John Andrew Womack

A retired mayor of Zachary, John went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, July 7, 2010, at 6:53 a.m. He died at The Carpenter House of St. Joseph Hospice in Baton Rouge after a short and intense battle with esophageal cancer. He was 67. Visitation at First Baptist Church, Zachary, Friday, July 9, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visitation resumes at the church Saturday, July 10, from 9 a.m. until service at 11 a.m., presided over by Jan Holloway, David Womack, Dr. Wayne Barnes and Dr. Reggie Bridges. He will be laid to rest at Azalea Rest Cemetery, Zachary. Pallbearers will be Chris Davezac, Tom Ed McHugh, David Kling, Darrell Walton, Lionel Lawson, Frank Parker, Andrew Womack and Clint Womack. Honorary pallbearers are Louis Sparkman, Doyle Reddit and Cecil Brown. Preceded in death by his wife, Terry Ann Brown Womack; parents, John Lee and Serena Womack; sister, Elaine Dawson; and brother-in-law, Jimmy Breeden. Survived by his in-laws, Terry B. and Thelma Mae Brown; sons, Tommy Womack and wife Diane, and Randal Womack; daughter, Johnna Roose and husband Nathan; brother, David and wife Janet; and sisters, Betty Breeden, and Virginia Lemley and husband Jim; brother-in-law, Nelson Dawson; and 11 grandchildren. After graduating from Istrouma High School, Class of 1961, he and Terry Ann started their married life together the next year in Lake Charles, where he graduated from McNeese State University with a degree in mathematics. He began teaching and coaching at Zachary High School shortly thereafter. He then served in the Zachary Police Department for 11 years and was the assistant chief of police for six of those years. A fervent believer in public service, he resigned his position with the Zachary Police Department, successfully campaigned for mayor in a challenging election in 1980, a position he diligently served in for 22 years. During his lifetime, he served on committees, too numerous to mention to the betterment of his community. Highlights of his career in public service include the establishment of the Zachary community school system, Zachary Youth Park and Zachary Historic Village. In his personal life, he was a strong Christian man, a loving brother, husband, father and grandfather, an avid fisherman and outdoorsman, a farmer and cattleman. He also enjoyed church-building mission trips and feeding large groups of people. Beyond all of his public accolades, his family is most proud of the tremendous personal generosity he showed to countless members of our community. The family especially thanks St. Joseph's Hospice and the staff of Carpenter House for their tender care of our parents. Arrangements by Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St.