Obituaries

Ruth Lea Weldon Goins was born on November 6, 1925 in Sabine Parish to Amos Weldon and Ida Mathews Weldon. She passed peacefully on Sunday, August 28, 2016, just three months short of her 91st birthday. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Amos and Ida Weldon and her siblings, Sylvia, A. G., and Sherman. Left to cherish her memory are her children Janet and Pete Wilson, Rodney Goins, and Paula Bradley; her grandchildren, Danette French, Ken Wilson and wife Misty, and Misty Mayfield; her great-grandchildren Samuel and Sarah French; Clint, Megan, and Noah Wilson; and Emily Mayfield. Clint is currently serving in the United State Marine Corp. She was looking forward to the birth of her first great great-grandchild to Megan later this year. She was blessed to have a multitude of friends whom she considered family of choice in her community. Visitation will be on Wednesday August 31 at 1:00 PM at Mount Olivet Baptist Church in Stanley. Services will follow at 2:30 PM.

William Edgar Stephens, a native of Logansport, Louisiana, passed away on Saturday, August 20, 2016, at the age of 84. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He retired as an educator and spent much of his retirement traveling with his wife Patricia. “T” is survived by his three children, seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents Buddy and Minnie Stephens and three sisters, as well as a son and  infant daughter. Visitation was held at Roseneath-Logansport Funeral Home, Sunday, August 21, 2016, 708 Main Street, Logansport, LA 71049, from 3:00 pm until 5:00 pm. Funeral service was held on Monday, August 22, 2016 at 11:00 am at Bethel United Methodist Church, 219 Bethel Road, Logansport, LA 71049. Burial followed. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Bethel United Methodist Church. 

Jonathan Edward Canfield, age 45, was called home to be with God on August 12, 2016. He is survived by wife Sonya St. Peter Canfield, son Connor Grayson (age 6), and daughter Ella Marie (age 5), parents Gary and Carole of Mansfield Louisiana and brother Stephen Eric of Starkville, Mississippi. Jonathan was born in Escatawpa, MS and lived in Texarkana, TX, Georgetown, SC and Mansfield, LA. He Attended Louisiana Tech University and Mississippi State University where he received a BS degree in Management Information Systems After receiving his degree he worked in his field in North Caroline, Oregon, Africa and finally at Mississippi State University where he was an information technology specialist for 12 years. Jonathan was a vibrant, loveable, wonderful man and he will be missed by his family and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was a devoted father. A memorial service was held at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Mansfield LA on Saturday August 20, 2016 at 10am.

Jerry was born with his twin, Jan Andre’, in Shreveport, La on June 1, 1932 and passed on the morning of August 12, 2016 in Carterville, IL. Jerry’s college education was interrupted when he was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. After the War, Jerry continued his education in Culman, AL, where he earned both his BA and Master’s Degrees. Most importantly, this is where he met Carrol Long who would soon become his wife. Jerry taught for a short while at a Catholic high school in Birmingham, AL. He then accepted a position at John A. Logan College in Carbondale, IL where he was an English professor and department chair. Jerry lived his life to the fullest. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and riding in the lakes around Carbondale, IL. Jerry later completed his training in flight school and owned a small plane, which he loved to fly. He will be missed greatly but he is no longer in pain and is with our Dear Lord.