Obituaries – May 1, 2002
Published 12:00 am Friday, May 3, 2002
DAVIS
NEW SARPY – Gustavia Davis, 71, a native of Killona and resident of LaPlace for six years, died April 22. She was the sister of Anastine Payne, Eula Alexander, James Guss and Louise, Ella, Raymond and Huey Narcisse.
Services were April 29 at St. Matthew Baptist Church, New Sarpy, with interment at New Sarpy Cemetery.
DONALDSON
NORCO – Ruby Marie Donaldson, 75, a native of Good Hope and resident of Norco, died April 23. She was the daughter of the late Arthur and Elizabeth Marchand Donaldson and sister of Jeri Landry, Doris Menezes and Norma, Joyce and Arthur Donaldson Jr.
She was a member of Ladies Altar Society and Catholic Daughters of America, a lector, an Eucharistic minister and choir member at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Norco.
Services were April 26 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Norco, with interment at St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery, Destrehan.
ESTER
LAPLACE – Audrey M. Johnson Ester, 67, a native and resident of LaPlace, died April 24. She was the wife of the late Almo “Billy” Taylor, by first marriage, and the late Earl Christ Ester, by second marriage, and mother of Robin Martin Bailey.
She was the daughter of Helen Millet and the late James Johnson, stepdaughter of Joseph Millet and sister of Rosemary Dennis, Dolores Martin, Clarence Variste and Elton Millet.
She is also survived by two grandchildren.
Services were April 29 at Providence Baptist Church No. 1, LaPlace, with interment at the church cemetery.
HENLEY
RUSTON – Patricia Ann Bell Henley, 58, a native of Cotton Valley, former resident of Dubach and resident of Luling for the past 37 years, died April 25. She was the wife of Walter W. “Sonny” Henley and mother of Larry Henley.
She was the daughter of Eva Jane King Bell and the late W.A. Bell and sister of Billie Jane Fowler and the late James Bell.
She is also survived by two grandchildren.
She attended Louisiana Tech University and taught third grade at Mimosa Park Elementary School in Luling for 30 years.
Services were April 28 in the chapel of Kilpatrick Funeral Home, Ruston, with interment at Pines Memorial Cemetery, Ruston.
JEANSONNE
MARRERO – Evans L. Jeansonne Sr., 66, a native of Echo and resident of Des Allemands for the past 11 years, died April 27. He was the husband of Mary Jane Sampey Jeansonne and father of Evans Jr. and Michael Jeansonne Sr.
He was the son of the late Cyrile and Agnes Jeansonne and brother of Allie Mae Chauvin and the late Bernice Babin.
He is also survived by six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services were April 30 in the chapel of Mothe Funeral Home, Marrero, with interment at Garden of Memories Cemetery.
MADERE
LAPLACE – Joseph Lee Madere, 80, a native of LaPlace and resident of Seattle, Wash., for 36 years, died April 21. He was the son of the late Similien and Lena Bethancourt Madere and brother of James and the late Sam and Clay Madere.
He was retired from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Services were April 25 in the chapel of Millet-Guidry Funeral Home, LaPlace, with interment at St. John Memorial Gardens, LaPlace.
ROME
MARRERO – Floyd Rome Sr., 59, a native of New Orleans and resident of Des Allemands for 20 years, died April 28. He was the husband of Mary Oubre Rome and father of Tabitha Duck, Crystel Boudreaux and Floyd Jr. and Emile “Manny” Rome.
He was the brother of Eva Boudreaux, Barbara Mitchell, Bertha Clavier and Huey and Roy Rome.
He is also survived by nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He was a retired fisherman.
Services were April 30 in the chapel of Mothe Funeral Home, Marrero, with private interment.
SMITH
NEW ORLEANS – Helen Saul Smith, 86, a native of Garyville and resident of New Orleans for the past 77 years, died April 17. She was the wife of the late Mack Smith and mother of Hillery Smith Sr.
She was the daughter of the late Ezekel Saul and Aurelia Bailey Saul Mitchell.
She is also survived by four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Services were April 27 at Crescent Straight Life Missionary Baptist Church, New Orleans, with interment at Zion Travelers Cemetery, Lions.
WEBER
MARRERO – Brian Gerard Weber, 46, a native of Raceland and resident of Des Allemands for the past six years, died April 26. He was the companion of Brenda Duncan, former husband of Joyce Adams Champagne and father of Brandy, Brooks, Ashley and Scott Weber.
He was the son of the late Victor and Louella Falgout Weber, stepson of Earline Weber, brother of Vickie Rivero, Janell Sevin and Robert Weber and stepbrother of Randy, Michael, Gerald, Oage “Tookie” and Carl Guidroz.
He is also survived by one grandchild.
He was a deckhand for Hutco Inc.
Services are today at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home, Marrero, with interment at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Cemetery, Westwego. Visitation starts at 8:30 a.m.