Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

“If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service. I would wait, till my renewal should come” (John 14:14).

Larry Oneal Newkirk was called home by the angel of the land on Monday, Sept. 13, 2021. Larry was born on June 18, 1960, to Willie Mae Newkirk and the late Larry Charles Allen in Bogalusa.

Larry was baptized at New Zion Missionary Baptist Church at an early age under the leadership of the late Reverend A.L. Owens in Varnado. He remained a member there until his death, under the leadership of Pastor Linza Ray Cotton.

Larry attended Washington Parish Schools in Varnado.

Larry worked for various jobs. He started with pulpwood with his step-dad, Authur “Dee” Walls, and was even self-employed with his Log Trucks and equipment under Ryals Timber Company. In 1997, after receiving his CDL License from Costal Driving Academy, Larry worked at Easterling Trucking, Candace Escavating, Bogalusa Concrete, Creel Trucking, and IED/ Ridgeback Trucking as a truck driver over the years before retiring.

 

Larry was the life of the party with his own unique personality. He became known for his most memorable phrase, “They lied on ME.” If Larry was present, there were never any dull moments.

Larry leaves to cherish his memories, a wife of 38 years, Deidre B. Newkirk; his mother, Willie M. (Authur) Walls; three sons, Clayton, Oneal and Larry Newkirk Jr.; two daughters, Careka Newkirk and Edna Mingo; a mother-in-law, Mary Angel; step-daughter, Sandra Scott; 11 grandchildren, Clayton Jr., Jerimiah, Jakal, JaCaven, Koa, Demarion, JaQuan, Blessed, Star, Justin Newkirk and Patrick Smith Jr.; three step-grandchildren, Destiny, Seven and Jahon Green; a brother, Kelton (Roxanne) Newkirk of Baton Rouge; three sisters, Urecia (James) Warren of Hammond, Beverly Lee and Barbara Williams of Kentwood; two god-sisters, Loretta Sam of Pearl River and Debra Smith of Bogalusa; two sisters-in-law, Anita Peters of Fort Worth, Texas, and Sherrie Conerly of New Jersey; one brother-in-law, Chris Brown of Bogalusa; two aunts, Dorothy Peterson and Josephine Newkirk of Bogalusa; two uncles, George Ben and Oscar Lee Newkirk of Bogalusa; a special cousin whom he loved like a sister, Catisha Newkirk of Tacoma, Wash.; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Larry Charles Allen; a sister, Demetris Newkirk Whaley; a brother, Leroy Walls; grandparents, Frank B. and Rosa Newkirk and Noah and Bert Wheeler; an uncle, Jerry Newkirk; an aunt, Betty J. Newkirk; and godparents, Ovet and Carrie Lewis.

A drive-through viewing was Thursday, Sept. 23, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Crain and Sons Funeral Home.

The funeral service was on Friday, Sept. 24, at 11:30 a.m. at New Zion Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor Linza R. Cotton officiating. Interment was held at Moses Cemetery.

Crain and Sons Funeral Home of Bogalusa was in charge of arrangements.