The Pineville Police Department will participate in a “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement campaign from July 2 through July 6, 2026, as part of a national traffic safety initiative funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The enforcement period is aimed at reducing impaired driving during the Independence Day holiday, a time when traffic volumes and travel-related risks typically increase across Louisiana roadways.
Officials emphasized the importance of planning ahead for safe transportation options and avoiding impaired driving. The department reminded motorists to designate a sober driver before celebrations begin and to avoid getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or other impairing substances.
Authorities also urged the public to prioritize safety during holiday festivities, noting that enforcement efforts will be increased throughout the campaign period.
The Pineville Police Department stated that the goal of the initiative is to help ensure safer roads and prevent impaired-driving-related crashes during the holiday weekend.
Mary Ruth Brady Deen, age 92, entered eternal rest on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at the Lexington House in Alexandria, Louisiana.
Graveside services will be held at Mars Hill Cemetery on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. with Reverend Jeff Stroud officiating. Interment will follow at Mars Hill Cemetery under the direction of Gallagher Funeral Home.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 57 years, Eulas William Deen; parents, Samuel Lee Brady and Jewel Lebaron Brady; brother, Kenneth Brady; 2 sisters, Mabel Bullock and Opal Davidson.
Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Richard Deen and his wife Dana; grandchildren, Marshall Deen and his wife Alexis and Kayla Deen and Brandon Gagnard; and 8 great grandchildren.
Mrs. Deen was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend whose life was marked by love, faith, and kindness. Her faith in Jesus Christ was the foundation on which she built her life. As a lifelong member of the Pentecostals of Alexandria, she faithfully served the Lord and cherished her church family. Mrs. Deen was deeply loved by her family and friends, and she will forever be missed.
The family would like to thank Rachel Long for her love and care of Mrs. Deen.
Funeral services celebrating the life of Mr. Terry Lee Thornhill will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 26, 2026 in the chapel of Gallagher Funeral Home with Father, Anthony “Ray” Dharmaraj officiating. Burial will be at Restland Memorial Gardens in Pollock, Louisiana under the direction of Gallagher Funeral Home, Ball.
Honored to serve as pallbearers will be Dearl Marler, Chris Marler, Jared Marler, Anthony George, Sherry George, and Renea Ashworth.
Mr. Thornhill, age 62 of Sulphur, passed away from this life on Sunday, June 21, 2026 surrounded by his family. He is preceded in death by his parents, Cleo and Annie Juneau Thornhill; brother-in-law, Larry Moore.
Terry was a man who never took for granted every opportunity that he was given to enjoy life. He passionately enjoyed his work as a diesel mechanic for many years. He also never missed a chance to enjoy the outdoors, whether it was fishing or riding his motorcycle. Family meant everything to Terry, especially the time he was able to spend with his nieces and nephews. He never met a stranger and was always willing to help people. His love and compassion will truly be missed by all who knew him.
Those left to cherish his memory include his brothers, Paul Thornhill (Sharon) and Eddie Thornhill (Carol); sisters, Diane Salard (Jerry), Connie Holt (Steve), and Rita Marler (James); wife, Carolyn Jackson Thornhill. He also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, extended family, and close friends.
The family requests that visitation be held on Friday, June 26, 2026 at Gallagher Funeral Home from 11:00 a.m. until service time.
I absolutely believe Americans have a lot more in common than what is depicted on the news or via social media. I’m a “glass-more-than-half-full” type of person and I wholeheartedly believe people are entitled to their own opinions and, given an opportunity to discuss those opinions, I can find some commonality with them. I do not believe that I am in the minority in my thinking. A Pew Research study conducted in 2023 found that only 4% of U.S. adults believe the political system is functioning well or very well, which means an overwhelming 96% of those polled had an unfavorable opinion of American politics. Not surprisingly, the number of Americans that consider themselves to be politically independent is on the rise (45%, news.gallop.com).
Other things the majority of Americans agree on is that teachers should be paid more (73%, yougov.com); Congress should enact laws to lower healthcare costs (91%, familiesusa.org); corporations have too much influence in politics (76 – 83%, americans-agree.org); and social security should be strengthened (79%, nationwidefinancial.com).
The overwhelming sense that Americans are becoming malcontent is not a result of divisive opinions, but rather the way we communicate those opinions. As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, may we all embrace the words of Abraham Lincoln who wrote in a letter to Henry L. Pierce and others on April 6, 1859, “Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, can not long retain it.”
BOM Bank is proud to continue our support of the LA Purge Youth Football Team. Organizations like LA Purge help young athletes develop teamwork, discipline, leadership, and confidence while creating opportunities to grow both on and off the field. We are honored to invest in programs that make a positive impact on the lives of local youth and strengthen our communities. Pictured left to right (back row): JQ, Demarcus, and Coach Knicholaus Black.
Pictured left to right (front row): Mari, Jayden, Jaymychal, Jeremiah, Caiden, and BOM’s Alexis Gongre. Thank you to the players, coaches, families, and supporters who help make youth sports a success!
Parents looking for a meaningful way for their children to spend Friday evenings this summer, and perhaps enjoy a few hours to themselves, are invited to take advantage of First United Methodist Church of Alexandria’s free Vacation Bible School, Road Trip: On the Go with God!
Held on Friday nights in July from 5:30–8:00 p.m., Road Trip VBS welcomes children entering Pre-K through fifth grade for four evenings of fun, faith, and friendship on July 10, 17, 24, and 31. While children embark on exciting adventures with friends, parents can enjoy a date night, catch up on errands, or simply take a well-earned break knowing their children are in a safe, caring, and Christ-centered environment.
Inspired by Joshua 1:9 – “The LORD your God is with you wherever you go”—Road Trip VBS invites young travelers to discover God’s presence wherever life leads. Through engaging Bible stories, lively music, creative crafts, hands-on science activities, games, and snacks, children will experience the joy of growing in faith while making lasting memories.
Guided by the Navigator and an adventurous pup named Scout, travelers will journey to exciting destinations and encounter stories from both the Old and New Testaments. Through the Navigator’s Guide—the Bible—children will discover how God accompanied His people through every challenge and how His promises remain true today.
Road trips are often remembered not only for where they take us, but for the relationships formed along the way. In the same spirit, Road Trip VBS is designed to help children build friendships and deepen their relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Developed by Cokesbury and firmly rooted in Scripture and the gospel of the living Christ, every aspect of Road Trip VBS has been carefully created to provide engaging, age-appropriate experiences that bring God’s Word to life. From the moment VBS begins, each activity is designed to help children encounter God’s love in ways that are joyful, memorable, and transformative.
Children can look forward to singing, games, crafts, science experiments, snacks, and unforgettable Bible lessons, all centered around the promise of Joshua 1:9: “The LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Vacation Bible School is free and open to all children entering Pre-K through fifth grade.
Registration is now open. Families are encouraged to reserve their spots by visiting www.fumca.org/vbs.
The Pineville Police Department has announced nightly lane closures along US 165 Southbound near Maryhill Road beginning June 23, 2026, as part of ongoing roadway improvement work at the intersection.
Officials said the outside southbound lane will be closed nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday through Friday, for approximately three weeks while construction crews complete intersection upgrades.
The project at US 165 and Maryhill Road is expected to be completed by July 17, 2026, weather permitting.
Motorists traveling through the area are being advised to expect delays, reduce speed in the work zone, and consider alternate routes when possible. Authorities also noted that all work is weather dependent and schedules may change based on conditions or unforeseen circumstances.
The Pineville Police Department encouraged drivers to exercise caution while navigating the construction area to ensure the safety of both motorists and work crews.
Gov. Jeff Landry has signed more than 40 bills authored by Rapides legislators and passed in the session that ended earlier this month.
One vote remains in the aftermath of that session – Landry’s post- adjournment teacher pay proposal. Today is the final day for legislators to vote, though filing of a suit over the action could change that.
Bills that are now acts and new law cover a wide range of issues. They include:
Sen. Heather Cloud – Eight passed, including several in the child protection category, one requiring posting in student centers at schools, colleges, universities of information on available pregnancy resources; leftover, stipulations of criteria for additional per diem funding for housing state prisoners in parish jails.
Sen. Jay Luneau – Five passed, including restructuring of Renaissance Home governing board, measures relative to Office of State Public Defender, Office of Group Benefits; leftover, creating crime of failure to test for alcohol and controlled substances resulting in serious bodily injury or death, prohibiting attorney advertising through telephone communications.
Sen. Alan Seabaugh – Seven passed, including requiring law enforcement agencies to approve firearms and ammunition carried by its tactical medical professionals, mandatory sentencing for second-offense of purchasing commercial sexual activity; leftover, responsive verdicts for certain crimes.
Rep. Rhonda Butler – Six passed, including Capital Outlay allocation for Rural Infrastructure Revolving Loan Program, stipulations regarding district supervisors of Soil & Water Conservation Districts; leftover, relative to unfunded liability by employers in relation to Municipal Police Employees Retirement.
Rep. Jason DeWitt – Six passed, including administrative adjudication of certain Alexandria ordinance violations, jury duty mileage reimbursement for criminal trials equal to state rate, requiring ATV dealerships to have repair facilities; leftover, use of campaign finance funds for clothing worn during sessions, limit in frequency of reappraisal and valuation of property for tax purposes.
Rep. Mike Johnson – Nine passed, including penalties for unlawful disclosure of confidential information relative to victims of domestic violence, change in sentencing guidelines for posting or calling in threats to schools, restoring Biological Truth Act, relative to emergency operations plans at public schools; leftover, local option carbon capture mechanism, landowners protection-eminent domain, requiring broadcast of certain public meetings, broadcast and cable price notice requirements.
Rep. Ed Larvadain III – One passed, relative to initial eligibility requirements for M.J. Foster Promise Program; leftover, none.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has announced an emergency closure of a section of LA 488, also known as Twin Bridges Road, in Alexandria.
The closure is located approximately two miles west of the intersection with LA 1208-3, also known as Jackson Street. According to DOTD, the roadway was closed due to malfunctioning equipment located in the road.
The closure took effect immediately Monday evening, June 22, and is expected to remain in place until the morning of Tuesday, June 23. DOTD will issue an update when the roadway reopens.
All vehicles must use an alternate route while the closure remains in effect. Motorists are encouraged to use caution near the work area and watch for crews and equipment.
The Rapides Parish School Board has announced Mr. Richard Dewees as the new principal of Glenmora High School.
Dewees brings 29 years of experience in education, including 26 years within Rapides Parish. His career has included roles as a teacher, bus driver, school testing coordinator, SBLC chair, 504 chair, SPED lead teacher, and various administrative positions. He previously served as assistant principal at J.I. Barron Elementary, Slocum Learning Center, and Arthur F. Smith Middle Magnet before becoming principal of J.I. Barron Elementary in 2011, a position he held until this year.
Raised in rural East Texas, Dewees said he sees similarities between his upbringing and the Glenmora community, noting a shared sense of pride and strong work ethic. His leadership focus is centered on supporting both staff and students, emphasizing professional growth, student opportunity, and community partnership.
He stated that his goal is for graduates to leave with a wide range of opportunities as they transition beyond high school, and that success for students and staff strengthens the broader community.
Rapides Parish School Board officials say his experience and long-standing commitment to the district provide a strong foundation for his new role at Glenmora High School.
The Rapides Parish Police Jury Administration and Finance Office will be relocating to its new office at 711 Washington Street in Alexandria during the week of June 22–26.
Officials note that phone systems and computers are expected to be back online by Wednesday, June 24. During the transition, there may be temporary delays in communication.
Residents and partners are asked to be patient as staff work through the move. The office will respond to phone calls and emails as quickly as possible once systems are fully restored.
Looking down the Hall with appreciation, and an eye for the future
We’re celebrating Louisiana sports this weekend with the annual Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame festivities starting Thursday that culminate with the televised induction ceremony on Louisiana Public Broadcasting Saturday night at the Natchitoches Events Center.
I look forward to attending each year, and one of the things we either take for granted or forget is just how blessed we are to have so many terrific athletes, coaches and administrators and sports writers and broadcasters who have graced our state with their talents and their passion for excellence.
In this piece, I want to gush a bit about the proliferation of talented quarterbacks who have either hailed from Louisiana or emigrated from elsewhere to shine in the sport in the Bayou State.
There are 14 quarterbacks in the LSHOF who have the distinction of being members in at least one of five national Halls of Fame.
There are four in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Terry Bradshaw, Peyton Manning, Y.A. Tittle and, most recently elected in the Class of 2026 to be inducted at Canton in August, Drew Brees.
There are seven others in the College Football Hall of Fame: Bert Jones, Chris Cagle, Doc Fenton, Lester Lautenschlager, Archie Manning, Abe Mickal and Doug Williams. James “Shack” Harris joins fellow Grambling grad Doug Williams among the state’s elite quarterbacks in the Black College Hall of Fame.
Matt Dunigan is a Louisiana-bred quarterback in the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame, and Joe Ferguson, a sensational prep quarterback at Shreveport’s Woodlawn before shining in college at Arkansas and in the NFL for three teams in 17 seasons (12 with the Buffalo Bills), is a member of the National High School Hall of Fame.
Data was culled from Pro Football Reference to figure out which states have over- or underperformed based on the expected number of NFL quarterbacks produced. An in-depth analytics study by ESPN, tracking where the best quarterbacks come from relative to state population, ranked Louisiana first in the nation with a score of 450.5, easily beating out second-place New York (315.4) and third-place Indiana (172.2).
Consider, too, we’ve got famous quarterbacks in the state’s shrine who have not been voted into a national Hall of Fame like Eli Manning, Stan Humphries, Jake Delhomme and Bobby Hebert. Steve Foley and Richie Petitbon were both star quarterbacks for Tulane, but they earned their stripes as Louisiana Sports Hall of Famers more for their sensational play as defensive backs in the NFL; Foley, with Denver and Petitbon with Chicago.
Eli Manning has been a modern-era finalist for the Pro Football Hall the last two years, and at first blush it’s astonishing that as a two-time Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl MVP, he has not been a shoo-in.
Only one other retired NFL quarterback who led his team to two Super Bowl victories has not been elected to the Pro Football shrine – Jim Plunkett, who is now 77 and not likely to get elected. Plunkett led Oakland to triumphs in Super Bowls XV and XVIII. He is a former Super Bowl MVP and winner of Rookie of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year honors, yet he was on only four winning teams as a starter, and he had more interceptions (198) than touchdowns (164).
Eli is No. 11 in the NFL in both all-time passing yards (57,023) and passing touchdowns (366), but the rap against him is his career record as a starter is 117-117, he never was a first-team All-Pro and he led the NFL in interceptions three times (2007, ’10 and ’13).
Nonetheless, I think the good outweighs the bad in his case.
Throughout his 16-year (2004-19) career — all spent with the Giants — he achieved numerous franchise records and milestones, including 236 regular-season games played, setting a Giants franchise record, and 210 consecutive starts, which was the second-longest streak by a quarterback in NFL history at the time.
Looking down the line, there are a few more guys who are future candidates for the LSHOF and probably at least a College Hall of Fame: LSU’s two most recent Heisman Trophy winners, Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels; and sensational Mississippi State quarterback and former NFL Rookie of the Year Dak Prescott, homegrown in Haughton.
(Artwork by CHRIS BROWN, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame)
By DAN McDONALD, Written for the LSWA
It’s been a good few months for Jonathan Lucroy.
Last August, the former Major League Baseball All-Star got the phone call from the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, letting him know that he would be honored with the state’s highest athletic accolade this summer.
That happens Saturday in Natchitoches, culminating three days of festivities with Lucroy and the Class of 2026. For participation information, visit LaSportsHall.com or call 318-238-4255.
Less than two months ago, he was back at UL’s M. L. “Tigue” Moore Field, where the ex-Ragin’ Cajun standout catcher received that program’s greatest honor with the retiring of his No. 21 jersey, putting him in elite company from his days as a collegian.
During that same time frame, he was selected as the catcher on yet another Milwaukee Brewers All-time Team, honoring the top player at each position for the nearly 60-year-old franchise. Legendary Brewers announcer and former major league catcher Bob Uecker had christened him with that honor long ago.
And this past spring, the hugely young high school baseball team he coaches at Grapevine Faith Christian School near Dallas had a surprisingly successful .500 season.
“Only two returning varsity players,” Lucroy said. “We will be good next year.”
That isn’t a surprise to anyone who knows the Eustis, Fla., native, since his passion for baseball is rivaled only by his drive to succeed at whatever level the game takes him.
All in all, an excellent few months. But still not as good as his summer of 2014, when he was the best catcher in baseball. That claim isn’t hyperbole … the numbers back it up in a big way.
That season, his fourth in the major leagues, Lucroy finished fourth in the voting for National League Most Valuable Player, the first catcher in Brewers history to finish in the MVP top 10 voting. A guy named Clayton Kershaw won the NL MVP that year, and no other catcher finished in the top five in the voting in either league. He led the NL in doubles that year with 53, becoming the first catcher in MLB history to lead his league in that category and breaking the mark of 47 set by Texas’ Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez in 1996 – and no catcher has come within 15 of Lucroy’s tally since that 2014 season.
He was the Brewers’ MVP that year along with earning the club’s “Good Guy Award” for the second straight season, and was runner-up for the Gold Glove Award. He started the All-Star Game behind the plate for the NL – the first of two times he’d earn that distinction – and proceeded to go 2-for-2 with (naturally) two RBI doubles off Jon Lester and Chris Sale.
That year he helped lead a Stars and Stripes Honor Flight with World War II, Korean War and terminally ill veterans flying to Washington, D.C., to visit the city’s memorials. He also was a personal guest of Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson at President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address.
Now that was a good year.
“I had the great privilege of managing Jonathan for five years at Milwaukee,” said Ron Roenicke, who took over as Brewers manager in Lucroy’s first full year with the club in 2011. “He’s a great man of character, a hard worker and was a great teammate. And he could really hit … he could hit the other way, he could pull the ball and he could hit with power. That record, 53 doubles for a catcher, that speaks for itself.”
“To play on a high level in college, and then to do what he did in pro ball, it takes the physical talent,” said Anthony Babineaux, UL’s assistant coach under Hall of Famer Tony Robichaux during Lucroy’s collegiate career. “But it’s more than just the talent. It’s a lot of intangibles, it’s the type of leader that he was and the type of teammate that he was, and it’s the extra things he did off the field and on the field.”
It wasn’t a perfect path to college stardom or to a third-round MLB Draft selection. In fact, Lucroy didn’t have many scholarship offers out of Umatilla High School, and only happened to catch the eye of a Cajun assistant coach who was recruiting a pitching teammate. And in his freshman season, Lucroy played only part-time at catcher behind senior veterans Justin Morgan and Adam Massiatte. He only caught six games, with most of his first season spent as designated hitter.
“There were a lot of upperclassmen on that 2005 team and it was a very good team with older guys that were the voice of the team,” Babineaux said. “Luc respected all those guys, but he also earned their respect in a hurry with what he was able to do on the field and how he handled his business.”
Lucroy wound up hitting .373 with five homers and 48 RBI that year in earning Freshman All-America honors as DH, and went on to set UL records for RBI (184), doubles (54) and total bases (414) in a career while hitting 35 homers, batting .356 and slugging at a .612 clip. He was a two-time All-Sun Belt pick in a league that had several talented catchers, and helped lead the Cajuns to two league titles and the 2007 NCAA Regional finals.
“He always had the hitting,” said two-year Cajun teammate and long-time friend Blaine LaFleur. “He quickly made us all realize how good a hitter he was. I don’t think any of us could compete with him hitting. But what made him special was that he was just relentless to the cause, you couldn’t stop him.”
Hitting almost came naturally. The intricacies of catching every day, and being his UL team’s defensive leader, took a lot more work.
“His catching skills were good, but honestly they weren’t where they needed to be as an everyday catcher for us,” Babineaux said. “Those obviously very much improved as he went on, and that’s because he absolutely worked on it every day. Nobody worked harder than he did to make himself a great defensive player — his receiving, blocking, throwing out base runners, stealing pitches – and that continued in his three years in the minors and after he got to the Brewers.”
Lucroy moved from Low-A to the majors in just two seasons, in large part because of his defensive improvement. One metric ranked him as the major league’s best in “stealing pitches” – receiving and framing pitches in a way that influenced plate umpires’ called strikes – for two seasons.
“Jonathan took a lot of pride in his defense,” Roenicke said. “Even though he was a great hitter, that was really important to him. I think catcher is the hardest position there is to play in baseball, and Luc worked really hard to make sure he was a good defensive catcher. I know the pitchers appreciated what he did.”
Another key to his later success was learning to call pitches during his college career, a talent that is rapidly vanishing with the advent of coach-to-player communication technology.
“Coach Robe did a lot of the pitch calls,” Babineaux said. “But I know during Jonathan’s career he sort of turned that over to him. Robe really liked his catchers calling pitches, and he knew they had to learn to do that if they were fortunate enough to advance in the pro ranks. He was able to retain that knowledge that Coach Robe gave him on how to set up hitters, and it was a show of respect that our pitchers knew the fingers that Luc put down was the right pitch to throw at the right time.”
Lucroy was the face of the Brewers franchise in his final two years there before spending two years with the Texas Rangers, helping that team win the AL West in 2016. Injuries and the COVID-shortened pandemic season in 2020 hampered the latter part of his career, but he was still valuable enough to clubs seeking veteran catching presence and needing help with pitching staffs to spend time with seven other MLB teams before he retired in 2021 after 12 big-league seasons.
His final stop was in Atlanta during that 2021 season when the Braves won the World Series. Although he did not see action during that postseason run, Lucroy was respected enough to be invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch for Game 2 of the 2021 National League Divisional Series when the Braves played his longtime Brewers club.
Even with all those collegiate and professional honors, Lucroy said his proudest and most memorable moments in baseball came from his two appearances for Team USA in the 2013 and 2017 World Baseball Classics. He still proudly displays the gold medal he helped Team USA capture in 2017.
“There’s something about wearing that USA jersey,” he said. “Coach Robe always told us that the name on the front of the jersey meant more than the name on the back, and I thought about that every time I looked down and saw ‘USA’ on my jersey during the World Baseball Classics.”
While defense was the key to his longevity, it was the bat that remained the most memorable part of his game. His .356 batting and .612 slugging marks in college, a .325 mark in summer collegiate baseball and a career .274 batting and .416 slugging mark along with 1,134 major league hits are a testament to that.
“Even in his freshman year, you knew he could hit,” Babineaux said. “There’s a lot of guys that hit home runs, and then there’s some that get so much lift on their ball when they swing the bat. Jonathan was one of those guys. His fly balls were just some of the highest I’ve ever seen, the ball would just lift when it left his bat. You know the power was there, and you had a good idea that the catching would advance to a high level, and once those two matched up it was just a matter of time before he made it to the big leagues.”
Roenicke well remembers one of his 108 career home runs.
“We were facing Cincinnati and Aroldis Chapman had just come up as their closer,” he said. “We were in a tie game and Chapman came in, he was throwing 100 plus miles an hour before everyone started throwing 100, he was the hardest thrower we’d seen. Luc saw 11 pitches between 100 and 102 and he kept fouling off balls until he got to a 3-2 count and Chapman tried to throw him a slider on the 12th pitch and Luc hit a homer to win the game for us. That’s the kind of hitter Luc was.”
Michael Faraday was born in 1791 just outside London, England. Michael’s father, a blacksmith who was often too ill to work steadily, could hardly afford to feed himself, his wife, and Michael and his three siblings. He could certainly not afford to send his children to school. Up until he was a teenager, Michael could only perform rudimentary reading, writing, and math, basic skills he learned at his church’s Sunday school. When Michael was 14, his father arranged a seven-year apprenticeship for him under George Riebau, a bookbinder. One of the perks of the job was that George allowed Michael to read any of the books they worked on. Michael read books on a variety of subjects but became passionate about science. Michael’s desire to learn impressed George as well as his customers. One customer gave Michael tickets to attend four lectures by Humphry Davy, professor of chemistry at the Royal Institution. Michael took copious notes and bound them in book form. When Michael’s apprenticeship with the bookbinder ended, 22-year-old Michael asked Humphry for a job and provided his bound notes. Humphry was taken aback by Michael’s interest, understanding, and determination, and hired Michael to be his assistant at the Royal Institute. For the next 18 months, Michael accompanied Humphry on a tour of scientific institutions in Europe where he met noted scientists including André-Marie Ampère (for whom the ampere or amp is named) and Alessandro Volta (for whom the volt is named).
In 1820, Michael had mastered chemistry to the point that he was developing his own theoretical views and ways to test his theories. When Humphry retired, Michael replaced him as professor of chemistry at the Royal Institute. While a professor, Michael became the first chemist to liquefy a “permanent” gas, one which the scientific community believed was incapable of liquification. He discovered benzene, a colorless and highly flammable gas with a sweet smell which is partially responsible for the odor of gasoline. His experiments with chemistry combined with electricity transformed electricity from a curiosity to a useful technology and led to him being called the father of electrochemistry and electromagnetism. Among his many inventions were the electric motor, the electric generator, electric transformers, and a container for holding hydrogen.
In 1824, Michael was performing experiments with hydrogen to understand its properties. He experimented with several different containers to determine the best vessel for holding hydrogen. In one experiment, Michael cut out two pieces of raw, tacky rubber into circles, rubbed flour on the center of the two pieces to prevent it from sticking, and pressed the edges of the rubber together. The edges of the raw rubber sealed to itself automatically. The scientific community was so enthralled with Michael’s new container that in the following year, 1825, rubber manufacturer Thomas Hancock began producing do-it-yourself rubber hydrogen container kits for scientists. Rubber manufacturers eventually mass-produced and marketed these containers to the public. Each of us has probably owned a modernized version of Michael’s hydrogen container. Rather than hydrogen, we fill ours with helium. In that chemistry lab, Michael Faraday invented what we now know as the toy rubber balloon. Can you imagine a world without Michael Faraday’s hydrogen containers?
Funeral services for Mr. Hubie Ray Funderburk, Sr. will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2026, in the Chapel of Rush Funeral Home, Oakdale, with Sam Funderburk officiating. Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Alexandria Memorial Gardens, Woodworth, under the direction of Rush Funeral Home, Oakdale.
Mr. Funderburk, 85, of Pitkin, entered eternal rest on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, Alexandria, LA.
He was a loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He enjoyed woodworking, hunting, gardening, and spending time working in his yard. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Mary Funderburk; two brothers, Mickey Funderburk and Sammy Funderburk; four sisters, Cora Funderburk, Caroline Striedel Jordan, Judy Funderburk, and Rhonda Stockman; one grandson, Jonathon Candelaria; one great granddaughter, Izzy Marcantel; and special friend, Diana Lamartiniere.
Those left to mourn his loss and cherish his memory include one son, Hubie Funderburk, II of Pitkin; two daughters, Angela LeGros (Wade) of Hayes, and Denna Baronet (Boyd) of Lake Charles; one brother, David Funderburk (Angie) of Bundick Lake Community; six granddaughters, Alyssa Franovich (Jordan), Khadin Roessler (Logan), Kassidy Castillo (Kyle), Brandi Candelaria, Megan Funderburk, and Sydney Vickers (Ryne); one grandson, Hunter Baronet (Hailee); nineteen great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends.
Honored to serve as pallbearers are: Kyle Castillo, Logan Roessler, Jordan Franovich, Anthony Funderburk, Glenn Funderburk, and Greyson Funderburk. Honorary pallbearers will be Kase Castillo, Ryder Ellender, and Ryver Franovich.
Rose Marie Leonard Williams entered this life on September 5, 1962, in Alexandria, Louisiana, to the late Stewart Leonard and Delores Robinson Leonard. She departed this earthly life peacefully at her home in Alexandria, Louisiana, on June 14, 2026, at the age of 63.
Rose was a woman with a strong personality who never hesitated to speak her mind. Very vocal and full of life, she was known for her honesty, determination, and unwavering spirit. Though firm in her convictions, she possessed a generous heart and would do anything for anyone in need. Her kindness, loyalty, and willingness to help others left a lasting impression on all who knew and loved her.
Growing up, Rose enjoyed playing and watching baseball and softball, activities that brought her great joy and excitement throughout her life. She was also a member of the Pitty Pat Club and enjoyed spending time with family and friends. Her favorite color was royal blue, a reflection of her vibrant personality and bold spirit.
Rose was a dedicated and hardworking woman. Throughout her career, she worked in retail, where her strong work ethic and ability to connect with people made her a valued employee and friend to many. She believed in earning what she had and took pride in every task she undertook.
Those who knew Rose will remember her for her strength, her outspoken nature, her laughter, and her willingness to lend a helping hand. While she will be deeply missed, her memory will live on in the hearts of those who were blessed to know her.
Celebration of Life
Saturday, June 27, 2026
The WORD Christian Center
4701 Lee Street
Alexandria, Louisiana 71301
Public Viewing & Visitation
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Celebration of Life Service
11:00 a.m.
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”
