FERRIDAY, La. — Rachel Maxine Pickens died Sunday, March 8, 2009, at Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria, La. She was 79.

Mrs. Pickens was a homemaker and member of First Baptist Church of Ferriday, La.

She was preceded in death by her father, Troy Travis Pannell; her mother, Katie Lilie Hurt Pannell; one daughter, Melba Jean Buckles; one brother, Duane Pannell; and two sisters, Jamie Cupit and Deltrice Moore.

Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Ray Pickens of Ferriday; two daughters, Sue Hays of Natchez and Carol Zaricor of Hewitt, Texas; and one sister, Jean Cole of Redwood.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church of Ferriday with the Rev. Wayne Gray and Roger Johnson officiating. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. at Wintergreen Cemetery in Port Gibson. Visitation will be from 5 until 8 tonight at Young’s Funeral Home in Ferriday and Tuesday at the church from 9 a.m. until the service.

Online condolences may be made at www.youngsfh.com