The northeast Louisiana community is grieving the loss of four well-known residents who passed away recently, leaving behind legacies of long lives well-lived in service to their communities.
Ms. Johnnie Jefferson-Butler passed away on October 31, 2024, at the age of 88. Her funeral service will be held Sunday, November 10, at 2:00 PM at Saint Joe Baptist Church, located at 1446 Louisiana Highway 15 in Rhymes. McFarland Funeral Home will be handling the services.
Three other beloved community members were laid to rest last week.
Ms. Arleda Miles, 91, of Monroe, was remembered in services held Saturday, November 2, 2024, at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in West Monroe, with interment following at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Ms. Miles was the eldest of the four community members who passed away.
Services for Ms. Dorothy McNeal, 72, also of Monroe, were conducted Saturday, November 2, 2024, at Olive Branch Baptist Church in West Monroe, with burial following at Hasley Cemetery. At 72, Ms. McNeal was the youngest of the four individuals.
Mr. Sam Lollie, 84, of Monroe, was honored with services on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at Progressive Baptist Church in Monroe, with final rest at Red Hill Cemetery in Bastrop.
Smith Funeral Home handled arrangements for Miles, McNeal, and Lollie, demonstrating their continued service to the local community during times of loss.
The passing of these four individuals within such a short time span has deeply affected the local community, particularly within the area’s Baptist churches where they were active members. Their deaths represent the loss of more than 330 combined years of community presence and service in Northeast Louisiana.
