Obituary

Eugene Hamlin Whitehead

October 12, 1945 - July 30, 2023

Eugene Hamlin Whitehead, age 77 and a resident of Franklinton, passed away Sunday morning July 30, 2023, on his porch as he would have wanted. He was born October 12, 1945, in Tylertown, MS, to the late Walter and Eva Viola Whitehead. He was the 7th of 14 siblings. In 2005, due to his health, he retired from Infinity Maintenance Service, a subcontractor for Exxon BOP in Baytown, TX, as a Heavy Equipment Operator. Shortly thereafter, he moved back to Louisiana to be near his daughter Kathy, where he enjoyed fishing, planting his garden to share with family and friends, and co-hosting with his daughter massive Easter Egg Hunts and Crawfish boils, Fourth of July parties that lasted for days, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, and numerous 4-wheeler and tractor rides with his great-grandchildren. When he was not outside “piddling around”, you could find him watching a western on tv.

Survived by: 3 Children and a Spouse: Katherine Taylor of Franklinton, LaTroy (Denise) Whitehead of Dayton, TX and Johnna Whitehead of Conroe, TX; 11 Grandchildren and Spouses: Melody Mendheim, Kirstie (Jimmy) Graugnard, Michael (Ashley Tyrney) Mendheim, Sheila (Miguel) Olivio, Delinda Whitehead, Jaylene (David) Whitehead, Austin (Kyleigh) Whitehead, Anna Whitehead, Charlie Whitehead, Katherine Cheyenne Whitehead, Jayden Kennedy; 3 step grandchildren: Hailey Toner, Joseph, and Logan Shelby; 11 Great-grandchildren: Trenton, Abigail, Alice, Jimmy Jr., Paul, Alexander, Aiden, Esmerelda, and Kingsleigh (expected anytime); Jenelle and Briana (adopted); 2 step great-grandchildren: Madelyn and Gabrielle; 2 Sisters: Juanita Jenkins of Franklinton and LeLa Gottschalk of Covington. Sister-in-law: Brenda Whitehead of Covington, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends who loved him very much.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Viola Granger Whitehead; 5 Brothers: Thomas, Floyd, Lloyd, Walter Jr., and Nora Dewitt Whitehead; 6 Sisters: Wyoma Howell, Louise Gill, Betty Spencer, Peggy King, Dorothy Hill, Mary Anthony; and a grandson Gavin Helmer.

Visitation will be at Crain Funeral Home (1109 Bene Street, Franklinton, LA) Wednesday August 2nd from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home chapel at 2:00 pm Wednesday with Rev. Leon Hickman and Rev. Bryan Bates officiating. Burial will follow in the Spencer Cemetery

Eugene’s daughter Kathy would like to thank her co-workers at WatchSystems for their love and support throughout the years. To the staff at Egan Hospice: my deepest gratitude to his Nurse Stephanie Carter, who he loved to sit with and tell jokes, and his Social Worker Simeon Thomas, with whom he loved to share his vegetables from his garden. Thank you both for your love, laughter, care, and patience.

Pallbearers: Troy Whitehead, Michael Mendheim, Austin Whitehead, Jimmy Graugnard, David Potter, Rodney Stogner