Audrey (Upchurch) Johns
June 21, 1930 – March 13, 2024

Audrey (Upchurch) Johns, age 93, passed away on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 after a period of declining health. Visitation will be held at Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home on Monday, March 18, 2024 from 1:30PM ~ 2:30PM in the chapel. Services will be held on Monday, March 18, 2024 at 2:30PM in the chapel. Officiating the services will be Rev. Ronald Harper and Chris Yates. Interment will follow at the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Jonesboro under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home.

Mrs. Johns was born in Houston, Texas on June 21, 1930 to Robert G. and Thelma Mary Upchurch. She later moved to Jonesboro where she met and married her husband, Charlie Johns. Together, they owned and operated the Wot-A Burger Drive Inn. She also worked as receptionist at various physician’s offices and businesses in Jonesboro prior to her retirement. She loved reading her Bible and going to church when her health allowed.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie Johns; two sisters, Nadine Trowbridge and Sandra Primrose; one brother, Jack Upchurch; son in law, Richard Sneed; and her parents. She was also preceded in death by two step sisters, Jean McKinney and Evelyn Traina.

Mrs. Johns is survived by one daughter, Kim Coker (Rodney) of Quitman and one son, Charles Johns (Cindy) of Monroe. Five grandchildren, Jennifer McGee (Chris) of Ruston, Justin Sneed (Amanda) of Jonesboro, Lindsey Stevenson (Cole) of Ansley, Darrell Johns (Melanie) of Monroe, Amanda Yates (Chris) of Downsville. She is also survived by 9 great grandchildren; one brother, Robert G. Upchurch as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

Serving the family as pallbearers will be Darrell Johns, Zach Ivy, Justin Sneed, Chris McGee, Cole Stevenson, John Wright Johns.

Marie Hughes Clark
December 11, 1938 – March 5, 2024

Marie Hughes Clark, 85, of Ingleside on the Bay, Texas (formerly of West Monroe, Louisiana) passed away peacefully on March 5, 2024 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law. She was born in Jonesboro, Louisiana on December 11, 1938 to William Carl and Ruth Helen Hughes.

Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Riley F Clark; parents, Carl and Helen Hughes; and all five siblings; sisters, Gertrude Maxwell, Margie Poisso, Avis Sanderson, and Glenda Hughes; brother, J.W. Hughes; and her beloved dog, Prancer, their companion of 18 years (February 5, 2024).

She is survived by her daughter, Connie Amsden (Pat); son, Kelvin Clark (Lodema); grandchildren, Jennifer Amsden Oswald (David), Austin Amsden, Jonathan Amsden (Alicia), Katie Amsden Smith (James), Kelly Amsden Bulot (Brad), Darrell Clark (Angela), and Darren Clark (Amanda); 19 great-grandchildren; 3 1/2 great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and a host of other family and friends.

Marie graduated from Jonesboro-Hodge High School at the top of her class. She met Riley in school and later became his tutor. They fell in love and married on March 2, 1956. Over the next couple years they welcomed their two children. She stayed home with them until they began school. She then volunteered at the school and was a substitute teacher. She sewed their clothes and canned anything that came from Riley’s garden. She kept a tidy house and could stretch a food dollar as far as it could be stretched. Later she decided to seek employment and worked for H&R Block, Riverwood International, and as secretary at her son’s church.

In retirement, Marie and Riley were dedicated to family, friends, and church. They loved classic TV and going out to eat at every opportunity, especially with their church dinner/devotion group.

In 2015, Marie and Riley relocated to Ingleside on the Bay, Texas so their daughter Connie and son-in-law Pat could care for them in their later years.

Marie had wonderful lifelong friends in Louisiana and cherished their Texas friends in IOB and their church, Ingleside Methodist Church. She loved staying in touch with family and friends and loved her South Texas home.

A graveside service was held on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at Beech Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Quitman, Louisiana, under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home of Jonesboro. The officiant was Jimmy Poisso. Serving as pallbearers were Austin Amsden, Darrell Clark, Darren Clark, David Oswald, Daniel Copes and Pat Amsden.

An additional memorial service will be on March 23, 2024 at 4:00 pm at Ingleside Methodist Church, Ingleside, Texas.