Our loving mother went home to be with the Lord on Friday, May 5, 2017, at Good Samaritan Nursing Home at 2:30 p.m. We are rejoicing in Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because we know that she was chosen according to John 6:37.

Lavelle Wilkins was a member of Mandeville Bible Church for 44 years.

She will be waiting for her children in heaven. She is survived by her four children and spouses, Paulette and Ray Smith, Richard and Julia Cook, Brenda Cook and Gregory and Kelly Cook. She has seven grandchildren, Rick Cook, Billy Holmes, Tim Cook, Chris Cook, Crystal Mayo, Josie Cook, and Ashley Cook; 12 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Lavelle is also survived by one sister, Mildred O’Quin.

She is preceded in death by her father and mother, Warren and Eva Josie Wheat; her husband, Myrthy D. Wilkins; infant son, Gary Wilkins; one sister, Jo Warren Mizell; and two brothers, Jewel Wheat and Murphy J. Wheat.

Visitation began at 10 a.m. Monday, May 8, at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home and continued until the funeral service at noon in the chapel. Officiating Mrs. Lavelle Wilkins’ funeral were Rev. Rick Cook, Rev. Nick Greco, and Rev. Eric McNeil. Interment followed at Ponemah Cemetery in Bogalusa.

Honorary pallbearers were her grandsons, Tim Cook, Chris Cook, and Billy Holmes.

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