Obituary

Selmon Alton "Sonny" Corkern, Jr.

July 19, 1952 - July 30, 2023

Selmon Alton "Sonny" Corkern, Jr., age 71 and a resident of Franklinton, passed away Sunday morning July 30, 2023 at his home. He was retired after a long career as the director of maintenance and repair with International Shipholding Corporation. Sonny’s duties through the years included designing ships, inspecting barges and other things. He had said that during his career he traveled to 40 different countries all over the world. He was always talented working with his hands, and even as a young child took things apart to see how they worked and rebuilt them. Sonny and his father built his house from the ground up, doing all the carpentry, plumbing, electrical, painting and finishing, something he was very proud of. He enjoyed woodworking, making tables and many other items for his family and friends. Sonny also enjoyed planting and taking care of orchid flowers and had hundreds of them on his property. He and others formed a non-profit orchid society organization, Phal Fanatics, which provides seminar education opportunities for people and scholarships to students. He always loved being outside in the beautiful nature and spending quality time with his family.

Survived by: Wife of 49 years: Phyllis Walker Corkern of Franklinton; Daughter and Son in law: Taffenie and Fred Mizell of Franklinton; Son and Daughter in law: Selmon “Corky” Corkern, III and Aubrey Khachatryan of Abita Springs; Grandchildren: Van Walker Mizell, Finn Wyld Corkern, Hadley Violet Corkern, Natalie Hope Khachatryan; Sister and Brother in law: Jannell and David Davis of Talisheek; Sisters in law: Thelma Bryne of Texas, Brenda Walker of Lafayette; Also numerous nieces and nephews

He was preceded in death by his parents Selmon Alton Corkern, Sr. and Marie Antony Corkern and other family members

Visitation will be at Crain Funeral Home (1109 Bene Street, Franklinton, LA) Thursday August 3rd from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home chapel at 2:00 pm Thursday with Father Pedro Prada officiating. Burial will follow in the Bonner Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial donations to Phal Fanatics at www.phalfanatics.org

Pallbearers: Selmon Corkern, III, Fred Mizell, Van Mizell, Justin Magee, Tim Blackwell, Tom Bryne