William “Bill” Staples
August 2, 1947 – July 19, 2022
William “Bill” Wayne Staples, age 74 of Weston, took the hand of his Lord and Savior and was welcomed through Heaven’s gates on Tuesday, July 19, 2022.
Mr. Bill was man that was easy to love and if you met him then you know. He loved the Lord, his family, church family and his community. He proudly served the in the United States Army and has proudly served his community, in many fashions, since his honorable discharge in 1972.
He and his long-time friend, Bill Brown helped bring and found the Jaycees for the Parish in the late 80’s, early 90’s. Mr. Bill is well known for being the radio voice for the Jonesboro-Hodge Tiger Football team on 94.1 KRLQ. He was the Jackson Parish Coroner for approximately four decades and acted as deputy coroner prior to being elected into office.
He has been a funeral director/embalmer for nearly 50 years, the manager at Southern Funeral Home in Jonesboro and has been a blessing through-out the years for countless families. He was awarded a plaque from the Louisiana Funeral Directors Association, North District, and honored as the Funeral Director of the Year.
Mr. Bill enjoyed being a part of the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame. Keeping these skilled sportsman’s accomplishments remembered and recognized was an event that he worked hard on and he felt blessed to be a part of each year.
Mr. Bill was also an ordained Baptist minister and was the pastor at Union Baptist Church until his health would no longer allow him to. He used his ministry through the church and the funeral home to help countless individuals and families over time. He was fond of being a nameless, faceless blessing like when he would see a young family out to lunch and pay for theirs on his way out, never and letting the family of strangers know of his good deed. He always gave to any cause, even if it was his last dime. He also would give anyone a chance no matter their circumstance or history. He always could look past the sin and just love the person; absolute love without judgement. He was a simple southern Christian man with a sweet soul and a heart of gold. He will be greatly missed.
Those left to cherish his memory is beloved wife of 52 years, Janice DelRio Staples; son, Bradly Wayne Staples and wife Stacey; grandchildren, Matthew Lamkin, Carrie LaRe Head and husband Clint, Tomas Stinson and wife Amy, Brandon Staples, Brianna Staples, Brody Staples, Braxton Staples; great grandchildren, Kyle Staples, Lilly Head, Ayla Stinson; brothers, Mike Staples, Tim Staples and wife Kelly; sister in law, Genoria Staples; furless furbaby, Miss Piggy. He was preceded in death and now reunited with his daughter, Cherae Stinson; grandson, Christopher Lamkin; parents, Carey Mims and Annie (McBride) Staples; brother, Carey Mac Staples.
Funeral services are set for 2:00PM in the Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home Chapel on Sunday, July 24, 2022 with Reverends Stuart Toms, Mike Staples and Bro. Nollie Ingram officiating. Burial will follow in Springhill Baptist Cemetery under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home.
Serving the family as pallbearers will be Hank Staples, Bill Brown, Calhaen DelRio, Jeremy DelRio, Clint Head and Ben Ledbetter.
Tony Kenneth Choate
December 20, 1946 – July 19, 2022
Mr. Tony Kenneth Choate passed away at the Courtyard Nursing Facility of Natchitoches on Tuesday, July 19, 2022. He was seventy-five years old. Mr. Choate was born to Wilbur and Virginia (Lewis) Choate on December 20, 1946 in Chestnut, Louisiana.
Tony was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a long time truck driver and also served the town of Saline as its Chief of Police for nearly twenty-six years. He was very active and loved to hunt and fish, but his favorite pastime was farming. His vegetable gardens were the stuff of legend.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Peggy (McCormick) Choate; son, Paul Choate; grandchildren; Lilith Choate, Austyn Choate, Alayna Choate, Katy Choate; brothers, Tommy Len Choate, and Wilbur Choate.
Preceding Mr. Choate in death were his parents; son, David Choate; brother, William Choate; and sister, Joy Choate.
Funeral services were held at the Southern-Edmonds Chapel in Jonesboro with Father Dutch Voltz officiating. Burial followed at the Strange Methodist Church Cemetery in Readhimer, Louisiana.
Serving the family as pallbearers were Austyn Choate, Paul Choate, Randy Mason, Jacob Watson, Brendan Ferrington, and Daniel Dunn.
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