Averil Hughes Robinson
June 19, 1930 – November 2, 2022
Averil Hughes Robinson, 92, went to meet her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 in Shreveport, Louisiana. She was born on June 19, 1930 in Hodge, Louisiana to T.M. and Mildred Hughes. She was residing at Waterview Court Senior Living at the time of her death.
Averil grew up in Hodge where she attended school. She married James “Bud” Robinson in 1948 and lived in Danville, Louisiana and on their farm outside of Jonesboro, Louisiana for over 65 years. She worked in Jonesboro for the newspaper and radio station before retiring. Averil loved her church, her friends, family singing, bus tours and travel, cooking and crafting. Averil moved to Shreveport in 2017 and spent five years at Waterview Court making new friends and singing whenever possible.
She is preceded in death by her parents, T.M. and Mildred Hughes; and brother, Billy (Bill) M. Hughes. Those left to cherish her memory are eight nieces and nephews from the Hughes and Robinson families.
Averil was cremated after her passing in November. A graveside service will be held at Danville Presbyterian Church Cemetery at 11 am on Friday, April 14, 2023 with Bro. Randy Dark officiating. Burial will be under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home of Jonesboro.
Elaine Blalock Turner
October 28, 1945 – April 5, 2023
Submitted by family: Mother was married to Drue Blalock, three year superintendent of Angola Penitentiary, and that position required a move from Quitman to St. Francisville. Mother was not happy about the move there, but move she did and found it to be a very interesting place. While living there, she enjoyed tending a flower garden and listening to tales about trustees and the families they worked for. Their daughter, Lanie, was born while she lived at the prison.
After her time there, she lived on a dairy farm in Jackson Parish, as Daddy was an ardent cattleman. It was here that her two sons, Chris and Steve, were born.
Mother had to endure much commotion during her time as a dairy farmer’s wife. During harsh winters, Daddy would often bring newborn calves into the house very early in the morning to have everyone warm them up before returning them to their mothers. The experiences were messy, but Mother didn’t complain too much!
Mother was a prolific reader. She never read anything but natural healing books and Christian books that encouraged her faith. Those books are all underlined and dog eared, which helped her return to those passages that held special meaning for her.
There was nothing Mother enjoyed more than her job as a burial insurance salesperson for Pelican Insurance. She loved visiting people, and she always brightened their days, just as they did hers.
After her retirement, she spent her time visiting her grandkids or having them come to visit her. She was a kind and loving grandmother, who was called “Mimi” by her grandchildren.
Mother was an avid cook! Her chicken and dumplings were famous in Jackson Parish. She always made them for Homecoming at the Jimmie Davis Tabernacle, where folks would line up by the dozen to get a bowl. Many ladies have borrowed that recipe, but say theirs never turned out like hers.
Throughout Mother’s nearly 98 years, as she grew older, she grew sweeter. She will always be remembered as a beautiful, kind, generous, and sweet mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt.
She’s in Heaven now with the Savior she loved and beautiful once again, inside and out.
Elaine Blalock Turner is survived by her children, Elaine (Lanie) Walden of Bossier City, and Steve Blalock of Bossier City; grandchildren, John Walden and wife Stacy of Bossier City, Sunny Walden and husband Troy of Aledo, TX, Aaron Blalock of Jonesboro, Lauren Mathews and husband, James of Jonesboro, Alison Blalock of Quitman, and Shannon Spikes and Brent of Fort Wayne, Indiana; great- grandchildren, Christian Walden, Luke Austin, Kate Austin, Anslie Blalock, Luke Mathews; Aaron Spikes, Adalyn Spikes, Quinton Spikes; and sister, Lurline Kennedy of Jonesboro.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Drue Blalock; parents, Elmer and Lena (Nix) Harvey; son, Chris Blalock; second husband James Turner; and sisters, Margaret Conn and Juanita Walsworth Kennedy.
The funeral service was held on Monday, April 10th at the Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home Chapel in Jonesboro Bro. Kelly Leach officiating. Burial followed at the Jimmie Davis Tabernacle Cemetery under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home.
Serving the family as pallbearers were Troy Austin, Aaron Blalock, Kendrick Hartsfield, Danny Modisette, Danny Kennedy, and John Walden. Honorary pallbearer was Bill Decou.
The family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks for Mother’s care to all at Forest Haven Nursing Home; however, a few went above and beyond. Sandra, Tina, and Malissa guided and encouraged throughout Mother’s stay, but most importantly, Director of Nursing, Steve Williams, and Mother’s nurse Allye provided the most precious care and concern during her last hours. We will always be grateful. May God bless you all.
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