"For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity." --- William Penn
Continuing with the lamentable loss of locals that 2025 brought, Jerry Paul Miller, Jr., who was a Bogalusa native passed away on January 28 at the age of sixty-six. Many remember him, the son of Jerry Paul Miller, Sr., Janice Sumrall Sticker, and stepfather Daniel B. Sticker, from law enforcement - he was the assistant warden at Rayburn Correctional Facility - but I remember Paul as the long-time husband of my good friend Nancy Thomas, daughter of the late Curt and Wanda Thomas. And he was the father of Dr. Jerry Paul Miller, III, (Chelsea), Patrick Thomas Miller, and Jackson Curtis Miller.
Picking up with those that I knew mainly from my youth, Dewitt Mouton Bateman (1939-2025), who died January 29, was the son of Mouton and Jessie Mae Jones Bateman. A 1957 graduate of Franklinton High School, Mr. Dewitt went on to earn a B.A. degree from Louisiana State University and Master of Divinity degree from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as minister, Assistant Superintendent of Milne Boys Home in New Orleans, substitute teacher, security personnel at International Mill, and a farmer. And he was well respected for his service on the Washington Parish School Board. More recently, a regular reader of my column, Mr. Dewitt cordially visited with me in The Era-Leader office. I grew up with his son Dr. Dewitt M. Bateman, Jr., (Mary) and daughter Angela Heigle (Dr. Thomas).
I also came of age with friend Tracey Barber Ladner whose sister Sandra "Chris" Goss Morgan (1961-2025) succumbed in early February, on the tenth day of the month. The daughter of T.J. Barber and Louise Jenkins Barber, Chris worked as a dedicated dispatcher for the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office and Franklinton Police Department, a position she held for many years. But Chris's greatest role was that of mother and grandmother to her son Cory Michael Buffalo (Delanea) and grandson Jacob Buffalo. In addition to her sister Tracey, she was also survived by sisters Sherri Goss and Shirley Goss Kinlaw.
Cherry Andrews Brown (1950-2025), who passed away on February 12, was a well-known teacher, with a tenure topping forty-five years, both in the Washington Parish School system and at Bowling Green where I knew her. Everyone knew the Browns, Cherry and husband Douglas who owned Jack Brown's. The daughter of Karey Andrews and Louise Warner Andrews, Cherry had three sons Chip Brister (Mary Anne), John Mark Brown (Jenny), and Andrew (Reagan) Brown and step-children Robin (Josh) Jeffcoat and Samuel (Jayne) Brown. According to her obituary, she also had many puppies. No wonder Ms. Cherry was so likable.
Also succumbing on February 12 was Dudley Fricke (1927-2025), a Baton Rouge resident and a Washington Parish native. The son of George M. Fricke and Edna Corkern Fricke, he graduated from Franklinton High School in 1945, served in the U.S. Navy from 1946-1951, and received a B. S. degree from Louisiana State University in 1954, followed by a M.S. in 1956. The husband of Helen Booty Fricke, to whom he was married for seventy-four years, Dudley served as the Dean of Admissions at LSU-Alexandria and then as Executive Assistant to the LSU President for twenty-nine years in Baton Rouge. Dudley and Helen had the following children: Gretchen Fricke Harris (Michael); Jeffrey B. Fricke, John D. Fricke (Laurie Lee); and David B. Fricke (Melinda Deloach). In 2019 they welcomed me into their lovely home, after which I featured Dudley in my column. Ninety-two at the time, he insisted that I call him Dudley.
Sylvia Sue Crain Magee (1934-2025), who passed away on February 13, was born in 1934 in Bogalusa to parents Hillary Crain and Helen Williams Crain. She was sister to Judge Hillary J. "Buddy" Crain (Mary) and John Barry Crain (Paulette). Sue graduated from Franklinton High School in 1953. With certification in accounting from Southeastern Louisiana University, she worked as an accountant for over thirty years for Crown Zellerbach.
But I remember Ms. Sue as our neighbor and the wife of Robert "Nookie" Crain who lived not far from us, down on the Enon Road. And she was passionate about not only LSU sports but also golf; I often visited with her in the Pro Shop, where she was the director, at the Franklinton Country Club.
A member of First Baptist Church all of her life, "Aunt" Sue was also passionate about her nieces and nephews to whom she was devoted. One nephew is Judge Will Crain, now a federal judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and a former Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court.
Arlie "Hun" O'Bryant, Sr., (1920-2025), the son of Cornelius and Janie Carter O'Bryant of Star Hill, lived to the ripe old age of 104 before succumbing on the nineteenth day of February. In 1957, he moved to Thomas where he lived with his family the rest of his long life. A well-known auctioneer, Mr. Arlie tapped the gavel for fifty-eight years in both Louisiana and Mississippi, and he also served as a reserve deputy for Sheriff Dorman Crowe and honorary deputy for Sheriff Jason Smith. A man of deep faith, Mr. Arlie was married to Elsie O'Bryant, and they had children A.J. (Gloria) O'Bryant, Barbara (Tracy) Schilling, Jessie Mae (Tommy) Cox, and Lille Mae O'Bryant who contacted me several years ago about her beloved dad. He was survived by sister Sally White.
It is the sister - Robbie Snell - and daughter-in-law - Tracey Bankston Schilling - of Dalton Beryl Schilling (1942-2025) who died on February 26 that I know best. But a native of Mt. Hermon and graduate of Mt. Hermon High School, Mr. Beryl - the son of Helbert Tom Schilling and Ethel Miller Schilling - was well known throughout Washington Parish where he served as an investigator for twenty years with the Washington Parish District Attorney's Office. In addition, he enjoyed a thirty-three-year career with Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, retiring as a Captain of Region 7. Mr. Beryl also served for four years in California in the United States Air Force. Locally, he was dedicated to the Mt. Hermon Ruritan Club, becoming a Ruritan Forever Member, and to the Washington Parish Free Fair, serving on several committees. The husband of Myrna Bulloch Schilling for fifty-nine years, he was survived by their sons Darren (Tracey) Schilling and Derek (Meghan) Schilling.
But it is the brother of Keitha Lynn Miller (1954-2025) --- Larry Miller, husband of my cousin Bobbie Brumfield Miller --- that I know best. His sister Keitha, the daughter of A. D. Miller and Mildred Crowe Miller, who passed away on April 9 was well known at the Washington Parish Clerk of Court's office where she worked for over twenty years serving as Chief Deputy and as supervisor before her retirement. In addition, I learned that she was the first woman to serve in the Louisiana Army National Guard. And Keitha served on the Fair Parade Committee, volunteering for many years with the Washington Parish Free Fair. Left to cherish her memory are her children Tracy Davidson Galloway and Brian (Valerie) Davidson.
