TALLULAH — Funeral services for Mrs. Leona “Ted” Dillard, age 82, of Tallulah, will be at 2 p.m. Friday, June 26, 2009, at First Baptist Church in Tallulah with the Rev. John W. Rushing officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Crothers-Glenwood Funeral Home of Tallulah.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 tonight at the funeral home.

Mrs. Dillard was born in Clinton, La., and had lived in Tallulah for 60 years. She was one of the first women to be hired by the Illinois Central Railroad as an agent-telegraph operator during World War II. She was also a member of First Baptist Church of Tallulah.

Mrs. Dillard was assistant city clerk and later worked for the Madison Parish Sheriff’s Office for 25 years.

Survivors include two daughters, Charlene D. Nichols of Vinton, La., and Arlene D. Mathis of Baton Rouge; one brother, Carl Feierabend of Bogalusa, La.; five grandchildren, Charlyce Todd, Jayna Mathis, Samantha Mathis, Emily Stewart and Holly Beth Nichols; and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, J.C. Dillard; two sisters, Alice Stewart and Dorothy Berry; and one great-grandson, Dylan Todd.

Pallbearers will be John Allen Johnston, Lloyd Erwin, John Christian, Robert Stewart, Jody Edleston, Jerry Wilson and Byron Denham.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. T.A. Neumann, Dr. Murray Whitaker, Dr. Tom Sligh, R.R. Mitchell, Earl Johnson and Bilbo Wilson.