Obituaries

Allen Johnson was born on May 22, 1925 and passed away on August 23, 2021.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Duffy A. Johnson and Connie Horn Johnson; first wife, Tommie Clarke Johnson; sisters, Vadere Shahan and Era Johnson; and brother, Herman Johnson.

He is survived by from his first union, daughters, Anise and Margaret; son, Cary; grandchildren, Troy and Chris (Heather); and great grandchild, Madison. He is also survived by from his second union, wife, Wanda Johnson; children, BJ and John (Wendy); grandchildren, Bradley (Randi), Amanda (Keeth), Sara, Jim Anna (George), and Jonathan; along with six great grandchildren.

Funeral services honoring the life of Janette Gathright Johnson, 82, were held on Friday, September 24, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at Rose Neath Funeral Home, 943 Polk St., Mansfield, Louisiana. Burial followed at Highland Cemetery in Mansfield, Louisiana. A visitation was held Thursday, September 23, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Officiating the service was Revered Bob Latham.

Janette was born on February 26, 1939 to Beamon and Hazel Gathright, the fourth of five daughters, in Strong, Arkansas and entered into eternal rest on Monday, September 20, 2021 in Shreveport, Louisiana.

James Hartwell Fair, Sr. 93, of Shreveport, Louisiana entered into eternal rest on September 1, 2021.

Funeral services honoring his life were held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 4, 2021, at Old Saline Baptist Church in Saline, Louisiana. Officiating the service were Rev. Ronnie Osborne, Rev. Jerry Martin with Douglas Madden assisting. Interment followed the service located at Old Saline Community Cemetery with a Masonic Graveside Service. A visitation with the family was held from 10:00 a.m. until time of service on Saturday at the church.

James was born on November 8, 1927, in Saline, Louisiana to Tracy Hartwell Fair and Elva Odell Brazzel Fair.

Beverly Ann Presley was born to Jim and Marjorie Presley on August 23, 1945, in San Antonio, Texas. Beverly grew up in Longview, Texas, where she became lifelong friends with the “Sunshine Girls,” a special friendship that survives to this day. Beverly graduated from Baylor University in May 1967, in Biology and English, and she immediately married her college love, Thomas Allen Calhoun, on June 24, 1967. They moved to Mansfield, Louisiana, where they reared three sons, James Kirk Calhoun, Allen Presley Calhoun, and Clay Andrews Calhoun. Beverly and Tommy then moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, where they became members of First Baptist Church. Beverly joined her sons in heaven on Saturday, September 25, 2021.

James Maverick Pace departed this life on September 22, 2021 in Franklin, MA, after a brief illness. He was born June 15, 1973 to James Mallory Pace and Debbie Thompson Pace Silver. Maverick grew up in Logansport, LA and was a graduate of Logansport High School. He graduated from Tulane University and attended Dartmouth College. He worked as a systems analyst for the information technology industry for several firms in the Northeast.

On Tuesday, September 21, 2021, we celebrated the life of Viola (Vi) Laffitte Aberly who passed away peacefully on Friday September 17, 2021, in Lafayette, LA. Vi was the only child of Adolph Laffitte and M. Elia DeSoto Laffitte of Carmel, LA where she was born on February 22,1919. Vi grew up in Carmel, then moved to New Orleans as a young adult where she met and married Clinton Charles Aberly, Sr. of Crystal Falls, MI.

She was preceded in death by her husband Clint on January 31,1982 and her oldest son, Thomas Karl Aberly on November 20, 2020. She is survived by her 3 children: C. Claire Aberly Laffitte (Mrs. Royce Laffitte) of Richardson, TX; Brenda Aberly Williams and husband Thomas L. Williams, of Atlanta, GA; and Clinton Charles Aberly Jr. of Lafayette, LA. Vi has ten grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren.

Vi grew up in Carmel, La. She lived through the depression and her family didn’t have electricity or running water when she was a child.

Funeral services for Charlotte Webb Wilburn, 93, of Pelican, La., were held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 19, 2021 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Mansfield. A graveside service immediately followed at the Pelican Cemetery.

Charlotte was born on February 22, 1928 to Corrie and Rena Webb. She passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on September 17, 2021.

After graduating valedictorian from Noble High School, Charlotte worked at the Southern Bell Telephone Office in Mansfield. During that time, she was set up on a double date with Burnis Wilburn through mutual friends. Charlotte and Burnis married just months later and spent 72 sweet years together. Meme was a stay-at-home mom until her children were in high school and then went to work as the Assistant Postmaster in Pelican. She was soon promoted to Head Postmaster in Pelican, where she worked for 23 years before retiring.

A private family memorial was held on September 8, 2021 at Grand Cane Baptist Church for Michael Caesar (Mike) and Mary Catherine (Cathy) Neil.

Michael Caesar Neil, 69, and Mary Catherine Neil, 60, of Grand Cane, Louisiana, have both gone to be with the Lord. Mike on August 19th, 2021 and Cathy on August 29th, 2021.

Mike was born on October 9, 1951, in Shreveport, Louisiana. To know Mike was to know his love for the Lord, and his family and friends. He worked in the oilfield industry for 50 years, ending his career as a barge captain. His offshore family was always very important to him. His hobbies, were where he spent enjoyable moments with horses, working cows, or bailing hay. He was a true definition of being a cowboy.

Jacob Travis Gamble was a deeply loved son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, grandson, nephew and cousin and friend. He was born to Joseph Mark Gamble and Kimborlie Ann Gamble, née Patten, in Webster, TX on May 14th, 1997. He passed away on September 10th, 2021 at the young age of 24. That day the world lost an incredible man with so much love and promise far too soon.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Marsha Anders, 66, was held at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, September 16, 2021 at Rose-Neath Chapel in Mansfield, Louisiana with Bro. Azell Ott, Jr. officiating. Marsha was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She left this world on September 9, 2021.

She was born to Thomas Joshua and Marjorie Paul on June 17, 1955. After graduating from high school Marsha went on to college and received a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern State University. She didn’t stop there, and received a Master of Arts degree from Louisiana Tech as well as a Master of Social Work from Louisiana State University. Marsha was also a licensed clinical social worker. She always knew she wanted to be a social worker; she loved people and wanted to make a difference.