Obituaries

FEBRUARY 11, 2024

06/19/50 – 08/31/24 Funeral services for Mrs. Deborah Trull Taylor, age 74 of Gloster, LA, were held at 11:00 AM, September 7, 2024 at Salem Baptist Church at 109 Salem Church Road Stonewall, LA with Dr. Mike Hawkins officiating. Burial followed at 3:30 PM, at Liberty Hill Taylor cemetery at Liberty Church Road Farmerville, LA, under the direction of Farrar Funeral Home. Visitation was held prior to the service, from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM, September 7, 2024 at Salem Baptist Church. Deborah Trull Taylor was born June 19, 1950 in Alexandria, Louisiana and died on August 31, 2024 at her home in Gloster, Louisiana with her husband by her side. She was the daughter of Henry H. Trull and Dorothy Belgard Trull Albritton.

She is preceded in death in addition to her parents, daughter Leigh Kristen Taylor, step father, Drex Albritton, and step brother, Butch Albritton.

FEBRUARY 10, 2022 — AUGUST 30,2024

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of our beloved son, Ayden Wade Linger, who was taken from us too soon on August 30, 2024 at the age of 2 years old. He brought so much joy and light onto our lives with his kind heart, radiant smile, and boundless curiosity. Though his time with us was brief, the depth of love and happiness he shared will forever remain in our hearts. Ayden Wade is survived by his parents Joshua Linger and Vanessa Galvan as well as by his beloved older sister, Victoria. Funeral services for Ayden were held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 5, 2024 at Rose-Neath Chapel, 943 Polk Street, Mansfield, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Bro. Stephen Ciaccio. Interment followed at Allen Cemetery, Mansfield, Louisiana. A visitation was held from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Mansfield.

OCTOBER 4, 1930 — AUGUST 28.2024

A.W. McDonald, Jr. joined his Savior in Eternity from his home in Stonewall, Louisiana on August 28, 2024, surrounded by his loved ones. He will be fondly remembered for his life of service, dedication to family, and jovial personality. A private family graveside service will be held to memorialize this life well-lived. He was born October 4, 1930, to Clara Heard McDonald and Add McDonald in a sharecropper house on a hill farm in his beloved Boliver near Converse. Preceding him in death were his parents, his three siblings (Margie Smith, Audrey McDonald, and Bobby McDonald), three brothers-in-law, a nephew, and several cousins, including seven double-first cousins.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of over 67 years, Diane Cathey McDonald, and their two children and spouses, Kyle (Tisdale), and Kathy (Dr. David Lewis).

AUGUST 6, 1981 – AUGUST 16, 2024

Marybeth Mannies Allen, born Marybeth Mannies was arrived on August 6th, 1981 and joined her parents in heaven on August 16th, 2024. She was born in Shreveport, Louisiana to Benny and Jena Mannies and came home to her brother Hunter Lee Mannies days later.

Marybeth, before becoming a stay at home mother was a business manager for her brother, in nightclubs, food service, and even real estate. She owned part of her legacy, Sunset Plantation, and retired to stay home and raise her two beautiful children. She was creative, and out going, and was a Zeta at Centenary College. Marybeth had a love of all things wildlife and for a while was an avid hunter that easily rivaled most men.

She’s proceeded in death by her parents Benny and Jena Mannies as well as her grand parents Charles C. Hunter and Bobbie Hunter, both politicians and pillars of the community .

FEBRUARY 20, 1952 – AUGUST 11, 2024

Mildred Norwood Gentry, 101, passed away on July 20, 2024 at her home in Holly, Louisiana.

She was born on May 25, 1923, in Converse, Louisiana. Mildred was a member of First United Methodist Church of Mansfield. She was proud to have been blessed to live beyond 100 years.

A visitation for Mildred will be held at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Mansfield, Louisiana, from 10:00 AM until time of service. Funeral services will be Saturday, July 27, 2024, at 11:00 AM. Officiating the service will Pastor Charlie Lombardino of Big Creek Cowboy Church in Coldspring, TX. Burial will follow at Old Union Baptist Church Cemetery in Catuna, LA.

11/25/46 – 7/19/24 John William Davidson, 77, was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on November 25, 1946, to parents, Wilmer L. Davidson and Sadie Jones Davidson and passed away on Friday, July 19, 2024, at his home after a brief illness. John was raised in Mansfield, Louisiana and graduated from Mansfield High School. He went on to Northwestern Louisiana University where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in business and accounting. Upon completing his degree, John started working for the Department of Revenue from which he retired after 33 years. On January 1, 1985, John married the love of his life, Judith, better known as Judy. Having never been married before, John took on the role of stepfather to Judy’s six children, four of which were biological and two of Judy’s stepsons from a previous marriage. He treated them all with love and acceptance.

7/30/55 – 7/21/24 A funeral service for Louisa Elizabeth “Beth” Valentine Adams was held on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Christ Memorial Episcopal Church in Mansfield, Louisiana. Interment followed at Mansfield Cemetery, Mansfield, Louisiana. A visitation was held on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 943 Polk St., Mansfield, Louisiana. Beth was born on July 30, 1955, in Shreveport, Louisiana to Thomas Charles Valentine and Billie Marie Metcalf Valentine and entered into rest on July 21, 2024. She was preceded in death by her parents, Billie and Charles Valentine; sister-in-law, Cheryl Rives; and nephews, Robert Rives and James Davidson Rives.

10/10/39 — 7/09/24 Marshall A. Laffitte, a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, died peacefully at his home in Lafayette on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease.

He was born in Mansfield, Louisiana on October 10, 1939 to Fleming and Lucille (Reed) Laffitte. He graduated from Mansfield High School and married his high school sweetheart, Gayle Smith. They attended and graduated from McNeese University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. In 1964, while relocating his family to Houston to work as a draftsman for Shell Chemical, he learned of his mother’s failing health and he and his family returned to the Carmel Community in DeSoto Parish to help with her care.