Bertha Watts Blades

(June 19, 1920 – March 12, 2008)

Died on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at Hood Memorial Hospital in Amite, LA. She was a native of Monroe, LA and a resident of Kentwood, LA. Age 87 years. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Thursday and at Spring Creek Baptist Church from 9 a.m. Friday until religious services at 11 a.m. Friday. Services conducted by Rev. Danny Smith. Interment Spring Creek Cemetery, Spring Creek, LA. Survived by daughter, Melba Etheridge, Pine Grove, son, Ronnie Blades, Kentwood, sister, Carolyn Marie Rimes, Magnolia, MS, 2 brothers, Walter Lee Watts, Bastrop, Earl Watts, Pascagoula, MS, 14 grandchildren, 31 great- grandchildren, 1 great-great-granddaughter. Preceded in death by husband, N. R. “Dub” Blades, 2 sons, Nillard and Wayne Blades, 1 sister, Virgie Pollard, 3 brothers, Perry, Robert, and James Watts, granddaughter, Lisa Blades, grandson, Michael Etheridge.

Velma Lilly Hendry

(February 14, 1914 – March 11, 2008)

Died at 8:55 a.m. on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at Hood Memorial Hospital in Amite. She was a native of Osyka, MS and a resident of Roseland. Age 94 years. She was a Maw-Maw to everyone and is survived by her son, James E. Hendry and wife, Martha, Madisonville; daughter, Judy H. Pritchett and husband, Rodney, Roseland; 9 grandchildren, Mark Villeneuve, Scott Villeneuve, Charlaine Whann, Mitzi Hogg, Brian Reid, Brent Reid, Jimmy Hendry, Susan Brown and Robby Chadwick; 19 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer O. Hendry; 2 daughters, Cora Belle Villeneuve and Evelyn H. Reid; 2 sisters, Doris Hutchinson and Mabel Ryan; 2 brothers, Curtis Lilly and James Lilly. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 10 a.m. until religious services at 2 p.m. Thursday. Services conducted by Rev. Gary Weiborg. Interment Arcola-Roseland Cemetery, Arcola.

Gorman W. Gill

(September 26, 1922 – March 11, 2008)

Died at 2:26AM on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond, LA. He was a native of Chesbrough, LA and a resident of Kentwood, LA. Age 85 years. He was a member of Spring Creek Masonic Lodge #184, was president of the Kentwood Livestock Sales for 27 years, and was a WW II veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps serving in the 423rd Bomber Squadron. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Wednesday and at Spring Creek Baptist Church from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11a.m. Thursday. Services conducted by Rev. Danny Smith & Rev. Bill Boulton. Interment Spring Creek Cemetery, Spring Creek, LA. Survived by wife, Dorothy Nason Gill, Kentwood, 2 daughters, Linda G. Betz, Baton Rouge and Ruth G. Konzelman and husband, Randy, Kentwood, 5 grandchildren, David Betz and wife, Hondie, Baton Rouge, Daniel Betz, Baton Rouge, Mark Konzelman, Kentwood, Sarah Konzelman, Kentwood and Matthew Konzelman, Kentwood, great-granddaughter, Rebecca Betz, Baton Rouge, sister, Mary Joyce Allen, Baton Rouge, numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Walter Jesse Gill and wife, Cleo Phelps Gill, mother, Dixie Singleton Gill, 3 brothers, Walter Jesse Gill, Jr., Alfred Lewis Gill, and Nolan Willie Gill, sister, Maxie G. Hutchinson

Thomas Wingate McFerrin, Sr.

(September 17, 1935 – March 9, 2008)

Thomas Wingate McFerrin died Sunday night at 9:25 p.m., at the St. Helena Hospital. Mr. McFerrin died after a long struggle with flu and pneumonia complicated by congestive heart failure. He was the oldest son of Sherman Schley McFerrin and Zera Louise Henderson McFerrin, born on September 17, 1935. He was 72 years old. Mr. McFerrin was a graduate of Greensburg High School, 1953, graduate of Army Specialty Schools, 1956, graduate of Louisiana State University Law School, Juris Doctorate, 1961. He also attended Louisiana State University for Continuing Education, Public Manager I, 1983. He was a notary public in East Baton Rouge Parish, St. Helena Parish, Tangipahoa, and Livingston Parishes. As an attorney he was admitted to all Louisiana State courts, Federal courts, 5th Circuit Court of Appeal, and the United States Supreme Court. He was a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association since June of 1961. While in high school he participated in football, basketball, and other sports. During his education at L.S.U. he did undergraduate work. He also worked on the pipelines, carpenter’s helper and other laborer jobs while in college. 1955-1958 he served in the United States Army completing basic training in infantry and artillery, Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. He received advanced training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and served a tour in Europe stationed in Germany. He was honorably discharged at Fort Hamilton, New York, 1958. 1958-1961 he was a clerk for the State Attorney General’s Office doing research for writing of opinions. 1961-1972 he was an Assistant State Attorney General and handled any assignments as directed by the Attorney General. He represented various boards and commissions of the State, including the State Board of Education, colleges and universities. He handled trials on all State levels, and Federal levels to include the United States Supreme Court. He was appointed by the Attorney General and Governor to be the general counsel for the State’s Labor Management Commission of Inquiry during 1968-1969. He worked with the State and Federal investigative bodies, including the F.B.I., State Police and grand juries. From 1972-1976 he entered into private law practice and worked for and with the Louisiana Manufacturer’s Association, Louisiana Chamber of Commerce, Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, all counterparts to the now Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and Dow Chemical Company, public and governmental affairs section. From 1976-1980 he was special counsel to the Department of Public Safety, and the Office of State Police. From 1980 – 1984 he was general counsel to the State Divisions of Administration under Governor Dave Treen. He advised and represented the Commissioner of Administration and his deputies and assistants and all sections of the Division. He supervised up to 6 assistants at one time. He oversaw the work of the divisions with primary responsibilities was expenditures and monitoring of the State’s appropriations on a fiscal year’s basis. He oversaw the bidding and awarding of contracts, constructions, and equipment. During 1984-1985 he was special counsel to the Speaker’s Office of the House of Representatives State of Louisiana. He worked on behalf of the Speaker, Governor’s Executive Counsel and Governor’s Office to assist as counsel for the 1984 World’s Fair. He represented a special committee formed by legislative act to monitor and approve operations and expenditures of non-profit corporation formed to administer fairly on a daily basis, enabling fair to complete its assigned operating dates. He also performed any other assigned directives by the Speaker of the House and the Governor’s Executive Counsel. From 1985 – 1987 Mr. McFerrin was the general counsel to the Joint Legislative Capital Outlay Committee. The committee composed of House Ways and Means Standing Committee, Chairman of Appropriations Standing Committee, four appointees of the Speaker of the House, and Speaker tee, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and finally 40 member of the House and Senate. His primary responsibilities of the committee were preparation of the State’s Capital Outlay Budget, Omnibus Bond Bill and ultimate passage of these measures, and the monitoring of the Capital Outlay Budget process. Also he served with the Interim Emergency Board and State Bond Commission. After this Mr. McFerrin retired to St. Helena Parish and established his home with his family. He is survived by wife, Nanette McDonald McFerrin, Greensburg; 2 daughters, Cheri Ann McFerrin and Kimberly McFerrin Fisher and her husband, Shawn Riley Fisher; 2 grandsons, Aaron T. Carter, Jonathon J. Carter. He was preceded in death by his son, Thomas W. McFerrin, Jr.; his mother, Zera Henderson McFerrin; father, Sherman Schley McFerrin; brother, Reginald James McFerrin. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, from 11 a.m. on Wednesday until religious services at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Services conducted by Rev. Rodney Taylor. Interment Greensburg Cemetery, Greensburg, LA

Mrs. Billie June Havard Cutrer Crawford

(September 6, 1937 – March 10, 2008)

Mrs. Billie June Havard Cutrer Crawford died March 10, 2008 at 12:05AM at JoAnn’s Golden Girls Care, LLC in Pearl River, La. She was 70, a native of Leesville and a resident of Pearl River. Vistation will held at the McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 from 6:00PM until 9:00PM, and after 8:30AM until Religious Services at 9:30AM, Wednesday, March 12, 2008. Service conducted by Rev. LaMarylis Cotten. She is survived by a Daughter, Sherry Ann Cutrer, Slidell, a Son, Terry Lewis Cutrer and his wife Pam, Gulfport, MS, 3 Sisters, Wilma Venable and her husband, Alvin, Baton Rouge, Jo Ann Achord and her husband, Sonny, Denham Springs, Hazel Allen, Greensburg, 2 Brothers, Eddie Lewis Havard, Greensburg, Edward Redmond, Baton Rouge, 3 Grandchildren, Michael Joseph Juneau, Emily Catherine Cutrer, Madeline Grace Cutrer, 1 Great-Grandson, Michael Joseph Juneau, Jr. Preceded in death by, Parents, “Steve” Havard, Marie Loftus, JD & Juanita Redmond, Husbands, Walter Louis Cutrer and David F. Crawford, a Sister, Virginia Redmond. In Lieu of Flowers the family requests donations be made to: Hospice Care of Louisiana/Mississippi 770 Gause Blvd., Slidell, La. 70458, Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Ave., Floor 17,, Chicago, IL 60601. Special Thanks to JoAnn Faciane and Nanette Williams of JoAnn’s Golden Girls Care, LLC of Pearl River, La. McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home is located by I-55 & Hwy 16W next to Coggins-Gentry Ford and behind Bond Eye Clinic. An on-line questbook is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com.