Bettye (Turner) Pate
September 22, 1934 – September 4, 2025
Bettye (Turner) Pate went to be with the Lord on September 4th at the age of 88 years old. Visitation has been set for Tuesday, September 9th, from 9:00 – 11:00 am at the Jonesboro-Hodge Methodist Church, located at 402 4th Street in Jonesboro, followed by the funeral service officiated by Pastor Gary Green. Burial will take place at the Brook Chapel Cemetery, located on 175 Brooks Chapel Road in Quitman, LA, under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home in Jonesboro.
A full obituary will be presented at a later date.
Maxine (Brown) Weeks
October 16, 1930 – September 4, 2025
Maxine (Brown) Weeks, ascended to her Heavenly home on Thursday, September 4, 2025. Maxine was a loving wife and nurturing mother that always put her faith and family first. She loved her church, church family and enjoyed being an active member at Quitman Baptist Church. Maxine had a big heart and a caregiving way.
I their early years, Maxine and her husband, Carl enjoyed spending their free time at the bowling alley bowling with their league. Following Carl’s retirement, they also loved to pull their camper out and go on adventures to find new terrain to explore. These traveling and camping adventures might lead to fishing or skiing, but no matter where they were they were bound to find a way to make fun-filled memories. Maxine was an avid reader and very quick to finish any book. She also was a skilled seamstress. She spent much time on a sewing machine sewing clothing for her family as she handmade her girl’s clothing with love. She leaves a legacy of love and tender devotion behind and will be missed.
Those left to cherish her memory is her daughter, Carla (Weeks) Raborn and husband Ronnie; grandchildren, Susan (Traina) Wallis, Chad Raborn (Derek), Kristen (Raborn) Foster (Steven); great grandchildren, Tiffany (Graham) Ables (John), Josh Graham, Kallie (Wallis) Ingles (Craig), Oliver Foster, Landon Foster and Zachary Foster; 5 great-great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Maxine was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Weeks; daughters, Sandy Weeks, Linda (Weeks) Wallis; parents, Harlin and Magnolia (Thomas) Brown; brothers, Robert Brown and Donald Brown.
Friends may visit with the family on Monday, September 8, 2025, from 9:30 AM until the time of the funeral service, which is set to begin at 11:00 AM in the chapel of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home with Bro. Donald Rudd officiating. Burial will follow in Gayla Traina Cemetery under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home.
Serving the family as pallbearers will be Chad Raborn, Josh Graham, John Ables, Craig Ingles, and Robbie Wallis.
The family would like to give special thanks to her caregivers, Amy Pace and Amber Lebrun, for their many years of love and care; Compassus Hospice and Princeton Place.
Gloria Sue (Wells) Smith
September 24, 1938 – August 28, 2025
Gloria Sue Smith loved life and navigated its unpredictable turns with grace, joy, kindness, and incredible strength. She completed her journey and was called home by her heavenly Father August 28, 2025, with family at her side.
Gloria, known as Sue to everyone, was born on September 24, 1938, in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana to David S. Wells and Alice Pepper Wells. Sue attended elementary, middle and high school in Jonesboro, Louisiana, where she graduated from Jonesboro Hodge High School in May of 1956.
Sue married Arden Dale Smith on August 10, 1956, in Jonesboro, Louisiana. Arden’s job took them to Alief, Texas in the mid 1960’s where they raised their children. Sue was true to her faith and was involved with Vacation Bible School when her children were young. She worked for the Texas Department of Health and Texas Department of Criminal Justice as Administrative Secretary for several years. Sue finished her career as an Educational Secretary for the Alief Independent School District.
Sue and Arden followed their children’s sport endeavors throughout the years. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren as well, spoiling them as grandparents do. Watching old Hallmark movies and western shows were favorite pastime activities as well as collecting Beanie Babies. Sue and Arden would be sure to shop for them when they traveled. She loved playing Mahjong on the computer and Scrabble, when she could get someone to play with her. Sue also collected owl figurines and read romance novels. Her family history was extremely important and she spent hours exploring her genealogy.
She was preceded in death by Arden Smith, her husband of 64 years; her parents, David S. Wells and Alice Ouzts; her stepfather, Robert Ouzts; and her sister, Verb Walker.
She is survived by her children, Melanie Lane Smith and Todd Arden Smith, of Houston, Texas; her brother, David M. Wells and wife Joy, of Bossier City, Louisiana; her grandchildren, Courtney and Makenzie Smith of Tomball, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home in Jonesboro with pastors, Andy Teston and Alecia Head officiating. Burial followed in Gayla Traina Cemetery near Jonesboro under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home in Jonesboro.
Serving as pallbearers were Chad Tolar, Dawson Tolar, Ronnie Tolar, Greg Foshee, Dillon Wells, Jason Wells, Allen Teston, and Emerson Wells.
Patsy Newsom Carter
December 23, 1927 – September 4, 2025
Sue Patsy Tolar Newsom Carter was born December 23, 1927, and passed away September 4, 2025.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Susie Wigley Tolar and Charles Monroe Tolar; her spouses, Rev. Warren Aubrey Newsom and Don Carter; her sons, Warren Dale Newsom and Charles Alan “Al” Newsom; and her brothers C. M. Tolar, Jr., and George Newton Tolar.
Patsy is survived by her daughters, Anna Beth Crowson and husband, Joel, of Haughton, LA, and Lori Kay Newsom of West Monroe, LA. She is also survived by her grandchildren Jessie Newsom (Kisha), Wesley Newsom, Zachary Newsom (Keeleigh), Joanna Mangum, Whitney Crowson, Meredith Crowson, Nichol Cruz, Andrea Dark, and many great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Patsy loved her children more than anything and adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was outgoing and enjoyed being around others. She loved to shop, and it didn’t matter if she needed anything or not. But the thing that brought her the most joy was telling others about Jesus. For many years, she faithfully taught a Sunday School class every Sunday. Just a few weeks before passing, she was in a rehab facility recovering from a fall and asked everyone who came into the room if they knew Jesus. Her favorite book was her Bible, and she read it daily until her eye disease limited her vision. She was an accomplished singer and pianist. She directed children’s choirs in several local churches, and many children in the community learned to play the piano under her patient guidance.
Patsy worked for years as a dietician for the Jackson Parish school system and later retired as the dietician for Jackson Parish Hospital. Cooking for family and others remained a passion of hers to the very end.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, September 7, 2025, at The Simple Church located on the Louisiana Boardwalk, 540 Boardwalk Blvd., in Bossier City. Visitation begins at 2:00 pm with the service following at 3:00 pm. There will be no graveside service.
We offer a special thank you to Dorothy Lee who lovingly took care of Patsy during the day and to Linda Phillips who graciously stayed with her when needed.
In lieu of flowers, we suggest gifts be given to the missions ministry at The Simple Church, 601 Benton Road, Bossier City, LA 71111.
Carolyn Cooper Staggs
June 15, 1931 – August 28, 2025
Carolyn Cooper Staggs, age 94 of Quitman, Louisiana, went to be with the Lord, Thursday, August 28, 2025. She was born June 15, 1931 in Winnfield, Louisiana.
She married her childhood sweetheart, Henry Staggs, in 1950. They were married 67 years.
They served the Lord in the ministry of the gospel during their years together. She was a woman of great faith. Along with being a pastor’s wife she had many talents, piano playing, seamstress, and she enjoyed decorating and painting. She was an avid reader. She enjoyed shopping trips and finding bargains, especially with her sister. Most of all she had great love for her family.
She is survived by her children, son, Mark Staggs and daughter, Susan Williams and husband Roger. Her grandchildren, Jacob Staggs (Stacy), Tyler Staggs, Joshua Williams (Kelly), Holly Morris (Brandon Garner). Great grandchildren, Delaney Staggs, Cooper Henry Staggs, Wade Williams (Erin), Cooper Williams, Averie Williams (Logan Ponder), Garrett Morris (Bailey), Jared Morris (Machaela). Great Great grandchildren, Collins Williams, Beau Williams, Nolan Williams, Baker Morris. Sister Mary Hines, Sister-in-law Sara Borland (Bobby); many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Henry Staggs, parents, Buddy and Bertie Cooper, brothers, Billy Cooper (Marie), Jack Cooper (Johnnie), sisters, Betty Cooper, Kathleen Honey Hansen (Tom), nieces Sylvia Duck, Liz Silmon, nephew Jonah Borland, Great nephew Blaise Borland.