•Part 1
"When a great man dies, for years the light he leaves behind him, lies on the paths of men."
----Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A regular reader of the obits, I am. And Franklinton lost a legion of lovely ladies and gentlemen in 2023, from a myriad of maladies.
I have already shared my remembrance of several, close friends and family --- Bobbie Brumfield Miller, Dr. William "Bill" Ferrante, Margie Thomas Passman, Mary Anna "Molly" Hartzog Stagg (Bogalusa), and Rusty Richardson Durand (Bogalusa). If I had one wish, it would be to remember all in detail. But sadly, I don't have the knowledge or material --- I have to know someone pretty well to fill an entire column. Yet, several struck a chord in my little life.
My memory of each, without any rhyme or reason as to order, is indelible. I picture prominent bankers Roy Richard (1927-2023) and J. J. Warner (1942-2023) at the bank, where both held court back in the day. Living to the age of ninety-five, Roy was the husband of Betty Peacock Richard and father of Buffy (Wade), an only child (like me) and childhood friend of mine. They moved to Franklinton, where Mr. Roy took the helm of Washington Bank and Trust, becoming President, when I was a youth. And the Richards remained here, active in our community for over forty years.
J. J. Warner, a native of Washington Parish, was Vice-President and branch manager of Parish National Bank. He was the husband of my social studies teacher and friend Ann Williams Warner and the father of John Benton, also an only child. Mr. J. J. was also a well-known realtor and dairy farmer at Warnerton.
Not far from Warnerton lived Alma Bateman Magee (1944-2023), at Clifton. The daughter of Winfred and Erlane Bankston Bateman, wife of James E. "Jimmy" Magee, and sister of Sara Bateman Nelson, Ms. Alma was a fixture first at the Red Barn Mall, where I first came to know her, and then 2nd Chance Nursery. She was devoted to her children Della, Jason, Mitchell, and Harrison Magee.
Bonnie Dier (1958-2023) was always front and center at the Washington Parish Library where she became my friend. The daughter of Mary Jane Magee Dier and mother of Misty Givens Payne, Bonnie was faithful to her family. And she was an established historian and genealogist, avidly researching Washington Parish history and families. Bonnie created the "History of Washington Parish, Louisiana" Facebook page, on which many relied.
Bonnie's Uncle Marvin Esley Magee (1939-2023) retired from Hibernia Bank, but I remember him as the sales manager at Miller Ford Company. He was also the operator of M & T "Empty" Campground. Active in our community, Mr. Marvin was a past president of the Franklinton Lions Club and a member of Franklinton Lodge 101 F&AM. He was the father of Todd Magee, a friend of my husband Rodney's from youth.
Richard Lane Holmes (1941-2023), the husband of Doris Barber Holmes, was a long time employee of Southern Natural Gas and also Chevron (offshore drilling) as an electrician. But I remember the birthday party he hosted as the father of my childhood friend Rachel Holmes Barron. He was also the father of Yancy H. Holmes and stepfather of Gary A. Thomas.
Yancie "Buck" Moseley, Jr. (1942-2023), was the husband of Linda Key Moseley and the father of Angel, Bubba, and Becky (Thomas). The son of Yancie Hubert and Ruby Weeks Moseley, he and his family arrived in Franklinton, during my youth, where active in the community, they owned and operated Moseley's Franklinton Jewelers for fifty-six years. I grew up with the Moseley children --- Becky is a lifelong friend.
I also grew up with sisters Denise Magee and Kim Magee Burris. Their beloved mother Marcia Bateman Magee (1936-2023), wife of Otto Magee, Jr., was the sister of Shirley Bateman Morgan. In the 1980s Ms. Marcia, together with daughter Denise, operated Leisure Looks, a ladies boutique on Washington Street. Kind and congenial, she always made me feel welcome.
And so did Jennifer Lee Fleming (1949-2023), wife of former Mayor Milton Wayne Fleming and mother of Mechelle Fleming (Schilling), Matthew Wayne Fleming, and Mitchell Milton Fleming. Ms. Jenny and I shared a love of genealogy and Hungary, where she traced her roots. We enjoyed reminiscing.
Margaret Johnson Holiday (1932-2023), the wife of James Lee Holiday, Sr., was just as gracious, inviting me to her lovely home. She was an avid bridge player and a beautiful decorator, something that was reflected in the store windows of Holiday's Department Store which she and her husband owned and operated on Washington Street for more than forty years.
Local lawyer Reggie Simmons (1944-2023), husband of Judy Stafford Simmons and father of Kristi (Crain), Stephanie (Liffmann), and Betsy, was a fixture in Franklinton, where he practiced law for forty years. The son of Othar and Maude Simmons, he retired a Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Army-Reserve. His military service in the Louisiana Army National Guard is how he knew my father, long time commander. And the Stafford connection through wife Judy. Reggie was an historian, with exceptional expertise in military history.
Also well known in Franklinton was Marilynn Singleton Gibson (1936-2023), the daughter of Van Simmons and Melba Parker Monk and wife of Donald Wayne Singleton and then Jack Gibson. She was not only a bookkeeper at Miller Ford, Borden's, Inc., and Magee Financial but also an expert at sewing (doing embroidery and cross-stitch) taking after her mother, a magnificent seamstress. That's where I met Marilynn, at Ms. Melba's home on the Springhill Road. She was the mother of Ramona Singleton (Harrison) and sons Donnie and Darryl Singleton.
And it was near Springhill that Rodney Warren Ball, Sr. (1926-2023), the husband of Helen McDaniel Ball and the father of Mary (English), Rodney W. Ball, Jr., and Claudia (Cearley) resided. A World War II United States Navy veteran and a prince of a man, Mr. Rodney was a devoted Deacon at Hillcrest and other churches for 78 years - surely a record. He was also an Alderman at Angie. Former Post Commander of the American Legion, Mr. Rodney was an active American Legion member. But I remember him most for his vegetable garden which he generously shared with my husband Rodney Bateman and me.
•Stay tuned for Part 2 next week.
