CLAYTON — Services for the Rev. Shep Bethley Jr., 61, of Ferriday, who died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009, at Riverland Medical Center in Ferriday, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mark Baptist Church with the Rev. Freddie Schiele officiating.
Burial will follow at the Ferriday Cemetery under the direction of Concordia Funeral Home in Ferriday.
Visitation services will be at 6 p.m. today at Mercy Seat Baptist Church.
Rev. Bethley was born Aug. 17, 1947, in Clayton, the son of Shep and Sarah Gordon Bethley. He was a retired custodian from Concordia Parish School System. He was the minister for Mount Olive Baptist Church, Sunflower Baptist Church and Mount Zion Baptist Church, all in Ferriday, Triumph Baptist Church and Young’s Chapel Baptist Church, both of Vidalia, United Baptist Church in Natchez and a member of the Concordia Ministerial Alliance.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include seven sons, Raymond Spurs and wife, Leslie, both of Houston, Texas, Bryant Bethley, Juneo Bethley and wife, Walexis, Demetrius Bethley and wife, Angela, Danny Meredith and Calvin Bethley and wife, Tenisha, all of Ferriday, and Frederick Butler and wife, Shawanda, both of Alexandria, La.; two daughters, LaDonna Bethley and husband, Carlos, and Letha Bethley, all of Ferriday; two brothers, Frank Brown Sr. and wife, Delbra, and James Bethley, all of Ferriday; four sisters, Hattie Ruth Bethley and companion, Henry, Beatrice Brown and husband, Luke, Leatrice Allen and husband, Bobby, all of Ferriday, and Merlee Marshall of Metairie, La.; his fiancée, Judy Lewis of Ferriday; and a number of grandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews and cousins.
Online condolences may be sent to concordiafuneralhomeinc.com.