Obituaries

Genevieve Ozelle Adams, 92, passed from this world, on Saturday, October 17, 2020.

She was born November 10, 1927 in Jena to the union of her parents, Henry Taylor and Myrtle Masters.

Ms. Ozelle, as she was affectionately called, was a resident of LaSalle Nursing Home, and was known by all who encountered her as a spunky, fun soul. She will be dearly missed by those who knew her.

Graveside services were held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Georgetown Cemetery with Rev. Tommy Sanson officiating.

Interment followed under direction of Kinner and Stevens Funeral Home of Jena.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, U. V. Taylor; and one grandson, Jason Shelton.

She was survived by her daughters, Connie Isaac (Ron) of Paris, KY, and Barbara Tuttle (Bob) of Sevierville, TN; four grandchildren, Sophia Belgard, Tassi Dalton, Jeffery Shelton, and Jake Long; five great grandchildren, Taylor, Kylie, Whit, Landon, and Presley.

Vanessa Chapman White, 96, of Ruston, passed from this life on Sunday, October 11, 2020, in Alexandria.

She was born May 30, 1924 in Alco, LA to the union of her parents, Randolph and Ida Chapman.

Vanessa was retired from Commercial Union Insurance. She was a member of the Ruston Church of the Nazarene and later in life became a member of First Baptist Church of West Monroe.

Services were held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 14, in the chapel of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of West Monroe with Rev. Steve Berger officiating.

Interment followed at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Ruston under direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of West Monroe.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James E. White; her parents; siblings, Lawrence, Bobby Ray, Kenneth and wife Mary, Jim, sister Margie and husband Buster Keys.

Beverly Ann Harris Coney Weston, 78, passed from this life on Sunday, September 20, 2020, after a lengthy illness.

She was born July 9, 1942 in Baton Rouge. She was the birth daughter of Wilmer S. and Beverly Tucker Harris, and was lovingly raised from infancy as an adored daughter by her uncle and aunt, Cameron B. and Katie Harris Coney of Sicily Island.

Beverly graduated with honors from Sicily Island High School. She attended Louisiana Tech University and Northeast Louisiana University where she was awarded a MS+30 degree in Psychology and Education.

Beverly was an esteemed educator and supervisor with the Louisiana State Department of Education in her career, a devoted wife of 48 years to Johnnie, and mother to Merrick and Stacy, and was beloved by many lifelong friends throughout the state. Hallmarks of her life include her wit and intelligence, a love for travel, and her gift for writing.

Carol Lea Franklin Orcutt, 67, of Little Creek, passed from this life on Monday, October 12, 2020.

She was born December 16, 1952, in Little Creek, the first of five daughters born to the union of C. E. and Eva Lea Franklin.

Carol graduated from Jena High School and went on to attend Northeast Louisiana University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m., on Saturday, October 24, at the Chalk Hill Cemetery of Little Creek with Rev. Todd Norris officiating.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her sister, Lisa Belote.

Survivors include her husband, Cecil Orcutt; daughter, Erin Orcutt; grandson, Dayton Orcutt; three sisters, Rita Allien of Monroe, Sherri Morace of Little Creek, and Vicki Weaver of Belah; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Carol’s kind spirit, generous nature, and loving heart will be greatly missed by all who loved her.

Hazel Dean Simmons Murray, 59, of Rhinehart, entered peaceful, blessed, and eternal sleep on Thursday, October 8, 2020 at her loving home.

She was born November 13, 1960 to the union of her parents, William and Hazel Welch Simmons.

Hazel was a member of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in Rhinehart, where she accepted Christ. She attended Harrisonburg High School and later became a devoted, caring, hardworking, paramedic which she performed the duties until her illness.

She traveled the world saving lives and helping others during disasters. Everyone loved Ms. Hazel. She was employed by Med Express Ambulance Services, LaSalle Ambulance Services, Hardtner Ambulance Services, and Advanced Medical Services over the last 25-plus years.

Services were held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17, in the chapel of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home of Jena with Rev. Theodore Walker officiating.

Ruby Louise Baum Cruse, 69, of Lafayette and formerly of Olla, passed from this life on Monday, October 12, 2020, at the Camelot Nursing Facility in Broussard following an extended illness.

She was born May 5, 1951 in Urania to the union of her parents, Everett Houston Baum and Thelma Gladen Baum.

Louise, as she was known, was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend to so many. She and her late husband, Rev. Bobby Wayne Cruse, were married on October 11, 1968.

When he was called into the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ in the mid 90’s, she helped set an example to others around her in their church and in their community, as what it meant to be a helpmate to her husband. She was loved by all who knew her and called her friend.

Services were held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17, from the sanctuary of Standard Baptist Church near Olla with Rev. Shad Tibbs officiating.

Dwight Alton Callender, 81, of Winnfield, and a native of Urania, passed from this life on Tuesday, October 13, 2020.

He was born Friday, June 30, 1939 in Urania to the union of his parents, Alpherce Callender and Ethel Mae McNaughton Callender.

Dwight was a deacon of First Baptist Church in Winnfield and a member of the Sanctuary Choir, as well as a member of the Eastern Star Lodge No. 151 F&AM and the Winnfield Lions Club. He retired from West Frazier with perfect attendance of 39 years and three months of service. He also was a firefighter with Tremont.

Services were held at 11 a.m., Friday, October 16, at First Baptist Church of Winnfield with the Revs. Jon McCartney, Jack Miller and Danny Keyes, and Dr. Jerry Pipes officiating.

Interment followed in Garden of Memories in Winnfield under direction of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Linda Doretha Brown, 72, of Jena, passed away at her home on Friday, October 9, 2020.

She was born January 7, 1948 in Jena.

Linda pursued her academic goals and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Grambling State in 1970. She furthered her education to receive her Masters in Education from Northwestern State University in 1981.

Linda made a career in being a teacher, which was very fitting because she had the love and gentleness needed to reach the children in her classroom. She showed the same love and gentleness to many in the community as she opened her home to countless children throughout the years and showed them unconditional love and stability when no one else would. Linda worked 39 years in the LaSalle Parish School System and over 10 years at Walmart in Jena.

Doyle C. Breland, 86, passed from this life on Saturday, October 17, 2020 at his home.

He was born July 17, 1934 to the union of his parents, Newton Breland and Ina Bell Corley Breland.

Services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, Oct. 19, at Victory Baptist Church in the Magnolia Community with Rev. Mickey Hudnall officiating.

Interment followed in the Magnolia Cemetery in Magnolia under direction of Magnolia Funeral Home of Alexandria.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Roger Breland; and two grandchildren, Joey Dale Price and Tommy Joe Price.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Hilda Hines Breland; three daughters, Shelly Breland and Amos Coley, Dana Shirley and husband Ricky and Wanda Breland Masters; four grandchildren, Will Shirley, Katie Shirley Windham, Tori Shirley and Teacy Coley; and two great grandchildren, Lucas Windham and Anna Kate Windham.

Hortencia “Tenny” Nugent, 81, passed from this life on Tuesday, September 29, 2020, at the Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria.

She was born January 11, 1939 in Brownsville, Texas, to the union of her parents, Roberto Ruiz and Anita R. Barrera.

Private graveside services were held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 3, at Woodland Cemetery, east of Jena, with Rev. Daryl Black, Jr. officiating.

Interment followed under direction of Magnolia Funeral Home of Alexandria.

She was a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and great grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Titus Paul Nugent, Sr.; her parents; son, Titus Paul Nugent, Jr.; two sons-in-law, Michael W. Franklin and Todd Ranton.