VOL 5 No. 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Vol. V No. 1

March 2015

Editorial

Bulletin Board

St. Clair

Sheriff’s Report

Vignettes of Current Events

Looking to the Future

EDITORIAL

Don C. Marler

Due to circumstances beyond my control we have missed several issues of The Chronicles in 2014.  We start again and this new start begins with an invitation to all to submit news, stories, comments, suggestions and most of all historical information for publication consideration in the Chronicles.

Through the Rapides Parish Library at Hineston, Mr. Elmo Long has sparked interest in the origins of the St. Clair community. Research on the ancient name of St. Clair is the easy part while information on our St. Clair community, located between Otis and Gardner, is difficult. Therefore, information on this community is welcomed. There are still folks in the area that attended the school before it was closed and moved to Oak Hill.

If you are interested in a St. Clair reunion please contact:

Don C. Marler

4209 Aspen Ct.

Pineville, La. 71360

318 640 0110

doncmarler@gmail.com

or

Carolyn Dyess Bales

318 792 8426

In this issue we have begun a report from Rapides Parish Sheriff, Wm. Earl Hilton, on activities and issues in Hineston and surrounding communities. The Sheriff is close to his Hineston roots and is happy to cooperate with us by sharing updated information.

Note: Please note that the Hineston Chronicles are online only and are free. Just send name and email address to me — doncmarler@gmail.com

Bulletin Board

Jessie Boyd, Jr. 90, passed away on 05/15/14.  He was the son of Jessie Boyd who served in WWI and as the Police Juryman for Ward 5 in Rapides Parish. Jessie Jr. served in WWII and was a successful businessman in Oakdale, La. for most of his life.

James Howard Wells, 74, passed away on April 16, 2014. Interment was a Fellowship Cemetery at Hineston.

Dalton Ray Stokes, 73, of Calcasieu passed away on 03/14/14.  He was interred at the New Hope Cemetery.

Willie LaVell Merritt, 85, passed away on Wednesday February 26, 2014. He is interred at the Mt. Zion Cemetery in Belmont, La. He was a veteran of the Korean War.

Glenn Long, , 82, passed away on April 3, 2014. He was interred at Mineola, Texas.

Jimmy Beeson Downs, 95, passed away on March 16, 2014.

Jimmy Dewayne Long, 62, passed away on March 28, 2014. He was preceded in death his father, Woodrow Long. He is interred in Effie, La.

Derek James Stanley, 18, passed away in Elmer, La. on March 12, 2014.

Alton Randolph “Randy” Johnson, 63, of Anacoco passed away June, 2014. He is interred at McMahon Cemetery at Evans, La.

Cecil Raiford Walker, 91, passed away on 09/13/2014. He is interred at the Beech Grove Cemetery in Anacoco.

Mitzie Rougeou Perry, 78, passed away on 04/30/14. She was interred at the Rougeou Family Cemetery.

Lillian Burns Bass , 93, passed away on 11/17/14She is interred at New Hope Cemetery at Calcasieu.

John Martin “Manzy” Shernin, Jr. passed away on 11/26/14. He is interred at the New Hope Cemetery at Calcasieu.

Dewey Gene Dousay, 72, passed away and was interred at New Hope Cemetery at Calcasieu on 11/25/14. He taught school at Oak Hill as did his wife Joan Cudd and mother-in-law Hattie Cudd.

Jessie Mae Miller Earp, 89, passed away on June 16, 2013. She lived in Aurora, Co., and is interred at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

Shirley Mae Dyess, 82, passed away on 10/20/14. She was interred at the Star Cemetery in Star, MS.

Gene E. Powell , 85, passed away on 10/19/14. He was interred at Fellowship Cemetery at Hineston.

Joshua “Josh” Paul Sonnier, 33, passed away on 10/20/14. He was interred at the New Hope Cemetery at Calcasieu.

James E. Meylain passed away on 09/22/14. He was a resident of Hineston.

Leon Swain, 86, passed away on 12/12/14. He was interred at Holy springs Cemetery at Fullerton, La.

Rufus Loyd Bonnette 1, 61, passed away on 06/03/14. He was interred at the Fellowship Church Cemetery at Hineston.

Calvin Denny Gray, 50, passed away on December 5, 2014. He is interred at the New Hope Cemetery at Calcasieu.

Eula Mae Walters, 99, of Glenmora passed away on 12/08/14. She is interred at Pine Ridge Cemetery.

Tommy Glenn Johnson, 77, passed away on December 26, 2014. He was interred at Dewill Cemetery, Otis, La.

Barbara Spier “Boo” Harrell, 83, passed away on December 21, 2014.

Barbara Long Nichols, 73, passed away on December 22, 2014. Barbara was the wife of Earl Nichols. She was interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Zackie Faye Beassie Ward 75, of Elmer passed away on January 5, 2015. She was interred at Camp Eight Pentecostal Church Cemetery of Otis, La.

Carl W. Banks, passed away and was interred on 1/3/ 15 at Fellowship Cemetery at Hineston.

William Thomas “Ted” Holt, Sr. 84, passed away on 11/06/13 and was interred at the Holt Cemetery, Sieper, La.

Melvin E. Hilton 76, passed away on 11/05/2013. He was interred at Fellowship Cemetery, Hineston, La.

Ronald Sweat, 79, passed away on January 11, 2015. He was the husband of Ethel Swain. He is interred at Rosepine Cemetery.

Muriel Dalton Lott, 91, passed away on January 11, 2015. She was the wife of Ellis T. Lott who was for many years the caretaker of the Fellowship Cemetery of Hineston , where both are interred.

Willie Vernice Haymon  Kay, 88, passed away on January 12, 2015.

Martha Janie Robinson Townley, 86, passed away on January 13, 2015. She was interred at Lone Star Cemetery.

Louvenia D. Doyle, 82, passed away on January 14, 2015 and was interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Jesse “Pete” Terrell,  88, passed away on January 18, 2015. He was a native of Otis, La. He was interred at Greenwood Memorial Park in Pineville.

Sherman David Squyres, 63, passed away on January 19, 2015. Interment was at  Flactor Baptist Cemetery.

Nicole Terrell “Nicky” Brown, 71, passed away on January 15, 2015.  She was interred at Greenwood Memorial Park.

George Lester Davis, 69, passed away on January 14, 2015. Internment was at Elisha Memorial Cemetery.

Patricia Ann Doyle, 58, passed away and was interred at Occupy #1 Cemetery. We have no more information.

Mamie D. Odom, 91, a resident of Plainview passed away and was interred at Oak Hill Cemetery.

Elmer Marie Miller Mills, 68, passed away on January 17, 2015 and was interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Eva Coleman Terrell Riggs, 89, passed away on July 2, 2002. She is interred at Camp Eight Pentecostal Church Cemetery.

John David Sorrells, 64, passed away 2/03/15. He lived at Cotile Lake.

Jody Michael Floyd, 41, passed away July 5, 2013. He was the son of Verna Johnson Floyd of Hineston.

Mary Rose Beatty Holt, 91, (wife of now deceased Judge Jack Holt) passed away on 2/07/15 and was interred at Greenwood Memorial Park.

Ruby Lee Welch, 86, passed away on 2/7/15. She is interred at Peniel Baptist Church Cemetery.

Charles D. Weatherford , 75, passed away on February 6, 2015.

Margaret Ruth “Peggy” Broadnax, 87, passed away on February 3/15. She was interred at Fellowship Cemetery –Hineston.

Jerry Donald Rivers, 71, passed away on February 8, 2015. He was a resident of Elmer, La. He was interred at St. Clair Cemetery.

James “Jimbo” McGlothlin, 63, of Cotille Lake passed away on February 7, 2015.

Johnny “Sonny” Townley, 83, passed away on February 10, 2015.  He is interred at Cryer Cemetery, Oakdale.

Buford Wesley “DOC” Woodham, 75, passed away on February 11, 2015. He is interred at Mt. Moriah Cemetery at La Camp, La.

Andrew Steven Dunn, 58, passed away on February 11, 2015. He was interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Birdie Elaine McDowell Harris, 83, passed away August 31, 2010 and was interred at Camp Eight Pentecostal Church Cemetery.

Effie Sermons,  83, passed away on March 11, 2011 and was interred at the Beechwood Cemetery.

Joyce L. Kroics, 75, passed away on July 4, 2011 and was interred at Lone Star Cemetery.

Mary Lee Farmer Ducote, 64, passed away on April 2, 2012 and was interred at Lone Star Baptist Church Cemetery.

William Kevin McDonald, 77, passed away July 23, 2012 and was interred at Fellowship Cemetery.

Burley Andrew Evans, 91, passed away on April 1, 2013 and was interred at Fellowship Cemetery.

Elva Jean Schysm , 62 passed away on May 9, 2013 and was interred at Mt. Moriah Baptist Cemetery.

Cherry Ann Dauzart Smith, 60, passed away on July 31, 2013 and was interred at Smith Cemetery at Hineston.

David Allen Patterson, 52, passed away on October 1, 2014.

Roma Smales Lewis, 70, passed away on December 14, 2012.

Margaret (Maggie) Stokes Glenn Dove, 59, passed away on July 13, 2013.

Sonja Marie Terrell, 74, passed away on August 12, 2014 and was interred at Camp Eight Pentecostal Church Cemetery.

Allie Maye Evans, 83, passed away on January 5, 2012 and she was interred at Fellowship Cemetery.

Charles Larry “Taterbug” Robinson, 63, passed away on September 30, 2012. He was interred at Lone Star Cemetery.

Don Clayton Wright, 74, passed away on February 11, 2015. He was interred at Peniel Cemetery.

Alicea C. Brown, 70, passed away on February 9, 2015. She was a resident of Elmer, La. She was interred  at  Forest Lawn cemetery.

Alton Gwynn (Bill) Holt, 83, passed away on February 15, 2015. He was interred at Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery.

Troy Wayne (TJ) Russell, Jr., 26, passed away on February 14, 2015. He was interred at the Butter Cemetery in Forest Hill.

Daniel Ray Doyle, 64, passed away on February 16, 2015. He was interred at Union Hill Cemetery.

Leah Diane Martin, 50, passed away on February 17, 2015. She was interred at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.

Ronald D. Smith , 43,  passed away on February 9, 2015.

Samuel Miles ,68, passed away on February 12, 2015.    He was interred at the Polk Robinson Cemetery.

Christopher Miles, 56, passed away on March 4, 2015.

Irene Hinton Nichols , 89, passed away on February 18, 2015. She resided at Boyce.

Mittie Elsie Melder Funderburk May, 96, passed away on January 25, 2013. She was interred at the Pine Ridge Cemetery.

She taught school at St. Clair, Oak Hill and Lecompte Schools.

Virginia Gibson Ranton, No further information available.

Carrol Edens, 66, of Calcasieu passed away on February, 22. 2015.  She was interred at Pine Ridge Cemetery.

Huey David Morrison, 77, passed away on February, 23, 2015. He was a resident of Hineston.

Thomas J. Bell, 85, passed away on February 22, 2015 at his home on Cotlie Lake. He was interred at St. Clair Cemetery.

Thermon E. McKee, 81, passed away on February 16, 2015. He was interred at the Walnut Hill Cemetery.

Goldie M. Johnson , 90, passed away on February, 28, She was interred at Union Hill Cemetery.

Bertha Juneau Cain, 59, passed away on February 25, 2015.

Myrtle Margaret Pickering, 88, passed away on February 28, 2015. She was interred at Butters Cemetery.

Devone Davis, 58, passed away on February 28, 2015.

Ramsey Katherine Marler, daughter of Robert and Kristin Marler, passed away on March 1, 2015. She was 16 days old.

Clara Ellen Duffell Merchant, 73, passed away on March 3, 2015. She was interred at Mt. Moriah Cemetery.

Alfred “Sammy” Bordelon, 52, of Woodworth, passed away on March 6, 2015 and was interred at the Paul Cemetery at Lecompte, La.

St. Clair Community: Origins of the Name

The St. Clair name goes back a long way. The family was prominent during the time of the Knights Templar, Priory of Sion, the Holy Grail, etc. It was believed that the St. Clairs received the treasure of the Knights Templar when they were destroyed in 1307. They populated Germany, France and Scotland. The mystic Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland, that is believed to hold much old knowledge and perhaps treasures, was built by them.

In the 1700s and early 1800s some of them migrated to Louisiana. The old Sinclair Oil Company involved this family as the name implies.

There is a St. Clair, La. in Plaquemine parish and a lake in New York is named St. Clair.  There is a St. Clair street in Natchitoches, and there are many more place-names around the country. Many of these may be the result of Masonic activity; Masons were connected to The Knights Templar and the Chapel; and they were, of course, actively involved in settling this country.

Treasure hunters have suspected that some of the family’s treasure is buried in the U. S. I know one such person who believed that our St. Clair may have some of their hidden treasure.

I can find no documentation of why the area was named as it was ; or who may have named it. Blanche Lee Lewis Morrison and her son, David, attend the church there. They have no knowledge of how and for whom it was named. David has been searching also since I approached him about it.

Historic Hineston has a section on the school. There are many books on the St. Clair name. If you wish to read more you might like to start with Rosslyn: Guardian of the Secrets of the Holy Grail, by Tim Wallace-Murphy and Marilyn Hopkins.

I will continue searching as it is a most interesting question.

There is now talk of a reunion of students of the old St. Clair school. If and when this occurs I plan to attend.

Mr. Elmo Long started this discussion by asking how St. Clair originated. It is exactly the kind of thing that makes our communities interesting. Let research it before it is too late.

Don

RAPIDES SHERIFF’S REPORT

Michael Hogatt, 2900 La. Hwy 121, Otis, La. was arrested by the Sheriff’s Department and charged with 5 counts of burglary and 1 count of auto theft.

Dayton Paul Whatley, 34 C. Walter Rd. Forest Hill, La., was arrested and charged with 3 counts of simple burglary and 1 count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Corey Cortez Rosenthal, Cedric Roshone Sanders  of Boyce were arrested for Armed Robbery and Tellys Tyrone Rosenthal was arrested and charged with accessory after the fact.

The persons who robbed the bank in Hineston are still in Rapides Parish Detention and are soon expected to go trial.

Vignettes of Current Events

Old Friends Unite:

The Town Talk reported on 2/19/2015 that Mr. E. A. Wood of Gardner, received an unexpected visitor from Mississippi a few days ago. Marcell “Charlie” Tynes, an old comrade from the Korean War, after years of searching for E.A., drove over from Mississippi to see him. It seems that 65 years ago E.A. had loaned his friend $35.00. That was one half month of E.A.’s paycheck at that time.

E.A. had forgotten the debt, but Charlie had not; repayment was on his bucket list. They had a good time revisiting the old battle stories.

Ft. Polk Cemeteries

There are many cemeteries in the Ft. Polk range and the Fort is diligent about caring for them. Currently the emphasis is on identifying and placing makers on unmarked graves. If you have knowledge of such unmarked graves please contact: Skip Cryer at Skip70634@aol.com.

LOOKING FORWARD

In the next issue look forward to some interesting items about Oak Hill school taken from Dr. Clarence Golemon’s thesis.

Please give some thought to your own historical information about our communities: send them for inclusion in these chronicles.

Many of our descendants live away from the local communities. Please send information when one of them passes or has a major achievement.

Any announcements you wish to make are welcomed.