Obituaries

11/11/37 – 11/03/23

Mary Maxine Evans Lynch, 85, of DeSoto Parish, Louisiana entered into eternal rest on November 3, 2023, in Shreveport, Louisiana. Mary was born on November 11, 1937, in Mansfield, Louisiana to Floyd Johnston Evans and Berta Thurman Evans.

A visitation was held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 5, 2023, located at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive in Shreveport. Funeral services honoring the life of Mary were held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 6, 2023, at the funeral home. Officiating the service will be Pastor Dean Register. Interment was at Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery, 322 Church Road in Keatchie, Louisiana. Honoring Mary as pallbearers will be Ronnie Lee, John Whitaker, Britlyn Garrett, Madelyn Garrett, Donnie Lee, and Don Brown.

9/25/62 – 10/29/23

Funeral services for Henry Sale was at 10:00 AM, Friday, November 3, 2023, at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home Chapel in Mansfield, LA. Officiating the service was Rev. Jesse Truitt. Interment followed at Mansfield Cemetery. Visitation was from 5:00 PM until 7:00 Thursday, November 2, 2023, at the funeral home.

Henry was born September 25, 1962, in Mansfield, LA and passed away October 29, 2023.

Henry was preceded in death by his parents, James Sale and Lucy Petty. Those left behind to cherish his memory are his wife, Hope Sale; sons Henry “Hank” Sale, II; daughters Ellen Dominguez and husband Eli and Emily Norred and husband Tyler; sister Noel Sale; brother, David Robert Sale; and grandchildren, Blair Sale, Henry Sale, III, Henley Sale, Brylee Dominguez, Brenna Dominguez, Braelynn Dominguez, and Joshua Norred.

A graveside service for Tommie Joe Cordova, 77, was held on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 14320 US Hwy. 84, Logansport, Louisiana.

Tommie passed away peacefully at home on October 22, 2023 in Keithville, Louisiana surrounded by family and loved ones. He was born in Mansfield, Louisiana on March 30, 1946. His family later moved to Ferriday where he graduated from Ferriday High School in 1964. While in high school, he excelled in basketball and was a strong leader on and off the court.

He then went on to NSU where he received his master’s degree in education. While teaching was his passion, his love of country called him to enlist. He joined the Air Force in 1970 before beginning his teaching career, proudly serving a tour of duty in Korea.

9/14/39 – 10/29/23

After more than two decades of serving as “the best cheerleader DeSoto Parish ever had”, Edna Merle Crawford Wheless has laid down her pen.

A visitation for Mrs. Edna Wheless was held Monday, October 23, 2023 at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport, Louisiana 71108. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at Rose Park Baptist Church, 5560 Buncombe Road, Shreveport, Louisiana 71129 under the direction of Centuries Memorial Funeral Home. Bro. Buck Furlow, associate pastor, conducted the services. Graveside service were at 2:00 p.m. at Bethel Cemetery in Logansport, Louisiana.

Cynthia Marie Christian Freeman, loving wife, mother, and friend died and was reunited with her parents in heaven on Thursday, October 12, 2023.

Cynthia was born on September 9, 1943, to Gordon and Mamie Christian in Mansfield, LA. She grew up in Stanley, LA, graduating from Stanley High School and went on to complete her Master’s in Elementary Education at Stephen F. Austin State University.

After graduation, she dedicated her career to teaching and loving elementary children for 25 years. Her fellow teachers shared that she was given children with emotional needs because of her compassionate approach to caring for her students – giving them the special feeling and the love of a mother.

5/27/48 – 9/25/23

Charles Kirsh Billingsley, 75, of New Ulm, Texas, passed away Monday, September 25, 2023, in Houston, Texas.

He was born May 27, 1948, in Shreveport, Louisiana, the son of Robert Josh and Jaqueleine Kirsh Billingsley. Charles graduated the University of Florida with a degree in Architecture. In 1971, Charles moved to Houston and married Margaret Burgess of Mansfield, Louisiana on August 7, 1971. They made their home in Houston where Charles worked as an architect. He worked with Walter F Johnson Jr. and Richard T. Johnson to manage and conserve the Billingsley family land. In 2008, they move to New Ulm, Texas, where he enjoyed retirement. In his spare time, Charles would read, draw, watched sports, and loved to travel. He raised Shetland Sheepdogs.

Joyce Behm Harris was born September 13, 1941, in Logansport, LA., to Orville and Lois (Glyn) Behm. She graduated from Logansport High School in 1959, and attended McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA, graduating in 1963. She continued to pursue her higher education degree and earned a Master’s degree in Christian Education and a Master’s degree in counseling from Sioux Falls Seminary.

She was united in marriage to James Gordon Harris on March 24, 1967 in Logansport, LA. The family lived in Kentucky, Texas, Illinois, and Louisiana. In 1970, they were called into the mission field and moved to Baguio, Philippines where Joyce was a choir director and Gordon was an Old Testament professor.

Funeral services celebrating the life of Bro. William Aaron “Toby” Shaw, Jr. were held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, October 9, 2023, at Kilpatrick’s RoseNeath Chapel, 943 Polk Street, Mansfield, Louisiana. Officiating the service was Dr. Ron Thompson. Interment followed at Mt. Heights Cemetery, Mansfield, Louisiana. Visitation was held on Sunday, October 8, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Kilpatrick’s RoseNeath Funeral Home.

Toby was born on December 11, 1948, in Shreveport, Louisiana to Opal and William Shaw, Sr. and peacefully entered into rest on Friday, October 6, 2023.

Toby loved farming and the outdoors. He loved to fish and hunt but riding his horses was his favorite thing, especially with his kids and grandkids. He loved his family, church, and his members. He enjoyed his mornings with the coffee group. He also said, “he was a jack of all trades and the master of none.” He will be missed by so many.

Bobby Warren Gay (89) of Grand Cane, LA, passed away on September 29, 2023, surrounded by his family. Bobby’s life will be honored by pastors Mel Campbell and Dennis Aaron.

Bobby was born to Clifford and Estelle Gay on June 14, 1934, in Hall Summit, LA. He married Margie Shepherd in 1955 and moved to Shreveport, LA. They had two children, Stephanie and Scott. Bobby was a passionate horseman, and in 1974, he moved his family to his nephew’s ranch to manage it and continue his life-long passion of training, breeding, and showing horses. Bobby married Jackie Field in 1989, and they continued their dual passion for horses. Bobby kept doing what he loved till his death. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend to so many! Aside from his love for his family and friends, Bobby was a devoted Christian and member of Frierson Baptist Church.

3/01/33 – 9/17/23

Funeral services celebrating the life of Tom Billy Dodson were held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 21, 2023, at First United Methodist Church of Logansport, 401 Gum St, Logansport, Louisiana. Officiating the service was Rev. Nancy Wofford. Interment was held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, September 22, 2023, at Malakoff Cemetery, in Malakoff, Texas. Visitation was held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 943 Polk Street, Mansfield, Louisiana.