Melba Francine Jenkins
(November 30, 1943 – December 28, 2009)

Melba Francine Jenkins was born November 30, 1943 and passed away at 8:30 a.m., Monday, December 28, 2009 at her daughter’s residence in Kentwood surrounded by her family after a long battle of Lou Gehrig’s Disease. She was 66, a native and resident of Amite and she was a member of the First Baptist Church of Amite.

Francine is survived by her daughter, Brenda Addison Stevens and husband Terry, Kentwood; 2 sons, Mark Wayne Addison and Olen Wilkes Addison both of Amite; sister, Shirley Jenkins Primes, Amite; brother, George Perry Jenkins and wife Carolyn, Amite; 4 grandchildren, Shawnee, Joshua, Daniel and Alyssa Addison; 5 great-grandchildren, Caylee, Cameron, Cade and Cassi Addison and Carson Smith; 2 future great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by parents, George M. and Beatrice Hale Jenkins; brother, Gerald M. Jenkins;

Visitation will be at First Baptist Church of Amite on Thursday, December 31, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. until Religious Services at 12:00 Noon with Rev. Mike Foster and Rev. Tommy Hicks officiating. Interment in the Kedron Cemetery, Amite, LA.

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

An on-line Guestbook and to view a Video Tribute is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com

Dennis Walker passed on word that Francine Jenkins Addison passed away.  Please be in prayer for the Addison and Jenkins families.

John Henry McGehee, Jr.
(October 10, 1932 – December 26, 2009)

John Henry “Buggy” McGehee, Jr.

The town of Kentwood will be saddened by the death of John Henry “Buggy” McGehee, Jr. He was a lifetime resident of Kentwood for his 77 years, except for the short time he spent with his sister in Orange, Texas following the death of his father. He is survived by his two sisters and one brother-in-law, Carolyn McGehee McKinney, and A. W. & Sandy McGehee Reed. He is also survived by three nephews and two nieces, and their spouses: Ken & Kasey Roberts, Brent & Tara Reed, and Kyle & Amy McKinney, Cyndi Reed & Eddie Miller, and Mimi McKinney Rester. He is also survived by eight great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father and step-mother, John Henry & Norma Toche McGehee, Sr., and by his mother, Vivian Porter Miller, as well as one nephew, Russell Roberts. He was also preceded in death by numerous McGehee Toche, and Porter aunts and uncles. A member of First Baptist Church, he was well known about town; if ever told a birthday, he never forgot it. In his younger days, he was often seen working in the Kentwood Pool Hall. He quite often frequented many local businesses and ran errands for them. He was a resident of Kentwood Manor Nursing Home for 21 years. He will be missed by family and friends. Visitation from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, December 28th, 2009 at McKneely Funeral Home, Kentwood, LA. Funeral service followed immediately at 2 p.m. Monday. Interment at Woodland Cemetery, Kentwood, LA, immediately following graveside rites. Pallbearers will be Ken Roberts, Brent Reed, Eddie Miller, Kyle McKinney, George Poole, Phil Connely, Preston Roberts, and Kohl Rester.

Virginia Levatino Rispone
(July 15, 1922 – December 26, 2009)

Died at 6:19 a.m. on Saturday, December 26, 2009 at Belle Maison Nursing Home in Hammond. She was a resident of Amite. Age 87 years. She was a member of St. Helena Catholic Church in Amite. She is survived by her 2 daughters, Frances Rispone Jones and husband, Johnny Jones, Amite and Theresa Rispone Forrest and husband, Ricky Forrest; 4 grandchildren, Jeff Jones and wife, Tammy Jones, Amite, Mark Jones, Amite, Kim Harper Parent and husband, David Parent, Hammond, and Gwen Harper Pedelahore and husband, Kenny Pedelahore, Livingston; 8 great-grandchildren, J.J. Jones, Christine and Mikki Jones, Kaden, Keegan and Kamden Pedelahore and Amanda and Rebecca Parent; 4 step-grandchildren, Casy, Jamie, Blake and Ryan Forrest; numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Rispone; parents, Tony and Theresa Levatino; 2 brothers, John and Sam Levatino; sister, Josephine Taylor; 2 nephews, James and Tommy Taylor. Visitation at St. Helena Catholic Church, Amite, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 12 Noon Monday. Services conducted by Fr. Joe Camilleri . Interment Mulberry Street Cemetery, Amite. Pallbearers will be Tony and Tommy Taylor, Samuel, Joseph and Jerry Rispone and Jack Liuzza.

Arthur Ronald “Ronnie” Hayden
(February 8, 1947 – December 26, 2009)

Arthur Ronald “Ronnie” Hayden was born February 8, 1947 and passed away at 12:14 p.m. on Saturday, December 26, 2009 at his residence. Ronnie was 62 a native and resident of Amite.

Ronnie is survived by his wife, Claudette Schiro Hayden, Amite; a son, Michael Hayden and wife Leigh, Kentwood; a daughter, Jacqueline Hayden Joiner and husband Travis, Amite. 2 sisters, Rose Hayden Fagan, Hammond and Nita Hayden Lea and husband Frank, Amite. 5 grandchildren, Taylor Joiner, Brent Joiner, Kayla Hayden, Kyle Hayden and Nicolas Hayden. 3 step-grandchildren, Michael Briggs, Stephen Briggs and Ashleigh Briggs.

Preceded in death by parents, Arthur and Orvil Stafford Hayden; 3 brothers, Billy N., Carl and Steve Hayden.

Visitation will be at McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, on Monday, December 28, 2009 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. until Religious Services at 10:00 a.m. in the Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. John Fulda officiating. Interment in the Arcola-Roseland Cemetery, Roseland, LA.

Ronnie was a member of Amte Church of Christ.

An on-line Guestbook is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is located at I-55N & Hwy 16W next to Bill Hood Chevrolet and Mr. Tom’s Car Wash

Kristopher Nathan Forrest
(April 6, 1974 – December 24, 2009)

Kristopher Nathan Forrest, a lifelong resident of Ponchatoula, died from an accidental injury in his home on December 24, 2009. Kris was born April 6, 1974, and was 35 years old. Kris’ wife, Ashley Alford Forrest, is devastated at his loss. They had celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary on June 20, 2009. Kris and Ashley have one child, Mason Bedford Forrest, who is 6 years old. Kris was a wonderful, faithful, considerate, loving and supportive husband and father. Kris was honest, hardworking, generous, kind, intelligent and had a wonderful sense of humor. He was respected by anyone who knew him and loved by his family and friends. Kris was enthusiastically pursuing ASE certification at the time of his death. Kris’ death will leave a void that can never be filled. Kris is also survived by his grief-stricken family members, parents, Michael and Sheila Forrest, brother, Kyle, and sister, Ashley, and paternal grandmother, Mrs. Lucille Forrest, all of Ponchatoula, and maternal grandmother, Mrs. Gerri Bordelon, Kenner, and his mother-in-law, Kathy Conn Alford, Amite. Kris was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Bernard A. Bordelon, Sr., and Julius D. Forrest, maternal uncle, Bernard A. Bordelon, Jr., and his grandmother by marriage, Ellen L. Conn, and Aunt by marriage, Vicky Conn Cavaretta, of Amite.