Funeral Services for Alonzo Ray James, 98, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 4, 2026 at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Rd., Shreveport, Louisiana 71108. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m. He will be laid to rest in Centuries Memorial Park with Navy Honors. Officiating the services will be Chaplin Randy Goudeau with special prayer from Adrian Brackman.
Alonzo Ray James was born on April 13, 1928, in Carthage, Texas and passed away on May 22, 2026 at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Home in Bossier City, Louisiana.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Parker L. James and Bessie Dickerson; beloved wife, Lucille Flores James; son, Kenny James; son-in-law, Richard Sellards; grandson, Shawn Kaffka, and great great-granddaughter, AnnaBella Marie Murphy.
Left to cherish his memory are his son, Richard James and wife, Mary Beth James of Shreveport, Louisiana; daughters, Beverly Sellards of Mesa, Arizona and Shirley Kaffka and husband, Ken Kaffka of Stonewall, Louisiana; grandchild Chris James, Adam James, Lee Yancey, Lauren Carlisle, Dan Clayton, Michelle Holmes, Daniel Williford, and Keena Ogle; granddaughter-in-law Laurie Kaffka-Spillers; 22 great-grandchildren and 23 great great-grandchildren.
Alonzo proudly served his country in the United States Navy. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and was awarded the American Theater Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon with one star, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one star, and the Victory Ribbon.
Following his military service, Alonzo returned to the Shreveport area and began a career as a barber. For 56 years, he faithfully served his community, building lasting friendships and touching countless lives through his work.
Honoring the family as pallbearers will be Chris James, Adam James, Danny Clayton, Josh Carlisle, Robert Ogle, and the members of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the entire staff of the Louisiana Veterans Home in Bossier City and Bristol Hospice of NW Louisiana for the exceptional care, compassion, and love shown to Alonzo throughout his time there.
Alonzo will be remembered for his dedication to his family, his service to his country, his strong work ethic, and the kindness he shared with everyone he met. His legacy will live on through the many lives he touched and the family he cherished.
