SEALS

Rayford Charles Seals, 73, a resident of Bogalusa, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014, at Northshore Specialty Hospital in Covington.

Born on Nov. 20, 1940, Rayford gave years of service to the youth of Bogalusa, and was presented with the Bogalusa Sports Association Bob Carter Memorial Award during an annual Bob Carter Memorial Little League Basketball Tournament at the BHS Lumberjack Gym. He became involved in little league activities in 1973 with the Southeast Athletic Association when his oldest daughter, Sherry Seals Martin, became a cheerleader. When Sherry grew out of little league, he started coaching the biddy league girls softball team when his daughter Tammy became a player in 1979. This team won the city championship five of the six years he coached.

Rayford worked in the Southeast Athletic Association in many capacities, serving as a member of the SEAA Board of Directors for 13 years, president for four years, vice president for two years, in addition to his coaching duties. In 1986, when the Summer Junior Co-ed Softball League was formed, made up of players from several of Bogalusa Sports Association teams, he guided the team to the city title. He coached the ladies softball team “Flash” for Main Street Baptist Church, and served as vice president of the Women’s Church League. “Flash” won second place in the state tournament and 14th in the regional tournament played in Oklahoma City.

Rayford also attended Palestine Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Linda Seals; his daughters, Sherry (Brad) Martin and Tammy (Byron) Spears; three grandsons, Thailyr Spears, Matthew Paulk and Austin Paulk; three granddaughters, Kristi Martin, Ashley Martin and Bailey Spears; a great-grandson, Dawson Givens; a great-granddaughter, Gabby Anderson “Abby-Gayle”; a sister-in-law, Gerri Seals; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Lisa (Jeff) Paulk; a niece, Kim Seals; special friends Rachael Jenkins, Susan Painter, Wilkie Woods and Pam and Charles Helton; best friend, David Thompson; and his only surviving aunt, Mae Terrell.

He was preceded in death by his father, Leo Seals; his mother, Alice Seals; his brother, Leon Seals; mother-in-law Kenny Gill; father-in-law, Sexton “Red” Gill; and nieces, Cindy Seals and Sondra Seals.

Visitation was held Thursday, Jan. 30 at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home from 5-9 p.m., and will continue on Friday at 9 a.m. until time for the funeral services at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel, with the Rev. Fred Brumfield officiating. Interment will follow at Williams Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Charles Helton, Howard Stewart, Charles Graves, Robert Gill, Ronnie Gill and Earl Graves. Honorary pallbearers are Johnny Crain Sr., Johnny Crain Jr., Jimbo Stevenson, Travis Thomas, Brent Jones, Randy Seal, Danny Thomas and Billy Ray Mizell.

To view and sign the register book, visit www.pooleritchiefuneralhome.com.