Obituaries

Richard Doyle Graham, Jr. attended Mansfield High School, Class of 1968. He then went on to attend Louisiana Tech University where he played for the Bulldogs. Richard retired from the Louisiana Restaurant Association on September 28, 2012. He loved to travel all over Louisiana while working for the LRA. He enjoyed Friday night football games at Airline High School Football Stadium. Every year, Richard looked forward to hosting his Annual Crawfish Boil for friends and family to gather and reminisce about the good times. Richard’s favorite pastime was coaching Aaron and his friend’s for Bossier Dixie baseball. He enjoyed everything related to baseball, football and fishing especially with his two sidekicks Cozy and Jaxon. He had a smile that would light up a room and the ability to speak to anyone that he came in contact with. He was a devoted father and grandfather and his legacy will live on forever.

Thomas Bert Bateman (Tom) passed away in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on January 10, 2021. He was born in Mobile, Alabama on August 1, 1932 to Roberta Magee and Thomas McCauley Bateman

He was a United States Marine Corps combat veteran of the Korean Conflict. He graduated with a BS from Louisiana State University and a MBA from Centenary College of Louisiana. He pursued a successful banking career serving as President of the First National Bank of Mansfield and of the Britton & Koontz National Bank in Natchez, Mississippi, then retiring from a high level position with the FDIC.

He was active at Trinity Episcopal Church serving as a lay reader and usher, in the Delta Kappa Epsilon (Dekes) Alumni Association and Marine Corps League.

Funeral services honoring the life of Patricia Ann “Patsy” Chamberlin were held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 8, 2021 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mansfield, Louisiana. Officiating the service was Fr. Matthew Long. Interment followed the service located at Carmel Catholic Cemetery in Mansfield. Visitation was held at the church on Friday beginning at 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. for the family and 10:00 a.m. until service time for the public. A Rosary was recited between visitation and service times.

Patsy was born on November 19, 1933 in Mansfield, Louisiana to Roy Albert Laffitte and Palma Irene Coody Laffitte. She entered into eternal rest on January 5, 2021 in Mansfield, Louisiana.

Preceding Patsy in death are her parents; Roy and Palma Laffitte; her husband of 60 years, Don Chamberlin; and her brother, James Albert “Jimmy” Laffitte.

Funeral services celebrating the life of Mrs. Kim Sepulvado Bedsole were held on Friday, January 8, 2021 at 1:00 PM at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Fr. Timothy Hurd and Bro. Jimmy Price officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery. A visitation for her began on Thursday, January 7, 2021 from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM with a Rosary said at 6:00 PM. Her visitation continued on Friday, January 8, 2021 from 8:00 AM until

12:30 PM at the funeral home.

Kim was born April 23, 1965 in Zwolle, LA to Johnny Leon Sepulvado and Ella Faye (Garcie) Sepulvado and she entered into rest on January 5, 2021 in Shreveport, LA.

On December 29th, 2020 after a lengthy illness, John B. Kreamer entered into heavenly rest. He was born on July 2rd, 1936 in Lock Haven, PA.

At the age of 20 he married his high school sweetheart, JoAnn Merchant, and together they had 4 children. One of his first jobs was at Harrisburg Glass where he was mentored and learned his trade as a glazier. He later owned and operated his own glass business for 25 years.

In 1980, John moved to Logansport, LA. He ran an Otasco store, was a car salesman and a service representative at Auto World in Mansfield, and after retirement worked part time at Wag-a-Bag, also in Mansfield.

Aaron J. Collins, 60, of Mansfield, Louisiana entered into eternal rest at Willis-Knighton North Medical Center (Shreveport, LA) on January 1, 2021. A graveside service was held at Shady Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery in Mansfield, Louisiana on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. Officiating at the service were local pastors Dr. Ronnie Morris, Sr. (Higher Ground Ministries –Mansfield, LA) and Rev. Joe Wiggins, Jr. (New Oak Grove Baptist Church –Mansfield, LA).

Aaron Jerome Collins was born to the late Timothy Collins and the late Minnie Collins on April 27, 1960 in Mansfield, Louisiana. He was the third born of six children to this union.

For the past thirtynine years, he was the loving husband of Connie Joyce Jackson Collins. Jerome met his wife through a mutual friend. It was love at first sight. To their devoted union three children were born: Christy Lynn, Timothy Carl and Jessica Rose.

Connie Joyce Jackson Collins, 61, of Mansfield, Louisiana entered into eternal rest at Willis Knighton North Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana on December 22, 2020.

A graveside service was held at Shady Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery in Mansfield, Louisiana on Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. Officiating at the service was Rev. Anna Morris-Jackson (Wesley U.M.C. in Mansfield), with assistance from Rev. Emily L. Carroll (Shady Grove U.M.C.), along with local Pastors Ronnie Morris and Joe Wiggins.

Connie was born to the late Carl Roosevelt Jackson, Jr. and Oristene Brooks Jackson on August 12, 1959 in Mansfield, Louisiana. She was the eldest of three children born to this union.

For the last thirtynine years, she was the dedicated wife of Rev. Aaron Jerome Collins. To their devoted union three children were born: Christy Lynn, Timothy Carl and Jessica Rose.

Surrounded by her family, Carol Galloway Huff passed away peacefully on December 29, 2020. She was born February 6, 1938, in Afton, TX, to Robert Calvin Galloway and Barbara Liles Galloway. Carol graduated from Oak Grove (Stanley High School) Class of 1956. She earned a scholarship to Centenary College, but instead chose to marry the love of her life, Buford Lee Huff of Logansport, LA. They celebrated 64 happy years of marriage in November. Carol was a member of the North DeSoto Church of Christ where she was a lifelong Bible student. She shared her knowledge with others and led many to Christ. Her greatest legacy is her family. As a loving wife, tough love mother, and doting grandmother, Carol will be remembered for long nature walks in the woods and boisterous family Christmases. She was proud that her descendants could easily identify birds, flowers, and trees.

Pauline Marie Gamble, 73, of Grand Cane, Louisiana, passed away Wednesday, 23 December, 2020.

Pauline was born 26 November, 1947, to Bronson Hobby and Raye Morton Gamble. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, January 9 with visitation held 10:00 a.m. at Roseneath Funeral Home in Mansfield, with the service beginning at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be held at Beulah Cemetery following the service.

The oldest of three children, “Big P” grew up in Mansfield, Louisiana, and attended school there, graduating from Mansfield High School as part of the Class of ‘65. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Northeast Louisiana University (now University of Louisiana at Monroe) and her master’s degree from Louisiana State University in Shreveport.

Herman Perry Laffitte, age 74, died peacefully at Mansfield Nursing Center on Thursday, December 17, 2020.

A Private Mass of Christian Burial honoring the life of Herman Perry Laffitte was held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 19, 2020 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mansfield, Louisiana. Officiating the funeral was Fr. John Paul Crispin. Interment was held at Carmel Catholic Cemetery in Carmel, Louisiana.

Perry was born on April 10, 1946 in Mansfield, Louisiana to Joseph Percy Laffitte and Mary Rambin Laffitte. He is the descendant of early settlers in DeSoto Parish. Perry served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He will have full Military Honors at the graveside service.