Obituary of Maxine Neel French

Funeral services for Mrs. Maxine Neel French, 90, of Bonita, LA, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, July 16, 2006 at the Chapel of Golden Funeral Home with Rev. Bobby Porter officiating. Interment will follow in Christ Church Cemetery, Mrs. French was born in Haynesville, Louisiana, September 12, 1915 and moved with her parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Neel to Athens, LA where they resided until 1930, when they moved to Bonita where her father was Plantation Manager on the Shuck Place. She married John Peale French and he preceded her in 1976. When younger, Maxine was active in community projects, serving with the Red Cross and as local Treasurer of the Salvation Army during World War II. She was later actively involved in the Bonita United Methodist Church, serving as Church Treasurer for 30 years, Church Pianist and Organist, Treasurer of the Bonita UMC, Women's Missionary Society and as Liaison for the Wesleyan Service Guild. She held an office in almost every capacity in her her church and attended Annual Conference as Official Delegate for many years. Maxine worked at Seligman's Department Store as her last place of employement, but previously managed R. Fred Petty's Store in Jones, LA until the store was sold. At two different times she worked as payroll clerk at the Calvert Distilling Company. She also served as the Bonita Correspondent for the Bastrop Daily Enterprise for a number of years. Mrs. French is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Alice Peale French McKoin of Bonita, LA; three granddaughters, Tia McKoin of Shreveport, LA, Janna Jenkins of Cincinnati, OH, Sommar Jones of Bastrop, LA; three great grandchildren, Joel Edward Talley, Jamie Allyson Jenkins, Noah McKoin Jones; a twin sister, Mrs. Monteen Copeland of Mer Rouge, LA; two nephews, Claude Junior Copeland, Leon Copeland and two nieces, Mrs. Jan Parks and Mrs. Carolyn Laura. She is preceded in death by two brothers, George Nixie Neel and Wilson S. "Bill" Neel; niece, Mrs. Claudia Reeves Salvant and granddaughter, Mrs. Linda McKoin Talley. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Saturday, July 15, 2006 at Golden Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Shreveport/Bossier Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, PO Box 4269, Shreveport, LA 71134.