John Ephraim Flowers

A native ofWilkinson County, Miss., he passed away Saturday, Dec. 23, 2006, at his home in Baton Rouge. He was 83. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and an upstanding member of the American Legion, Nicholson Post 38. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., was on Wednesday Dec. 27, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visitation at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Woodville, Miss., on Thursday from 10 a.m. until funeral service at 11 a.m., conducted by the Rev. Ed Lundin. Interment inEvergreenCemetery, Woodville. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Beatrice Hayward Flowers; two sons, John E. "Jack" Flowers Jr. and his wife, Diane, of Baton Rouge, and Bruce Hayward Flowers and his wife, Rhonda, of Denham Springs; four sisters, Earline Carter of Natchez, Miss., Ernestine Beattie of Baker, and Thoris Stutzman and Polly Adkins, both of Natchez; a brother, George Flowers of Woodville; two grandchildren, Joseph Austin Flowers and Jori Marie Flowers, both of Denham Springs; niece, Betty Ashford; and numerous other nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters. Serving as pallbearers will be John E. "Jack" Flowers Jr., Bruce H. Flowers, Austin Flowers, Larry Graham, Guy Pickering and Donnie Ashford. Honorary pallbearers are J.W. Cole and Frances Smoot. At the request of the family, memorial donations may be made in lieu of flowers to the American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association or to another favorite charity.