Obituaries

Long-time Mansfield resident Mildred (Millie) Elizabeth (Batton) Wright went to her heavenly home on Friday, February 25, 2022, after a short illness. A visitation honoring Millie’s life was held Tuesday, March 1, 2022, from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 943 Polk St., Mansfield, Louisiana. Graveside services were held on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at Bethlehem Cemetery in Homer, Louisiana at 11:00 A.M.

Millie was born to Clarence Loys Batton and Beulah Mildred Taylor on November 12, 1936, in Homer, Louisiana, and entered into rest the night of February 25, 2022, in Shreveport, Louisiana.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Mack Wellman Bankson, Jr. will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 11, 2022 at Cathedral of Saint John Berchmans, 939 Jordan St., Shreveport, Louisiana. A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 10, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with the Rosary beginning at 4:00 p.m., delivered by Father Rothell Price. Burial will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Pelican, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Father Peter Mangum.

Mack was born on February 4, 1940 in Shreveport, Louisiana to Mack Wellman Bankson and Agnes Bice Bankson and passed away Wednesday, March 2, 2022 in Shreveport, Louisiana.

A graveside service honoring the life of Mrs. Carolyn “Gina” Nelson, 58, of Benson, LA was held at 2:30 P.M. on March 8, 2022, at Old Union Cemetery in Benson, LA with Bro. Jimmy Price officiating.

Carolyn was better known as Gina to all her friends and family. Gina was born on January 1, 1964, to Jack Jr. and Joann Fisher. Gina passed away at home in Benson on Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

Gina is preceded in death by her daughter, Bobbie Jo Nelson, and her mother, Joann Fisher. She is survived by her husband, Ben Nelson, of 39 years, her son Jackson Nelson and fiancé, Ariel Welch of Pleasant Hill, LA, her dad, Jack Fisher, Jr., her sister, Patsy Diane McCune, and her husband, Barry, her granddaughter, Ava Marie, her grandson, Ryder James, and a host of family and friends.

Gina battled with Parkinson’s’ Disease for the last twelve years. She was a very kind soul and was loved by many.

Barbara Ellen DeBose Estess was born January 17, 1929 in Many and passed away February 24, 2022 in Hammond, LA. She was interred at a gravesite service Friday, March 4, 2022, 1:00 pm at Centuries Memorial, Mansfield Road, Shreveport, Louisiana. Raised in Many, Louisiana, she was the daughter of James Thomas DeBose and Gladys Hopkins DeBose.

She graduated from Many High School and in 1946, graduated from Elliott Business School in Beaumont, Texas. She worked as a secretary for the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service in Many before she married the love of her life, Delbert Estess. They lived most of their lives in Shreveport, Louisiana. Beginning in 1971, she worked as a secretary at Brentwood Hospital in Shreveport for several years.

A funeral service honoring the life of Mrs. Wanda Daugherty Patrick, 88, was held at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 20, 2022, at Union Springs Baptist Church in Converse, Louisiana with Rev. Tim Patrick and Rev. Richard Enterkin officiating. Burial was at the Union Springs Cemetery in Converse, Louisiana. Visitation was held on Sunday, February 20, 2022, from 1:30 p.m. until the time of service.

Wanda was born on October 6, 1933, to Doyle and Thelma Daugherty, in El Dorado, Arkansas, and entered into eternal rest on February 18, 2022, in Converse, Louisiana.

She was a graduate of Converse High School and resided in the Union Springs Community in Converse, LA. Wanda was a great woman of faith who loved her Lord and her church family. She served as a pianist for most of her adult life and held numerous positions at her church. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.

A funeral service honoring the life of Mrs. Robbie Hemphill, 90, of Converse, Louisiana, was held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, February 21, 2022, at Henrietta Congregational Methodist Church in Converse, Louisiana with Rev. Chucky Clark officiating. Burial was held at the Union Springs Cemetery in Converse, Louisiana. Visitation was held on Sunday, February 20, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Henrietta Congregational Methodist Church.

Robbie was born on August 15, 1931, to John and Eva Morris, in Converse, Louisiana, and entered into eternal rest on February 17, 2022.

Funeral services honoring the life of Ronald “Ronnie” Chism, 78, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 7, 2022, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Mansfield, LA with Rev. Alton Middleton and Rev. Rusty Hall officiating. Interment followed at Old Union Baptist Church Cemetery in Benson, LA. A visitation was held on Sunday, February 6, 2022, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home.

Ronnie was born August 23, 1943, in Converse, LA, to Homer Chism and Vera Smith Barber and passed away on Friday, February 4, 2022, in Shreveport, LA.

Ronnie was a butcher for 47 years, working for Kroger, Piggly Wiggly, Dandy Don’s, Big Star, and other businesses with meat markets. He was a Baptist minister and pastored at Old Union Baptist Church, Pine Grove Baptist Church, and was recent Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Mansfield, LA.

Funeral services for Ronnie G. Free, 75, of Robeline, LA, were held on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed in the Lambert Town Cemetery. Visitation began on Monday, February 7, 2022, at 5:00 PM at Warren Meadows Funeral Home in Many, LA.

Ronnie G. Free was born on Tuesday, November 19, 1946 in Natchitoches, LA. He passed away on Thursday, February 3, 2022 at in Shreveport, LA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alton Emmett Free and Adeline Melissa Freeman Free.

Robert Bruce Nelson, Jr. (R.B.) (Bobby), 59 of Lynwood, WA passed away on January 24, 2022, in Everett, WA at the Providence Regional Medical Center due to multiple health issues.

Graveside services will be held on Thursday, February 10, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at the Old Union Cemetery in Catuna, LA with Bro. Jimmy Price officiating.

Robert was born on April 26, 1962 and was a former resident of the Benson Community where he grew up. Robert loved to play the guitar, draw, and write poetry; all self-taught. Robert was also in the Army where he received an honorable discharge. His employment over the years carried him down a variety of paths with the last being a handyman.

A funeral service honoring the life of Leo “Buster” Raines Hatcher, 83, was held on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Mansfield, Louisiana. Interment followed at Union Springs Cemetery in Converse, Louisiana. Visitation was held on Monday, February 7, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Officiating the service was Reverend Jamison May.

Leo was born to James V. Hatcher and Feriene N. Hatcher on November 16, 1938 in Converse, Louisiana and entered into eternal rest on February 4, 2022 in Shreveport, Louisiana.