Ollie Hyland Butler

LAKE PROVIDENCE Ollie Hyland Butler died Thursday, April 29, 2004, at Hospice Atlanta in Atlanta, Ga. She was 87.

Mrs. Butler was an artist who taught at St. Patrick’s and Briarfield. She designed and painted the backdrops for the Miss Louisiana Beauty Pageant when it was held in Lake Providence.

She painted the Christmas Nativity scene and drew the Stations of the Cross that were carved by Larry Brock for St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. She painted the panther that hung above the Lake Providence High School scoreboard at the football stadium as well as the panther in the dressing room. And she painted a lake scene for the Byerley House.

She and her late husband, Joseph Clarence Butler Sr., also had a tax practice.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Helen Olivia “Tinka” Butler, and her parents, John Julius and Hattie Olivia Nelson.

She is survived by one son, Joseph Clarence Butler Jr. of Collierville, Tenn.; three daughters, Selma Sappenfield of Lilburn, Ga., Ginga Hathaway of Rogers, Ark., and Mary Hess of Hammond, La.; two brothers, Brown Nelson of Lake Providence and Hyland Nelson of Monroe; three sisters, Helen M. Nelson and Myrtle Toomer, both of Lake Providence; and Grace VanDenburgh of Glenmont, N.Y.; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with the Rev. Zacharias Prakuzhy officiating. Burial will follow at Lake Providence City Cemetery.

Rosary services will be held at 7 p.m. today.

Pallbearers will be George F. Butler, Bill Burton, Richard Nelson, David Nelson, Leo Nelson, Jim Nelson, Don Nelson, Tommy Nelson, Hyland Knecht and Ronza O’Steen.

Honorary pallbearers will be John Nelson, Ronnie Knecht, Bill Knecht, Michael Knecht and John VanDenburgh.

Van Thomas Heard Sr.

LAKE PROVIDENCE Van Thomas Heard Sr. died Friday, April 30, 2004, at the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Veterans Administration Medical Center in Jackson. He was 71.

Mr. Heard was preceded in death by his parents, Hester Garland and Jennie Ethel Heard; one brother, Garland Heard Jr.; and one sister, Joyce Eloise VanLandingham.

He is survived by his wife, Belle Heard; two sons, Van Thomas “Tommy” Heard of Lake Providence and Richard Andrew Heard of Midlothian, Texas; two stepsons, Terry Sheppard of Oak Grove and Richard Sheppard of Farmerville, La.; two stepdaughters, Hope Mills and Sandra Gail Lancon, both of Lake Providence; one sister, Ann Pfost of Tampa, Fla.; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and nine stepgrandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Cox Chapel-Lake Providence with the Rev. Don Boyett officiating. Burial will follow at Providence Memorial Cemetery.

Jamie R. Rickles Jr.

PHILADELPHIA Jamie R. Rickles Jr. died Saturday, May 1, 2004, at his home. He was 81.

Mr. Rickles was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a retired paper-company employee.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret “Tootsie” Rickles; four sons, Larry Rickles and Richard Kevin Rickles, both of Philadelphia, and Charles Lynn Rickles and Gary Rickles, both of Vicksburg; one daughter, Kathy J. Jennington of Union; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. today at McClain-Hays Chapel with the Revs. Wayne Hill and Daniel McFall. Burial will follow at Cedarlawn Cemetery.

Mickey Dewayne Roberson

TALLULAH Mickey DeWayne Roberson died Saturday, May 1, 2004, after an automobile accident. He was 38.

Mr. Roberson was born in Monroe and was a lifelong resident of Louisiana. He was a construction foreman for Yates & Son Construction of Jackson.

He was a member of Spencer Baptist Church.

He is survived by two daughters, Alicia Roberson and Monica Roberson of Tallulah; his mother, Melba Roberson of Farmerville, La.; one brother, Donny Roberson of Arcadia; one sister, Donna R. Lee of Tallulah; his ex-wife, Mary Bolton of Tallulah; and numerous neices and nephews.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home with the Rev. Cletus Moak officiating. Burial will follow at Liberty Cemetery in Linville, La.

Visitation will be at the funeral home from 5 until 8 tonight.

Pallbearers will be C.W. Keene, Kenny Ainsworth, Mike Wicker, Mickey Cukor, John Roberson and Neofito Martinez.

Honorary pallbearers will be Charlie Bolton and Terry Bolton.