Lona (Hinton) Johnson
March 6, 1934 – August 4, 2023
On August 4, 2023, Mrs. Lona Andrie (Hinton) Johnson took leave of her temporary home here and gracefully entered her glorious new eternal home in Heaven. She was preceded by her husband Leonard Johnson, her son Michael Len Johnson, her Granddaughter Hannah Leann Buchanan and Grandson John Christopher Woods and her son-in-law, Douglas Woods.
She is survived by her three daughters, Sandra Johnson Buchanan and husband Rev. Buck Buchanan of Ardmore, Oklahoma, Andrea Johnson Woods of North Hodge, La, and Tammy Johnson McLemore and husband Tom McLemore of Hamburg, Arkansas. She is also survived by 6 Grandchildren and 7 Great-grandchildren.
Ms. Lona, as her many friends called her, was born in the Antioch Community of Jackson Parish. She lived there and attended Antioch Presbyterian Church until she was 18 and then left home to attend Nursing School at Warner Brown Hospital in Arkansas. Soon she met the love of her life, and after a courtship, Ms. Lona married Mr. Leonard Johnson. Mr. Leonard served his country in the United States Air Force and Ms. Lona was his greatest supporter and helpmate. Ms. Lona traveled with her husband to most of his Duty assignments, including living 3 years in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Ms. Lona was an excellent seamstress, and during her time in Newfoundland, she was busy creating and designing her children’s clothing. When Ms. Lona returned home, from following her husband to his Duty Bases, she focused on her artwork and learned the art of detail painting. Her artistic talent expanded during that time and her unique ability to replicate her vision of the natural beauty of local flora and fauna as well as portrait painting was comparable to artwork found in fine art galleries.
Another aspect of her artistic talent was the completion of many folk-art projects that included using native gourds and Cypress tree roots. Some of the gourds were painted to resemble the Olde Saint Nicklaus art genre. Much of Ms. Lona’s free time was spent in her yard and nearby woodlands where she was an expert horticulturalist and unmatched in knowledge of Louisiana Native species of plants, trees, and woody shrubs. She was very gifted in the ability to not only identify the plants with the scientific name but also knew the common name and exactly where the plants would flourish when planted in the landscape as evidenced by her own yard and adjacent property.
Ms. Lona continued with her sewing talent and was a gifted member of the Heritage Quilt Guild having designed and completed many extravagant quilts. One of the greatest and most eagerly anticipated events that she sponsored each year was her Christmas Open House. Ms. Lona and her daughters, especially Andrea, would display her beautiful quilts, and other artwork and many decorated Christmas trees with a variety of influences from around the world.
Ms. Lona was a member of North Hodge Assembly of God, loved her Savior, her family, her church family and her friends and was a very gracious lady. “You have lost a Mother: no she is not lost to you who are found to Christ. She is not sent away, but only sent before, like a star, which going out of sight does not die or vanish, but shineth in another hemisphere. We see her not, yet she does shine in Heaven.” (Letters of S. Rutherford)
Friends may visit with the family on Monday, August 7, 2023 at North Hodge Assembly of God from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Ms. Lona’s funeral service will begin at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at North Hodge Assembly with Bro. Geary Phillips officiating. Burial will follow at the Antioch Cumberland Presbyterian Church near Quitman, under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home of Jonesboro.
Serving the family as pallbearers will be Brad Buchanan, Hunter McLemore, Richard Woods, Allen Edwards, Blake Woods and Brad Kimble. Honorary Pallbearers will be J.E. Townley, Bill King, Don Reeves, Hayward Hattaway, Jerry Nesbit and Wesley Lockhart.
Shirley (Caskey) Martin
January 7, 1946 – July 31, 2023
Shirley (Caskey) Martin of Jonesboro, Louisiana passed away on Monday, July 31, 2023 at her residence. She was 78 years old. Shirley was a secretary for the Special Education Department of the Jackson Parish School Board for eighteen years. She loved flowers and liked to fish whenever she could. Shirley loved to cook and enjoyed canning and preserving fruits and vegetables.
Shirley is survived by her husband, Paul C. Martin; children, Sheila Huddleston and David Huddleston and his wife, Marcie; grandsons, Matthew Huddleston and Nicholas Rowell; sisters Rose Causey and Betty Moody; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Martha Caskey.
As per her wishes, Shirley will be cremated and a private family memorial service will be held.
Peyton Lawrence Bass, Jr.
October 15, 1931 – August 2, 2023
Reverend Peyton Lawrence Bass, Jr., of Jonesboro, LA was born October 15, 1931 in Pelican, LA to Peyton Lawrence Bass, Sr. and Armalee Reed Bass. He went to his heavenly home August 2nd, 2023 at home in Jonesboro, LA at the age of 91 years, 9 months, 18 days.
He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951-1955, including one year served in Greenland, Arctic Circle. He attained the rank of sergeant, and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force. Reverend Bass was a pastor and servant of the Lord since 1966. He was a graduate of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX.
He pastored in Louisiana at Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Coushatta, Trinity Baptist Church in Oakdale, First Baptist Church in Montgomery, Bethel Baptist Church in West Monroe, Hodge Baptist Church in Hodge, Highland Park Baptist Church in Monroe, Brownville Baptist Church in West Monroe, and Siloam Springs Community Church in Jonesboro.
He saw over 1,000 souls saved and performed over 500 funerals and 300 weddings during his ministry. He never retired serving his Lord while continuing to preach revivals and serving as visiting minister as long as health permitted. Even when his health did not permit, he still prayed for many people, our nation, and studied the Bible every day.
Through his 91 years he met many famous people, including Jim Reeves, Hank Thompson, Elvis Presley, Bonnie and Maxine Brown, Glen Payne, and George Younce, the Wilburn Brothers, George Morgan, Eddie Arnold, Hovie Lister and Big Rosie, Dr. W.A. Criswell, and Dr. Adrian Rogers, to name a few.
Reverend Bass is pre-deceased by his parents, and his siblings Jimmy Ray (Joe) Bass, Barbara Jean Hamilton, Billy Burton (Bill) Bass, and Robert Reed Bass. He is also pre-deceased by nephews Peyton Joseph Bass, Steve Hamilton, and Sam Bass.
He leaves to cherish his memory his loving and caring wife of 23 years Elizabeth Montez (Monty) Peevy Bass; daughters Sharon Bass Bedingfield (John) of Spring Branch, TX, Sheila Bass Runnels (Richey) of Pulaski, TN, and Shelley Bass of Asheville, NC. He is also survived by his three grandsons, Michael Seiley (Melanie), Joseph Runnels III (Kelly), and Joshua Runnels (Lisa). He also leaves cherished great-
grandchildren Olivia Seiley and Jordan Cole Runnels. Survivors also include brothers- and sisters-in-law Todd and Renita Peevy and Grover and Vickie Mann and their families.
The Celebration of Life service was held on Saturday, August 5, at Hodge Baptist Church with Reverend Terry Mims officiating, assisted by Reverend Adrian Nelson and
Reverend Wayne Morrow. Interment followed at Zion’s Rest Church Cemetery in Wallace, LA under the direction of Paradise Funeral Home of Jonesboro, LA.
Special Thanks to Allegiance Hospice and Palliative Care of Ruston, LA.
Fred Boulware
February 17, 1931 – August 2, 2023
Freddie was born in the community of Weston, Louisiana on February 17th, 1931 and peacefully passed this stage of life on August 2nd, 2023 at his home in Mount Enterprise, Texas following a brief illness. He graduated Jonesboro-Hodge High School in 1947, then spent the next 4 years selling Bibles throughout the south. He honorably served in the Army during the Korean War, after which he entered Louisiana Tech studying Accounting.
In September 1957 Fred began working for Suburban Homes, a real estate builder-developer, and water-sewage owner. After serving Suburban homes for 25 years, he purchased his home on 2.9 acres in the Minden, Texas community. Here he retired to enjoy his passions for fishing and gardening. This was a central location for his relatives to gather for reunions, and the picking of “Big Boy” purple hull peas and greens. Some of his fondest memories are that of his brother coming up from Houston. Cat-fish was always on the menu. Fred loved the Lord, and loved people. His family, neighbors, employees at the local bank, hospital and dentist office were well supplied with tomatoes and greens due to his green thumb and generous heart.
Fred is survived by 8 nieces and nephews and many friends, old and new, who will miss his smile, generosity, and wit.
He will be laid to rest at Old Bethel Cemetery in Jonesboro, LA on Monday, August 7, 2023. A graveside service is scheduled for 10:00 AM under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home of Jonesboro.
