Dec. 3, 1942 – Sept. 19, 2018

COVINGTON, La. — Memorial services for Elven R. Dykes Jr., 75, of Mandeville, La., who died Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, following a battle with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) will be 11 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church, 16333 Highway 1085, in Covington, La.   
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.
Graveside services will be 3 p.m. Saturday at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, 106 Morgantown Road in Natchez, under the direction of E.J. Fielding Funeral Home in Covington.
Mr. Dykes was born Dec. 3, 1942, in Smithdale, the son of Raiford and Ann R. Dykes.
He was a resident of Natchez until 1989, and was a former member of First Baptist Church, in Natchez, where he served as a deacon and taught Sunday school.
In Natchez, Dykes was also a former member of Belwood Country Club. In 1993, he made his home in Mandeville. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Covington and served as a deacon, chairman of deacons and taught Sunday school. Dykes’ strong faith in his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was unwavering to the end.
Dykes was a graduate of Natchez High School and attended Copiah Lincoln Junior College in Wesson. He was a loyal employee of Canal Barge Company of New Orleans for 41 years. His interests included being an avid outdoorsman, golfer and Ole Miss football fan.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one daughter, Tracy Dykes Volante.
Survivors include by his devoted wife of 26 years, Lucy Redd Dykes; three children, Kevin Dykes of Madison, Melanie White and husband, Shelby, of Nashville, Tenn., and George Forbes and wife, Stephanie, of Gretna, La.; son-in-law, Kenny Volante of Mandeville; nine grandchildren, Christopher Dykes, Britton Dykes, Lacy Roberts, Corey Roberts, Kenny Volante Jr., Vaiden White, Cassidy White, Tyler Forbes and Allison Forbes; and one great-grandson, Ford Dykes.
He was loved and respected by his family, his wife’s family and his many friends. Dykes’ gentle and kind spirit will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
A special thanks to St. Tammany Parish Hospital Hospice, Hospice House-Hospice Foundation of the South and Home Instead caregivers for their loving, compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church Building Fund, 16333 Highway 1085, Covington, LA 70433 or to Hospice Foundation of the South, P. O. Box 5806, Slidell, LA 70469.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at ejfieldingfh.com.