Winnfield Kiwanis Club President Ethel Howell (right) and longtime member Rita James (left) welcome Winn Parish Registrar of Voters Bryan Kelley (center) as the guest speaker on October 13. James originally hired Kelley as her deputy in 2011 before he succeeded her as Registrar in 2018.

WINNFIELD, LA — Winn Parish Registrar of Voters Bryan Kelley was the featured guest speaker at the Winnfield Kiwanis Club luncheon meeting on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.

Kelley was introduced by longtime Kiwanian Rita James, who shared a special professional history with the speaker. Kelley originally joined the Registrar’s office in 2011 as James’s deputy during her service as Registrar of Voters, eventually succeeding her in the role in 2018 and later serving as president of the state Registrar of Voters association.

Kelley walked Kiwanians through the unique logistics of administering parish elections, noting that intersecting school board, police jury, and municipal district lines result in 21 distinct ballot styles across Winn Parish. He also provided updates on long-term statewide voting modernization, noting that the state anticipates awarding a contract for a new voting system by the end of the year, with a statewide rollout to follow in phases.

As this article is published, early voting for the November 3 election is currently in progress at the Registrar of Voters office and will continue through next Tuesday, October 27, 2026 (closed Sunday). Voters can check their registration status, view their specific sample ballot, and locate their polling places by downloading the free GeauxVote Mobile smartphone app or visiting the Louisiana Secretary of State portal at voterportal.sos.la.gov.

The Kiwanis Club of Winnfield encourages all citizens to take part in the democratic process and recommends reviewing the non-partisan analysis published in the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR) Guide at parlouisiana.org for clear, balanced breakdowns of the 10 proposed statewide constitutional amendments appearing on the ballot.

Any questions regarding Kiwanis Club of Winnfield, LA. Contact Troy Rogers 318 648 2365. Troyr57@gmail.com

---

The Winn Parish Operation Christmas Child team received the Winn Parish Chamber of Commerce 2026 Volunteer of the Year award. The Operation Christmas Child team was recognized at the Winn Chamber of Commerce annual Awards Banquet held on Tuesday, October 13.

The Operation Christmas Child team members in attendance were Ginny Koeppen, Church Relations Team member; Jeanine Ford, Area Coordinator; Candy Bedgood, Drop Off Team Leader and Church Relations Team member; and Mary Carpenter, Church Relations Team member.

Thanks to the Winn Parish Chamber of Commerce for honoring Operation Christmas Child with the 2026 Volunteer of the Year award.

---

Winn Parish residents can expect an extended stretch of sunny skies, warm afternoon temperatures and cool overnight conditions through Sunday, according to the forecast provided from the National Weather Service.

High temperatures are expected to remain in the lower to middle 80s throughout the forecast period, while overnight lows will fall into the lower 50s. No rainfall is included in the forecast through Sunday, providing several days of favorable weather conditions across the parish.

Wednesday will bring sunny skies with a high near 84 degrees. Winds will be calm before becoming northeast around 5 mph. Clear skies are expected Wednesday night, with temperatures dropping to around 51 degrees.

Thursday will continue the stretch of pleasant fall weather, with sunshine and a high near 85 degrees. Clear skies will continue Thursday night as temperatures fall to around 50 degrees.

Friday will feature sunny conditions and an afternoon high near 85 degrees. Mostly clear skies are expected Friday night, with an overnight low around 51 degrees.

Saturday will offer another day of sunshine, with temperatures reaching approximately 84 degrees. Saturday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 52 degrees.

Sunday will remain pleasant, with mostly sunny skies and a high near 82 degrees.

The extended forecast indicates favorable conditions for outdoor activities, sporting events and weekend gatherings throughout Winn Parish. Residents can expect warm afternoons followed by cooler evenings and mornings as the area continues to experience mild fall weather.

---

A total of 420 early and absentee votes have been recorded in Winn Parish through October 20, 2026, according to statistics released by Winn Parish Registrar of Voters Bryan E. Kelley.

Of the total ballots recorded, 293 were cast in person, accounting for approximately 69.8% of the total. Another 127 ballots, or 30.2%, were submitted through absentee voting by mail.

The figures also provide a demographic breakdown of voters who have participated in the election process.

According to the Registrar of Voters Office, 346 voters were identified as White, 67 as Black and seven as other racial classifications.

Female voters accounted for 239 of the ballots recorded, representing approximately 56.9% of the total, while male voters accounted for 181 ballots, or 43.1%.

The statistics also included a breakdown by political party registration. Registered Republicans accounted for 250 ballots, or approximately 59.5% of the total. Registered Democrats accounted for 101 ballots, or 24%, while voters affiliated with other parties or registration categories accounted for 69 ballots, or approximately 16.4%.

The party registration figures reflect the affiliations of participating voters and do not indicate which candidates received their votes.

The numbers represent early and absentee voting activity reported through October 20 and are not final election turnout figures.

Residents seeking additional information about voting or election procedures may contact the Winn Parish Registrar of Voters Office at 318-628-6133 or by email at winnrov@sos.la.gov.

The office is located at 119 W. Main Street, Room 105, in Winnfield.

Source: Bryan E. Kelley, CERA, Winn Parish Registrar of Voters.

---

WINNFIELD – With four members of District 4-2A currently sitting between No. 18 and No. 28, the final three weeks of the regular season is going to be dog eat dog.

Two of those dogs will face each other Friday as Winnfield (4-3, 1-1) hosts Many (2-5, 1-0).

No. 21 Winnfield enters at No. 21 with No. 27 Many just inside the playoff picture in Week 8.

Winnfield is at the beginning of a three-game homestand as both Tigers try to improve their playoff position in the 28-team field.

Both teams have dropped three of their last four games, but Many topped Red River (43-22) to snap its three-game slide this past week.

Winnfield couldn’t complete its comeback in the final minutes of a 20-14 loss at Lakeside, dropping their third game in four tries after a 3-0 start.

“Lakeside played well – they had a plan and executed it well,” said Winnfield coach Byron Keller. “We started off slow. We have to start quickly and put pressure on our opponents.”

A quick Winnfield start allows the Tigers’ running game and offensive line to chip away at the defense, whereas clawing back from a deficit decreases that effect.

Many has similar ideas in wanting to lean on its power running game behind the shoulders of stud running back Daniel Thomas, who has 1,250 rushing yards and topped 3,000 for his career.

But Many found a bit of a passing game with freshman Luke McCarty throwing for 61 yards on 3-of-4 after completing just nine passes (with seven interceptions) through his first six games.

They found a way to bounce back from an overtime loss on the road at Avoyelles to club Red River, 43-22, to open district play.

“They are a tough, physical, gritty football team,” Keller said. “They played a tough pre-district schedule and have played well as of late.

“We have to be the most physical team and limit the mistakes.”

Winnfield’s 45-player roster is deeper than most Class 2A schools – but Many coach Tyler Hassell has hunted his halls to rebuild a roster (66 players) of a program that suffered through a winless season in 2024 despite a championship pedigree for the last decade.The battle in the trenches will likely be the tipping point of this clash, but Winnfield has an ace up its sleeve in special teams.

The Tigers mauled their way back against Lakeside thanks to a Gabe Wren kickoff return for a touchdown. Winnfield also blocked a punt and had another scoring kickoff return wiped out by penalty.

Winnfield just has to avoid mistakes and finish drives.

“(Special teams) is really important to us, and it’s one of the most overlooked phases in the game,” Keller said. “We played well in the special teams portion except for the touchdown called back.

“That one return would have switched the momentum of the game in our favor.”

Mansfield (6-1, 1-0) appears to be in the driver’s seat in this district as they host Red River on Friday, but the Wolverines have to travel to Many and Winnfield to close out the season.

A Winnfield win over Many means the Tigers can win at least a share of the district title without having to leave their home stadium again.

The Tigers step out of district play to bring in Jennings in Week 9 and finish with Mansfield in Week 10.

---

Early voting for the Nov. 3 election will be held Oct. 20-27 at the Winn Parish Registrar of Voters Office inside the Winn Parish Courthouse.

Early voting will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day during the early voting period, with the office closed Sunday, Oct. 25. Voters should enter the courthouse through the Main Street entrance.

Winn Parish Registrar of Voters Bryan E. Kelley said the ballot includes several candidate races as well as 10 proposed constitutional amendments.

With multiple items appearing on the ballot, voters are encouraged to review their sample ballot before arriving at the polls. State law limits voters to six minutes in the voting booth.

Sample ballots are available through the Louisiana Secretary of State’s website. The GeauxVote app also allows voters to view their sample ballot, update voter registration information and follow election results.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

---

WINN PARISH, La. — Winn Parish will see hot and sunny conditions through the middle of the week before a noticeable cool-down arrives heading into the weekend.

Wednesday will be sunny and hot with a high near 95 degrees. Winds will be calm before becoming southerly around 5 mph during the afternoon. Wednesday night will be clear with a low around 63.

Thursday will remain sunny and warm with a high near 94. Clear skies are expected Thursday night as temperatures fall to around 63.

A change will begin Friday, although the day will remain sunny with a high near 89. Temperatures will drop significantly Friday night, with mostly clear skies and a low around 53.

Saturday will be much cooler and sunny, with a high near 76. Saturday night could bring some of the coolest temperatures of the period, with a low around 48 under mostly clear skies.

Sunday will remain sunny as temperatures begin to rebound, with a high near 83.

---

ST. MAURICE, LA — Descendants of founding Winn Parish families gathered on Sunday, October 11, 2026, for the annual St. Maurice Cemetery Homecoming, celebrating community heritage, honoring departed loved ones, and reviewing major preservation efforts on the historic grounds.

St. Maurice holds a distinguished place in regional history as an early Red River steamboat landing and one of the earliest settlements in Winn Parish. The gathering took place inside the historic St. Maurice Methodist Church sanctuary, a landmark originally erected in 1874 by John E. Jones and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Board member Mark Swafford opened the morning assembly with prayer, welcoming families and guests. Board member Tonia Lonadier coordinated attendee recognitions, highlighting the generations of family lines tied to the historic grounds, while a solemn time of remembrance honored those interred over the past year. Current officers serving the association include, Mark Swafford, Melissa Ward, Tonia Lonadier, and Casey Gorum.

Melissa Ward presented the association’s annual report, outlining milestones achieved since incorporating the St. Maurice Cemetery Association, Inc. in 2024 following the acquisition of the historic church and cemetery. To comply with Louisiana Cemetery Association regulations and protect family lineages, the board spearheaded a comprehensive survey utilizing GPS coordinates and aerial drone photography to create an accurate master plot map.

Financially, the association remains strong. Over $10,000 was collected for the general maintenance fund this year, securing ongoing mowing and perpetual grounds care. Additionally, a Dedicated Project Fund established for the historic 1874 sanctuary funded key restorations to the historic 10-foot windows, door framing, and exterior signage.

Casey Gorum reviewed guidelines for family plots and monument care, reminding families that all burials and headstone placements are conducted by permit only. Attendees were asked to complete a standardized reservation form to reconcile unrecorded family spaces with the master plot map.

Representing the Winn Genealogical and Historical Association (WGHA), President Troy Rogers attended to connect with kinfolk and gather parish oral histories. Among those sharing stories was Mr. Harold Bray, who recounted an extraordinary family account passed down through his grandmother, Eva Crawford, highlighting early medical history in Winn Parish.

A Piece of Winnfield History: Ava Crawford’s Grit and the Town’s First Tetanus Shot.

As told by Harold Bray at the 2026 St. Maurice Cemetery Homecoming.

Around 1917, long before grass lawns were commonplace across Winn Parish, front yards were hard-packed dirt swept tidy with brooms and garden rakes. That year, a 12-year-old girl named Ava Crawford—daughter of the Winn Parish Sheriff—suffered a painful mishap when she fell onto an iron rake, driving two or three deep puncture wounds straight into her knee.

In those days, barnyard puncture wounds carried a terrifying danger: lockjaw, or tetanus. The family quickly carried young Ava inside to the living room and sent for the local physician.

What happened next was an extraordinary stroke of good timing. Ava’s brother, Frank Crawford, was working for the local pharmacist in Winnfield. Recognizing the urgent risk of infection, the doctor sent young Frank racing to the drugstore. As providence would have it, an unfamiliar medical shipment had just arrived on the pharmacy counter. The doctor opened the package, reviewed the enclosed literature, and discovered it was the very first shipment of tetanus antitoxin to reach the community. Reading the instructions on how to administer the serum right there in the living room, he gave young Ava the first documented tetanus shot in Winnfield history.

The antitoxin saved her life, but the severe puncture trauma caused her knee joint to lock up completely. Ava walked with a stiff, unbending leg, swinging it outward with each step, but she resolutely refused to let the injury define her future.
Determined to walk normally again, she took rehabilitation into her own hands with a unique brand of turn-of-the-century physical therapy. Ava would walk over to the high curb outside the Winn Parish Courthouse, sit down with her stiff leg extended out over the ledge, and have her brother Frank bounce up and down on her knee. Through sheer grit—and the unmistakable sound of internal joint adhesions snapping free—she forced the knee to regain mobility. The joint eventually unfroze completely, allowing Ava to live an active, normal life until arthritis set in during her later years.

Following the business meeting, attendees gathered under the shade trees for a traditional homecoming dinner on the grounds.

Cemetery Guidelines & Contributions:

All burials and monument placements at St. Maurice Cemetery require authorization. For permit inquiries, contact Board Secretary Melissa Ward at Melissaward83@gmail.com. Walk-ins and wheelchairs are always welcome on the grounds.

Memorial donations may be mailed to:

St. Maurice Cemetery Association, Inc.
c/o Melissa S. Ward, Secretary
162 Alma Swafford Rd
Natchitoches, LA 71457

(Please note on the check memo line whether contributions are designated for Cemetery Maintenance or the Church Building Project Fund).

This report and oral history account were compiled and transcribed using AI-assisted technology from on-site recordings gathered at the 2026 St. Maurice Cemetery Homecoming.

Photo Caption: ​Framed by the boughs of a native Winn Parish shortleaf pine, the historic St. Maurice Methodist Church (built in 1874 by John E. Jones) stands in bright autumn sunlight during the annual cemetery homecoming on Sunday, October 11, 2026.

---

WINNFIELD, La. — The Kiwanis Club of Winnfield named Troy Rogers its 2025–2026 Kiwanian of the Year during the club’s annual installation banquet held Monday evening, October 5, at Mama’s Iron Skillet.

The prestigious award was announced and presented by outgoing Club President Mary Lou Blackley, who commended Rogers for his dedication, versatility, and hands-on service across the club’s many initiatives.

“He just kind of jumps in anywhere and everywhere we need him,” Blackley stated during the presentation. She highlighted his willingness to spearhead public relations, keep the community informed through photos and news updates, recruit guest speakers, and help cook at the annual scholarship meal. Blackley also recognized Rogers’ extensive civic outreach, serving as an active bridge between Kiwanis and local community partners, including area fire departments, law enforcement, and Masonic organizations.

In addition to receiving the Kiwanian of the Year honors, Rogers was formally installed as President-Elect for the upcoming 2026–2027 Kiwanis year by Lt. Governor Kim Futrell. Under the club’s leadership track, Rogers will work alongside incoming President Ethel Howell before stepping into the presidency next term.

Accepting the award, Rogers expressed heartfelt gratitude to the membership for the honor, thanking fellow club members for their partnership in promoting the club’s activities and supporting the community’s youth.

For community members who want to make a lasting local impact and excel in civic service, the Kiwanis Club of Winnfield warmly invites you to get involved. The organization accomplishes great things for the area and is always actively seeking energetic new members, including young professionals and leaders eager to lend their ideas and enthusiasm to youth projects.

The Kiwanis Club of Winnfield meets weekly at Mama’s Iron Skillet, dedicated to the motto of serving the children of the world, one child and one community at a time.

​(L–R): Immediate Past President Mary Lou Blackley pins Troy Rogers with his official pin as incoming President-Elect, alongside District 11 Lieutenant Governor Kimberly Bruce Futrell, who presided over the installation ceremony during the Winnfield Kiwanis Club banquet on October 5.

---

John Douglas “Bo” Walker Jr.
Dec 5, 1946 — Oct 9, 2026

John Douglas “Bo” Walker Jr.

Bo’s journey through life was marked by his constant devotion to family, his long and distinguished career, and his vibrant community involvement.

John Douglas “Bo” Walker Jr., a man whose life was a testament to family, love, and service, was born on December 5, 1946, in Alexandria, Louisiana, the beloved son of John Douglas “Johnny” Walker and Billie Jean Cole Walker.

Bo was preceded in death by his parents and beloved daughter-in-law Rachel Walker.

Bo’s journey through life was marked by his constant devotion to family, his long and distinguished career, and his vibrant community involvement. In 1968 he married the love of his life, Christine Gaspard Walker, with whom he shared a beautiful partnership enriched by their devotion to family and mutual respect and love for each other during their 58 years of marriage.

A proud veteran, Bo served his country with honor in the U.S. Navy, stationed in the Philippines. His service was a reflection of his enduring commitment to duty and his country.

Bo dedicated over 50 years to the financial and banking industry, where his senior leadership, integrity, and guidance left an indelible mark. His colleagues and clients alike respected him for his wisdom, kindness, and unwavering standards of excellence.

Bo Walker’s life was a rich tapestry of love, service, and joy.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Bo was deeply involved in his community. He was an active and cherished member of the Winnfield Rotary Club for over three decades, actively participated in Ducks Unlimited in roles from local treasurer to regional Vice President over his more than twenty years of service to that organization, and supported the Winn Chamber of Commerce for many years, including serving as president. He was a devoted member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, where his presence was a constant source of inspiration and support, most notably in his leadership of the church’s meals delivery program, the St. Joseph’s Table feast and celebration, and the monthly First Saturday Brunch. Bo’s love of cooking, his celebrated skills, and his enthusiasm made these events famous far beyond all expectations.

Bo’s love for the outdoors was evident in his passion for hunting and fishing, pursuits he enjoyed sharing with family and friends. He was particularly fond of white perch fishing, traveling all over the South to do that on many memorable fishing trips.

Family was the heart of Bo’s world. He was a loving father to his daughter Joliene and her husband Rudy, and to his son Jason and wife Rachel, who is remembered with love. His grandchildren, Walker Sosa, Piper Sosa, and Kate Walker, were his pride and joy, his “special babies,” and he cherished every moment spent with them, from the many family vacations over their growing up years to the nightly texts to each of them to say he loved them. Bo’s sisters, Donna and Elyse, held a special place in his heart, and their bond was a source of great strength and joy throughout his life.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Friedreichs Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA – donation link at bottom of obituary) in honor of Kate Walker and in memory of Bo’s generous spirit and enduring legacy of support of that organization, from the many spaghetti fundraisers to the annual rideATAXIA events, where he contributed his world famous gumbo and was loved by all.

All Services will be held at Our Lourdes Catholic Church, 772 Country Club Rd., Winnfield, La 71483, on Saturday October 17, 2026. Friends may visit with the family at the church from 9:00 a.m. until 10:15 a.m., eulogy and comments from friends will be from 10:15 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., at 10:30 a.m. a rosary with prayer intentions will be given by his friends – Johnny Brister, Max Daughtry, Eddie Quitta, David Rockett, and Tom Yannarella. Following the recitation of the rosary there will be a funeral mass at 11:00 a.m. Reverend Louis Edward Sklar III and Deacon Lee Moreaux will be celebrating and seminarian Blake Bernard will serve the altar.

Bo Walker’s life was a rich tapestry of love, service, and joy. He had a passion for life and living. He loved and enjoyed his life, he loved his family and friends, and his memory will forever be cherished and celebrated by those who had the privilege of knowing him.

---

WINNFIELD, LA — The Kiwanis Club of Winnfield welcomed Reverend James E. Green, Democratic candidate for Louisiana Public Service Commission (PSC) District 5 (#19), as their guest speaker at the club’s weekly meeting on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.

Green, who currently serves on the Shreveport City Council and has pastored Union Mission Baptist Church for 49 years, is running for the PSC seat being vacated by longtime commissioner Foster Campbell. He was accompanied by his campaign manager, Dr. Markey W. Pierre, DBA, MBA, a well-known policy strategist, Haughton native, and recipient of the Virginia K. Shehee Most Influential Woman Award.

Club member Dr. Bill Gaddis introduced Green, highlighting Green’s extensive background in municipal leadership and community ministry. Taking the podium, Green immediately demonstrated his appreciation for local history by detailing key milestones of the Kiwanis Club of Winnfield, noting its charter on June 22, 1954, its service in Division 11, and its three decades organizing the annual Winnfield Christmas Parade.

Centering his address on his campaign slogan—“Protect the People, Protect the Pocketbook, Protect the Power”—Green emphasized the direct financial impact the Public Service Commission has on everyday households, small businesses, and community institutions.

“Public service goes directly to your pocketbook,” Green said. “It determines how you pay your bills, and right now families on fixed incomes, seniors, and working citizens are crying out for relief as electricity and grocery bills continue to rise. I’m not anti-business; I’m pro-people. If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. Ratepayers need a fighter in Baton Rouge who will ask utility companies the tough questions: why do you need a rate hike, and how will it help the people?”

During an open question-and-answer period, attendees raised vital questions regarding local utility fuel adjustments and the proliferation of large-scale AI data centers across North and Central Louisiana. Green took a decisive stance regarding industrial power consumption, asserting that large commercial developers must not push the financial burden of grid expansions onto residential ratepayers. “They need to bear all of the burden,” Green stated, stressing that corporate data facilities should utilize dedicated power grids or on-site generation. “They’re going to keep all the profits; they should not pass the cost to the people. Not as long as I have a vote.”

Green pledged to maintain strict transparency, vowing never to sign non-disclosure agreements that conceal utility negotiations from the public, and promised to hold regular town hall meetings across District 5 before rate cases and major infrastructure projects are finalized.

Dr. Pierre also spoke with attendees regarding collaborative energy strategies, highlighting innovative opportunities such as placing solar arrays over commercial parking facilities and expansive rooftops to reduce strain on the power grid while protecting farmland.

Green concluded by reaffirming his commitment to consumer affordability, weatherization assistance, and proactive storm-hardening for electric infrastructure across North Louisiana’s 24 parishes.

In keeping with Kiwanis tradition of providing a fair and open platform for all candidates, Dr. Gaddis noted that Green’s opponent in the District 5 election is scheduled to address the club in the coming weeks.

---

WINN PARISH, La. — Winn Parish will see several days of sunny and hot weather before small rain chances return for the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Wednesday will be sunny with a high near 93 degrees. Winds will be calm early before becoming easterly around 5 mph during the afternoon. Wednesday night will be mostly clear with a low around 62.

Thursday will remain sunny and hot with a high near 93. Mostly clear skies are expected Thursday night as temperatures fall to around 60.

Friday will be mostly sunny with another high near 93. Friday night will be partly cloudy with a low around 61.

A chance of rain will return Saturday, particularly during the afternoon. The National Weather Service forecasts a 30% chance of showers, mainly after 1 p.m., with mostly sunny skies and a high near 91. Saturday night will bring a 20% chance of showers and a low around 63.

Sunday will be partly sunny with a 30% chance of showers and a high near 91. A 20% chance of showers will continue Sunday night, with a low around 64.

For Columbus Day on Monday, a 20% chance of showers is forecast. Otherwise, conditions will be mostly sunny with a high near 93 degrees.

---

With the parish fair concluded, Winn Parish 4-H is continuing to recognize the accomplishments of its members who participated in livestock shows, contests and exhibits throughout the event.

4-H members spent the fair showcasing projects and skills developed through the program, representing Winn Parish in a variety of competitions and activities.

Winn Parish 4-H leaders also highlighted the role older members played during the fair, as they stepped forward to mentor and encourage some of the community’s youngest participants.

The older 4-H members shared their knowledge, offered encouragement and served as role models for younger participants learning about the program and its activities.

“The future of Winn Parish 4-H is bright,” the organization stated while recognizing the work and accomplishments of its members.

---

Chad Wayne Bingham

Chad loved the outdoors growing up and often was found hunting, and what he couldn’t hunt he would trap.

Chad Wayne Bingham was born on May 12, 1972, to the union of his parents, Keith and Sheila Bingham, in West Monroe, Louisiana. He passed from this life on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at his residence in Hebert, Louisiana, at the age of 54.

Chad was one of a kind. He lived life to the fullest and on his terms. Chad was a true friend to many. He loved his family with his whole heart and soul. Chad loved the outdoors growing up and often was found hunting, and what he couldn’t hunt he would trap. He was a jack of all trades and was always tinkering on something. He especially loved restoring old guns and would proudly show his craftsmanship to anyone. He was good at what he did. Chad had a sense of humor and always had a joke or a funny story to share. He loved to make people laugh. He, like his Grandpa Harvey, had the gift of spinning a “yarn” and was full of bull.

Chad was preceded in death by his father, Keith Bingham of Sikes; his paternal grandmother, Dell Boyett of Sikes; his paternal great-grandparents, Jewel and Altha Guthrie of Sikes; his maternal grandmother, Betty NeSmith of Port Isabel, Texas; his maternal grandfather, A. J. Tolbert of Sikes; his maternal great-grandparents, Harvey and Alpha Tolbert of Sikes; and his maternal great-grandfather, Johnnie William Hicks, and maternal great grandmother Lessie Walker Johnston.

Chad is survived by his mother, Sheila Bingham Whitman of Hebert, Louisiana; his son, Cody Bingham Whitman, and wife Tori of Mangham, Louisiana; his pride and joy, his grandchildren Remington, Hazelyn, Liam Whitman, and Eliana who is on the way; his sister, Shelley Ketchum, and husband Jimmy of Sikes; his nephew Zach Womack and wife Brandie and children Marley, Wyatt and Kutler Womack, Braedan, Kolman and Nathan Cummings of Olla, LA; Ethan Womack and wife Crystal and their children Jaxson, Anna-Kate and Hadlee Womack of Downsville, LA

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 in the chapel of Southern Funeral Home of Winnfield. Interment will follow at Sharon Cemetery, near Sikes. Friends visited with the family at Southern Funeral Home on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM, and can again on Wednesday from noon until time of service.

Pallbearers will be his son, Cody Bingham Whitman; nephews, Zach Womack, Ethan Womack, and Kolman Cummings; and his lifelong friends BuzHolden and Shelby Gaar. Honorary pallbearers will be Gordon Glen Whitman, Roy Lee NeSmith and Joe Bob Thompson. Lifelong friends Kevin Womack and Mark Green will officiate.

Chad will leave a void in many lives, but his memory will live on.

Family and friends will gather at the fellowship hall of Friendship Baptist Church in Sikes after graveside services.

---