Obituary

Brenda Joyce Stokes

December 25, 1942 - February 21, 2023

Brenda Lawrence Stokes passed into Heaven in peace at her home on Tuesday, February 21, 2023.  Brenda was a loving mother, grandmother, and soon to be great-grandmother.  She was born and raised in Bogalusa and except for a brief time living in Arkansas, she was a life-long resident of Bogalusa.  Brenda was a faithful member of Highland Baptist Church where she played the organ and loved singing in the choir.

After graduating from Bogalusa High School, she attended Southeastern Louisiana University. She worked many years as an office manager and bookkeeper of Lawrence Motor Supply, a family business owned by her father.   After it was sold, she was a longtime employee of Walmart before retiring.  In her younger years she enjoyed working in her flower beds and playing tennis with friends at the Bogalusa Country Club.  Brenda adored her family and loved spending time together with them.  She leaves a legacy of God’s love and blessing through future generations.

Brenda was preceded in death by both of her parents, Edward and Faye (Batton) Lawrence and her beloved husband, Bill Stokes, who she married in 1963.

Brenda is survived by her brother, Eddie Lawrence, Jr. (Trudy) of Bogalusa and her sister, Beverly Lawrence Merritt (Carl) of Orange Beach, AL.  She is also survived by her three sons and a daughter: Billy Houston Stokes (Nance) of Poplarville, MS; Bradley Edward Stokes of Bogalusa, LA; Elizabeth Ann Stogner (Tom) of Bush, LA and Brent Alan Stokes of Bogalusa, LA.;  and by eight grandchildren: Chloe Stokes of Perry, GA; Matthew Stokes of Bogalusa, LA; Ben (Grace ) Stogner of Richardson, TX; Will Stogner of Dallas, TX; Sam Stogner of Bush, LA; Jack Stogner of Bush, LA; Jake Stokes of Poplarville, MS, and Grace Stogner of Bush, LA. Lastly, She is survived by a great granddaughter, Eloise Ann Stogner of Richardson, TX.

Visitation will be held at Highland Baptist Church in Bogalusa, LA on Saturday, February 25, 2023, from 12:00-2:00 pm with the service beginning at 2:00 pm. Interment will immediately follow at Ponemah Cemetery in Bogalusa.