BICKHAM

Walterine Hunter Bickham, 88, died at 6:35 p.m. Thursday, May 30, 2013, at Good Samaritan Nursing Home.

Born Aug. 9, 1924, she was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Franklinton and one of the founders of the Franklinton Women’s Club. She was in a bridge club with some of her best friends and loved to cook and host gatherings for her family, all of whom she loved so dearly. She was at one time an active member of the Republican Women’s Organization and was an avid sports fan, especially LSU and Saints football. She loved to pass on to her grandchildren old-time stories so that they might learn the history of this area. She was also a very generous person, even recently where she shared all she had with others at Good Samaritan.

She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Joe Dillon of Crossroads, Miss.; three sons and a daughter-in-law, Brad Bickham of Franklinton, Charles Bickham of Bogalusa and Phillip and LeeAnn Bickham of Midway, Texas; a daughter-in-law, Becky Bickham of Franklinton; 10 grandchildren and spouses, Rod and Heidi Dillon, Evan and Heather Dillon, Daphne and Eugene Dyson, Brooke Bickham, Ben Bickham, Blaine and Brandy Bickham, Cassie Bickham, Derrick Bickham, Dawn Bickham and Mary Smith;

nine great-grandchildren, Anna Beth Dillon, John Garrett Dillon, Aubrey Dillon, Hailey Dyson, Emily Dyson, Sofia Bickham, William Bickham, Brooklyn Smith and Gavin Smith; a brother and sister-in-law, Durwood and Jackie Hunter of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a sister-in-law, Nelda Hunter of Baton Rouge; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, B.E. Bickham Jr.; a son, David William Bickham; her parents, Grover Cleveland Hunter and Janey McDill Hunter; two brothers, Grover Cleveland “G.C.” Hunter and Bill Hunter; a sister, Opal Sheeley; and a close cousin, “Dot” Verger Simmons.

Visitation was held Saturday, Jun 1 from 10 a.m. until time for the funeral service at 3 p.m. in funeral home chapel, with the Rev. Paul Watts and the Rev. Dale Parker officiating. Burial will follow in the Ellis Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Ben Bickham, Derrick Bickham, Blaine Bickham, Rod Dillon, Evan Dillon and Eugene Dyson.

Obituaries can be viewed online at www.crainfh.com.