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)

Ms. Lona’s funeral service was held on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at North Hodge Assembly with Bro. Geary Phillips officiating. Burial followed at the Antioch Cumberland Presbyterian Church near Quitman, under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home of Jonesboro.

Serving the family as pallbearers was Brad Buchanan, Hunter McLemore, Richard Woods, Allen Edwards, Blake Woods and Brad Kimble. Honorary Pallbearers were J.E. Townley, Bill King, Don Reeves, Hayward Hattaway, Jerry Nesbit and Wesley Lockhart.

Lexon Crest (L.C.) Duty, Jr.
November 12, 1953 – August 07, 2023

Mr. Lexon Crest (L.C.) Duty passed away on Monday, August 7, 2023 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was 69 years old. A native of Hodge, Louisiana, L.C. worked as a fork lift driver for 21 years at Stone Container. He loved making things with his hands and was an accomplished wood-worker. L.C. enjoyed fishing with his father, Lexon Duty, Sr. and he loved riding his Harley all around the country.

L.C. is survived by his wife of 28 years, Karen (Shell) Hall; children, Jessie Duty, Josh Shell and Melanie (Shell) Hall; 5 grandchildren; siblings, Ray Cotton and wife, Johnnie, Delinda Boyette; and special niece, Lori Cotton.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lexon Crest Duty, Sr. and Dorothy (Diffey) Duty.

As per his wishes, L.C. will be cremated and his family will plan a memorial service at a later date.