Obituaries

Our Mother, Mary Margaret Lightfoot Jones of Shreveport, Louisiana, left this world to be with her Savior on August 15,2023.

She was surrounded by her girls.

Born Mary Margaret Stevens in Many, Louisiana to Turner Elmo Stevens and Grace Yvonne Darby Stevens.

Mr. Stevens, her father, was a Sergeant with Shreveport Police Department and Mrs. Stevens, her mother, was a florist.

She was their only child and highly adored.

Mary Margaret attended Byrd High School along side her lifelong friend Linda Yeager. She graduated Byrd Class of ‘56.

In her adolescent years and up until adulthood she was an accomplished competitive skater, model and member of both adult softball and bowling leagues.

She was a longtime member of UDC Chapter #397 and DAR Chapter in Mansfield, Louisiana.

She was a genealogist and her research aided books written on the lives of The Massey’s, The Lightfoot’s, The Darby’s and the McFerren family lineage.

LaNelle McGee Niten, 88, of Grand Cane, Louisiana entered into eternal rest on August 14, 2023 in Shreveport, Louisiana. She was born on November 9, 1934 in Chestnut, Louisiana to O.E. and Amy McGee.

A visitation was held from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive in Shreveport. Graveside services honoring the life of LaNelle were held after the visitation beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Forest Park West Cemetery, 4000 Meriwether Road in Shreveport. Officiating the service was Bro. Ron Mc-Lellan. Honoring LaNelle as pallbearers were Jon Blunt, Jesse Fallis, Cody Niten, and Christian Weddleton.

Lovan Barton Thomas, publisher of The Natchitoches Times, passed away peacefully at his home Sunday morning, Aug. 13, 2023.

Services will be Wednesday, Aug. 23, at the First United Methodist Church on Second Street in Natchitoches. Visitation will be at 9 a.m. with services at 11 a.m. A private burial will be in the American Cemetery on Second Street for family and close friends.

Mr. Thomas was preceded in death by his wife Patricia; mother Elsie Mae Childers, step-mother Freda Scoggins Thomas, father Maxwell John Thomas, sister Mary Galen Thomas, uncle Kenneth Thomas, aunt Ann Childers Barton, uncle Norman F. Childers and granddaughter Madeleine Renee Mayo.

He is survived by his daughter, Tracy Thomas Mayo; son, Maxwell John Thomas II and his husband Gabriel Masson; grandson Lovan Thomas Mayo; sister- in-law Kathleen Wilson Farmer; brother-in-law John Oliver Wilson and his wife Beclee Newcomer Wilson; and cousin Galen Clavier.

Dr. James Joshua Magee Greer, a native of DeSoto Parish, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Baton Rouge, LA on August 8, 2023. Dr. Greer was born on June 6, 1980, and he grew up in Pelican, LA. Josh was a graduate of Mansfield High School and Centenary College. He earned a master’s degree from LSU Applied Health and graduated from LSU Medical School in Shreveport. He had worked as an emergency room physician at both Our Lady of the Lake Hospital and Baton Rouge General Hospital.

There will be a visitation time on Friday evening, August 25, from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Roseneath Funeral Home in Mansfield, LA. The funeral service for Dr. Greer will be on Saturday, August 26 at 10:00 AM at the funeral home. The burial service will be at the Pelican Cemetery. A reception for family and friends at the Mansfield Female College Museum, 101 Monroe St. in Mansfield will follow the graveside service.

A celebration of life service honoring the life of Evelyn Clark Powell was held on Tuesday, August 22. Officiating the service was Rev. Chad Hardbarger and Rev. Ben MeGehee (grandson). Visitation was held from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

Evelyn Powell was born on April 11, 1928 in Luann, Arkansas and passed away on August 17, 2023. She moved to Houston, Texas as a child where her mother died when she was 15. She then moved to Rodessa, LA to live with her beloved Uncle Leroy and Aunt Billie Curtis and graduated from Rodessa High as Valedictorian in 1944. Evelyn attended LA Tech Polytechnic Institute, where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega and Blue Jackets. After graduating, she took her first job at Mansfield High School where she met the love of her life, Raymond Powell. They were married on December 22, 1948 and were blessed to be married for 74 years.

Francis Stuart “Boogie” Laffitte of Stonewall, Louisiana, passed away on August 13, 2023, at the age of 77. Born on August 6, 1946, Boogie was best known for his infectious smile, witty personality, and ability to fix just about anything he put his hands on. He was a devoted Christian and deeply loving husband, father, father-in-law, and grandfather. He cherished his family and treasured each and every moment spent with them. He put the needs of his family above any of his own needs, even in sickness, making sure his wife was taken care of and that he didn’t miss a single event, whether it be birthdays, his grandchildren’s soccer or basketball games, or graduations.

November 5, 1964 – August 28, 2020

God looked around His garden and found an empty place. He then looked upon the earth and saw your tired face. He put his arm around you and lifted you to rest. God’s garden must be beautiful, He always takes the best. He knew that you were suffering. He knew you were in pain. He knew that you would never get well on earth again. He saw the road was getting rough, and the hills were hard to climb. So He closed your eyelids, and whispered, “Peace be thine.” It broke our hearts to lose you, but you didn’t go alone. For part of us went with you the day God called you home.

~Sadly missed but never forgotten~ Danny & Remona Rambin & Family Tony Phillips & Family

 9/06/32 – 8/0523

Graveside services with immediate family present were held for Mansfield native, Rosemary Huff, age 90, on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at Highland Cemetery, Mansfield, Louisiana. Officiating under the direction of Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home was Dr. Chad Hardbarger.

1/22/41 – 7/05/23

ORISTENE BROOKS JACKSON SUNRISE 05/02/38 – SUNSET 6/28/23

On June 28, 2023 Oristene Brooks Jackson passed away at the age of 85. Born on May 2, 1938, in Mansfield, Louisiana, Oristene was the sixth child of Wesley Brooks and Lucille Edwards

Reared and nurtured in a Christian home, Oristene accepted Christ as her Savior as a young child at the Mary Evergreen Baptist Church in Grand Cane. LA. As she grew in years, she developed her faith. She later united with her husband Carl at the Shady Grove United Methodist Church. She supported the choir and loved the Shady Grove Male Chorus. She often prepared food for many occasions. She will be remembered for her famous chicken salad, berry and peach cobblers, and gumbo. She always helped whomever she could whenever the call of need reached her loving heart and hands of service.