Gladys Alford, 81, died peacefully after a battle with leukemia, passing away on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, at her residence in Bogalusa.

She was born on Sept. 30, 1935, in Franklinton. She was a member of Westside Emmanuel Baptist Church, where she helped with the shut-in ministry and bereavement ministry until her health no longer allowed her to minister. Her special friend, Glenda Givens, was present with her till the end.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Walton Theodore Alford; parents, William “Bill” Sharp and Odilee Creel Sharp; sisters, Ruby Lee King and Joyce Sharp; and brothers, Richard Sharp and Rodney Sharp.

She is survived by her children, Cynthia “Cindy” Lynn Greer (Eddie) of Denham Springs, Teresa Ann LeBlanc (Paul) of Bogalusa, Deborah Kay Boleware (Richard) of Ridgeland, Miss., and Walton Randall Alford (Becky) of Prairieville; four grandchildren, Alyssa LeBlanc, Blake Boleware (Hannah), Jacob Alford and Megan Alford; brothers, Billie Sharp (Mary) of Schertz, Texas, Howard Sharp (Earline) of Walker, and Wilfred Sharp of Jackson; sisters, Mary Helen Lilly (John) of Baton Rouge and Carolyn Garner (Don) of Osyka, Miss.; and a brother-in-law, Royce Alford (Hilda) of Dayton, Texas.

Visitation will be held at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home on Thursday, Sept. 21, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visitation will continue at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, Sept. 22, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Marcus Rosa officiating. Interment will follow at Hillview Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Gladys’ memory to Westside Emmanuel Baptist Church or Mary Byrd Perkins Cancer Center in Covington.

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