Obituaries
Fred G. Benton Jr.
Date:
Wednesday, February 8th, 2012
Fred G. Benton Jr. gently passed into the hands of God during the early morning hours of Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. Born on Dec. 13, 1924, in Baton Rouge, he was one of three children born to Fred G. Benton Sr. and Emma Cockerham Benton. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, showing early signs of the civic leader he would become. He graduated from Baton Rouge High School in 1942 and not long thereafter joined the U.S. Navy duringWorld War II. He served on the naval destroyer USS Black. When the war ended he was a naval air cadet. He attended LSU and married his lifelong bride, Courtney Benton, on the 26th day of January, 1947. Of their loving union, six children were born, namely Fred Garig Benton III, Elizabeth Grace Benton, Steve Harrison Benton and wife Sheran, Emily Benton Harper, William Hart Benton, M.D. and wife Beth and Amy Benton Query. He graduated from the LSU Law School in 1951 and joined his father, Fred G. Benton Sr., in the practice of law, specializing in municipal bonds. He would become a pre-eminent bond attorney. He extended to both large and small governmental entities his expertise, working to build new firehouses, schools, roads and bridges. He was the bond attorney for the city of Baton Rouge for more than 30 years. He did the bond work necessary for the development and construction of the East Baton Rouge governmental complex, including the Performing Arts Theater,
L.B. Shoemaker
A resident of Clinton, he died Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011, at Lane Regional Medical Center, Zachary. He was 96, born in Reform, Miss. Visiting at Richardson Funeral Home, Clinton, on Friday, Aug. 12, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Service at Galilee Baptist Church, Wilson, on Saturday at 1 p.m., conducted by the Rev. Joseph Combs. Interment in church cemetery. Survived by his daughter, Carolyn Shoemaker, Clinton; son, Dee Earl Shoemaker, Clinton; nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Albert "Boots" Parker
A resident of Baton Rouge, he died Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011. He was 75 and a native of Norwood. Visiting at Desselle Funeral Home on Saturday, Aug. 13, from 9 a.m. until religious service at 11 a.m. Interment in Southern Memorial Gardens. He is survived by a sister, Ruth Smith; three nephews, Donavan Spears, Jack Weatherspoon Jr. and Bruce Wright; and a host of other relatives and friends. Preceded in death by his parents, wife and two sons.
Rosa de Ampudia
Rosa Omaira Muñoz Sandoval de Ampudia died peacefully in the presence of her four daughters the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011. She was 75. A native of Colombia, Rosa was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Isabel Cristina; and her husband, Fabio Ampudia. She was born to a prosperous family in a hamlet called Flor de Nima, in the vicinity of Palmira, Colombia. The daughter of Eva Sandoval and Miguel Muñoz, Rosa, then age 10, and her six siblings experienced a change in fortune with the death of her parents.
Melvin James Brown
Melvin James Brown A father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, he died at 4:15 a.m. Monday, Aug. 8, 2011, at his home in Baton Rouge. He was 79. Visiting at Richardson Funeral Home, Clinton, Thursday, Aug. 11, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Religious service at Union Baptist Church on Friday, Aug. 12, at 11 a.m., conducted by the Rev. J.B. Carter Jr. Interment in the church cemetery.
Leo "Nooney" Dunn Sr.
Formerly employed with the Department of Corrections, he died Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011. He was 63 and a resident of Clinton. Visiting at Richardson Funeral Home, Clinton, Friday, Aug. 12, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Service at Union Baptist Church, Norwood, on Saturday at 11 a.m., conducted by the Rev. Richard Smith. Interment in Union Baptist Cemetery. Survived by his mother, Mary Ann Dunn; daughter, La'Keisha C. Dunn; son, Leo Dunn Jr.; sister, six brothers and 13 grandchildren. Preceded in death by his son, father, grandparents, brother and nephew. Pallbearers will be his nephews and friends.
Hazel Evans Brewer
A resident of Ethel and native of Galvez, she died at 7:49 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011, at Ochsner Health Center in Baton Rouge. She was 86. She was an exquisite cook. Her pecan pies, roast and holiday turkey were among family favorites. She loved to entertain, and always welcomed everyone to her table. She graced the cosmetic counter of D.H. Holmes as an Estee Lauder consultant, and owned the Bathroom House Showroom in Baton Rouge. Visiting at Ascension Funeral Home, 426 W. New River St., Gonzales, Saturday, Aug. 13, from noon until the service at 2 p.m., conducted by Pastor Reggie Wilcutt.
John B. "J.B." Guillory
"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: For thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over.
Roy Karl Dokka
Roy Dokka died Monday, Aug. 1, 2011, at his home in St. Francisville. He was 59, a native of Bottineau, N.D., and worked for LSU for 30 years. Arrangements are pending with Charlet Funeral Home Inc. Roy Dokka died Monday, Aug. 1, 2011, at his home in St. Francisville. He was 59, a native of Bottineau, N.D., and worked for LSU for 30 years. Arrangements are pending with Charlet Funeral Home Inc. Gussie Pauline Smith Nesom
Gussie Pauline Smith Nesom, 85, a native of Gilead and resident of Zachary, died Sunday, July 31, 2011. She retired after working for more than 10 years for the state of Louisiana. Visitation will be at Bluff Creek Baptist Church, Clinton, Wednesday, Aug. 3, from 9 a.m. until service at 11 a.m., conducted by Dr. Malcolm Stuart. Burial will be in the church cemetery. She is survived by two daughters, Judith Nesom Genre and her husband, Mickey Genre, and Sandra Nesom Norwood and her husband, Lane Douglas Norwood Sr., all of Zachary; six grandchildren, Wendy Genre Spedale, Christopher D.
James R. "Rabbit" Hall Sr.
A resident of Jackson, he died Sunday, July 31, 2011. He was 74 and a retired EMT at Villa Feliciana Medical Complex for 32 years. Visiting will be at Charlet Funeral Home, Inc. in Zachary on Wednesday, Aug. 3, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursday, Aug. 4, from 9 a.m. until service at 10 a.m., conducted by the Rev. Alvin Hall. Burial will be in Bethany Cemetery, Baker. He is survived by his son, James R. Hall Jr.
Nancy Kerr Eustis
A retired employee of East Feliciana State Hospital, Jackson, she died early Tuesday morning, Aug. 2, 2011, at Sunrise Assisted Living, Baton Rouge, due to cancer and Alzheimer's. She was 67, a resident of Baton Rouge and native of New Orleans. Visiting at Resthaven Funeral Home chapel, 11817 Jefferson Highway, Friday, Aug. 5, from 9:30 a.m. until memorial service at 10:30 a.m., conducted by the Rev. Milford Walters. Inurnment in Metairie Cemetery, Metairie, Friday at 1:30 p.m.