Obituaries

Graveside services honoring the life of Bobby O. Rea were held on Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at Oak Hill Cemetery in Oakdale, LA at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Jason Townley officiating.

Bobby was born on February 2, 1942 to Orvill & Laverne Rea. He passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 12, 2019.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Wanda Rea.

Those left behind to cherish his memory are his wife of 60 years, Bernice Rea; son, Bobby L. Rea; daughter, Vickie Luengas; eight grandchildren, Lacye Rials, Lindsey Rea, Caitlin Rea, Brittany Rea, Mikel Rea, Lakin Wilson, Lance Durbin and Zach Durbin and eight great-grandchildren, Brooklyn Rials, Raelyn Rials, Jonathan Procell, Hallea Procell, Elizabeth Calhoun, Daniel Calhoun Jr., Ashton Lynn and Kyalee Garner.

May God bless him and hold him close.

Janice Victoria Blunt, age 77, went to be with her Lord on Sunday, October 6, 2019 in the comfort of her home in Stanley, LA. She was born on July 5, 1942 in Wallace, WV to Rex Bates and Agnes White. Growing up, she loved spending time with her siblings, especially dancing with her sisters. She enjoyed her time as a Manager at McDonald’s. Janice’s special interests and hobbies included raising her family, working in her yard, hosting family and friends, drawing and coloring with her greatgrandchildren, and shopping. She had a knack for decorating for the holidays as well as making everyone around her feel like family. Next to her relationship with God, she cherished her family most. She was an amazing Nan to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was Nan to everyone that knew her.

John B. Robbins died peacefully at home in the arms of his sisters on October 8, 2019. He was born on May 11, 1958 in Mansfield, Louisiana to James Marvin Robbins and Marcella “Chena” Virginia Rambin Robbins. A memorial visitation will be held at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Mansfield, LA on Saturday, October 19, 2019 beginning at 2:00 p.m. with a rosary being recited at 3:30 p.m. Service will begin at 4:00 p.m. He was a loving son, brother and uncle. Johnny is preceded in death by his father, nephews: John Moore and Dylan Roy, and niece Amy Deramus. He is survived by his mother, sisters: Cecilia Deramus, Gay Blackmon, Roseanne Robbins, Theresa Robbins, Cathy Roy, Laura Simmons, and Belinda Moore; brothers: Andrew Robbins and Daymon Robbins, 9 nieces, 8 nephews, 9 great nieces, and 10 great nephews. He retired from General Motors in Shreveport, LA. In his early years he was a talented athlete; playing basketball, running track, playing softball and pasture golf.

Funeral services for Maud Rae Smith will be held at First Baptist Church in Mansfield, LA on Monday, October 7, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. with Rev. Thumper Miller and Rev. Joe Wagner officiating. Family will receive friends for visitation at the church on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Interment will be held at Antioch Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery in Quitman, LA at 4:00 p.m.

Maud was born on January 18, 1927 in Quitman, Louisiana to James Robert “Rob” Deese and Mary Elizabeth “Lizzie” Stewart Deese. Mrs. Smith entered into rest on September 21, 2019 in Mansfield, Louisiana.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband James Nelton “Butch” Smith; brothers Aubrey Deese, J.L. Deese, and Gordon Deese; daughter-in-law Melanie Smith; granddaughter Kimberly Boyd Savoy and great-granddaughter Kimberly Breann Bartch.

On September 27, 2019 a great life of service came to an end at the Spring Lake Rehab Center in Shreveport, LA. He was born to the parentage of the late Deacon Horace Dinkins, Sr. and Mrs. Myrtis Blow Dinkins in Grand Cane, LA. on May 31, 1941. His parents, Horace Dinkins Sr., precede him in death and Myrtis Blow Dinkins and brother Horace Dinkins Jr. and his son.

Deacon Charlie Dinkins was a member of the St. Elizabeth B.C. in Grand Cane, La. Where the Rev. Donzell Hughes is the Pastor. He received his formal education at Grand Cane Community Rosendwald School. He graduated from DeSoto High School in Mansfield and later received his B.S. Degree from Grambling State University in General Science and Social Studies. For twenty seventy

(27) years he taught in DeSoto Parish and fourteen years (14) years in Caddo Parish.

A celebration of the life of William John (Billy) Franklin, 87, was held at 10:00 am Saturday, September 28 at Grand Cane Baptist Church in Grand Cane, LA with Reverend Mike Scott and Reverend David Permenter officiating. Burial will follow at the Grand Cane Cemetery. Visitation was held at Rose Neath Funeral Home in Mansfield from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm on Friday, September 27. Pallbearers were Roy Burr, Jeff Cole, Leo Deslatte, Ken Dillard, Terry Hammett, Ronnie Kaiser, Robert Waites, and Danny Wells. Honorary pallbearers will be Earl Girlinghouse, Todd Kennedy, and Matt May.

Billy was born December 16, 1931 in Grand Cane, LA and passed away on September 24, 2019 at his home in Grand Cane, following a brief illness. He was a fixture of the Grand Cane community in retirement and was well-known and loved by a multitude of friends and family.