Mansfield line dancers, the Lakeside twirlers, the Mansfield Friends of the Library, and the DeSoto Council on Aging.
Preceding Agnes in death are her parents, William and Mary Cooper; first husband, Tom Elner Pilkington; second husband, James O. Gunter; grandson, Trey Pilkington; a son-in-law she liked to refer to as her favorite son, Johnny Mauldin of De Queen, Arkansas; sisters, Viola Major, Lori Greer, Lurline Walker, and Edna Cutright; brothers, Bill Cooper, Cliff Cooper, J.W. Cooper, William Cooper, Grover Cooper, and Bobby Cooper. Left behind to cherish her memory are her sons, Roger Pilkington and wife Nelda of Many, LA, Terry Pilkington and wife Sue of Many, LA, and Tommy Pilkington and wife Lisa of Zwolle, LA; daughters, Barbara Mauldin Mayfield of Mansfield, LA {late husband, Jerry Mayfield}, and Ginger Goings and husband Mike of Robeline, LA. She also leaves behind 15 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and 3 greatgreat grandchildren.
Honoring Agnes as pallbearers were Terry Lynn Pilkington, Shane Pilkington, Mead Goings, Wade Goings, Tom Pilkington, Ryan Pilkington, Steven Pilkington, Caleb Pilkington, Jonathan Pilkington, Shawn Pilkington, Trenton Leach, Justin Leach, and Bryce Pilkington.
She was a Christian since the age of 11 serving in almost every capacity for 87 years and was a witness to her faith even in her last days singing, “Jesus Loves Me”. A visitation was held at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Many Chapel on Thursday, October 7th from 5 - 9PM. Funeral services were officiated by Rev. Thumper Miller at Bethsaida Baptist Church in Many, Louisiana on Friday, October 8th at 3PM. She was laid to rest next to her dearest first love at Bethsaida Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations will be received in her memory in support of the Mansfield First Baptist Church children’s ministry at 1710 McArthur Drive, Mansfield, Louisiana 71052.
Condolences can be made online to the family at www.roseneath.com.
