FERRIDAY – Services for Martha DePrato Paul, 89, of Ferriday, who died Saturday, March 29, 2008, at her residence, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Sevier Memorial United Methodist Church, in Ferriday, with the Rev. Barry Dennis officiating.
Burial will follow at Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Comer Funeral Home in Ferriday.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Mrs. Paul was born Jan. 28, 1919, in Ferriday, the daughter of John Louis DePrato Sr. and Pinkney W. DePrato. She was a life-long resident of Ferriday and a long time member of the Sevier Memorial United Methodist Church. Mrs. Paul served 37 years in the Concordia Parish school system as an active teacher, coach and later central office supervisor. After retirement, she served three terms on the Concordia Parish School Board, totaling 50 years of service altogether. Coach Paul’s athletic teams won a total of seven state championships; two in basketball, two in softball and three in track and field. She was the guiding force for the beginning girls summer league softball programs, the Pigtail and Ponytail Leagues. She was honored by the local community in 1962 by being the honoree of Martha Paul Day, in Ferriday, after winning back-to-back state championships in basketball.
Mrs. Paul was inducted into the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in the early 1990s for her accomplishments as a high school coach.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lloyd T. Paul Sr.; one daughter, Janice Paul Fitzgerald; one brother, J.L. DePrato Jr.; aunts, Emma Hagle and Daisy Wilson; and uncles, A.B. Hagle and Joe Wilson.
Survivors include one son, Lloyd T. “Buddy” Paul Jr. and wife, Betty, both of Ferriday; one daughter, Jerry Paul Fuller of Anchorage, Alaska; five grandchildren, Michael Guyer and wife, Christa, of Denver, Regina Hileman and Julie Hileman, both of Anchorage, Aaron Paul and wife, Jennifer, and Ryan Paul and wife, Krystle; five great-grandchildren, Taylor Fuller, Dustin Starky, Audrey Mae Norlander, Enola Guyer and Annalise Paul; and two sisters-in-law, Anna Marie Davis and Kitty Vogt DePrato.
Pallbearers will be Billy Rucker, Mike Rabb, Ray Routon, Bill Colvin, Richard Alwood, Marion Newman, William Coleman and Mike Price.
A special thanks to Riverland Medical Center, St. Francis Cabrini Medical Center, special caregivers, Marilynn Parsons, Dr. Stacy Zeller, Hospice TLC of Winnsboro, Louisiana Home Health Care, and the Jan. 8 Birthday Crew of the Duck’s Nest.
Memorials may be made to the Martha D. Paul Memorial Scholarship Fund at Delta Bank.