Obituary

Freda Sylvest Welch

May 23, 1938 - October 15, 2023

Freda Sylvest Welch, age 85 and a resident of Franklinton, passed away Sunday afternoon October 15, 2023 at Heritage Manor Nursing Home. She was a longtime active member of Bethel Baptist Church, where she loved serving as a children’s Sunday School leader for years and enjoyed singing in the church choir. Freda worked as the secretary at Franklinton Junior High School for many years and later was the secretary at Hillcrest Baptist Church for a short while. It was around this time that she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which led to her retiring, and later prevented her from being as active in the community as she wanted. Freda thoroughly enjoyed serving in the Sylvest Cabin at Mile Branch Settlement every October at the Washington Parish Free Fair. This was her family’s history and she loved to share that with the thousands of visitors she met over the years. She was even recognized as the Mile Branch Settlement Catalog Honoree in 2012, something she was always very proud of.

Survived by: Daughter and Son in law: Lynn and Brad Morgan of Denham Springs; Son and Daughter in law: Stephen and Christina Welch of the Stony Point Community; 5 Grandchildren and Spouses: Jason and Stacy Morgan, Brian and Rachel Morgan, Aaron Morgan, Victoria Welch, Hunter Welch; 7 Great-grandchildren: Braiden Morgan, Cole Morgan, Taylor Morgan, Kathryn Morgan, Lily Morgan, Bryce Morgan, Gabriel Hunt; 3 Sisters in law: Nell Sylvest, Jeanette Sylvest, Marilyn Sylvest; Also numerous nieces, nephews and other family members

She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years M. Enoch Welch, parents Cluster Sylvest and Lucille Snyder Sylvest, brothers Lawrence Sylvest, Billy Sylvest, Sammie Sylvest, Joe Floyd Sylvest, father in law and mother in law Milo and Ruth Welch, brother in law and sister in law Bruce and Genevieve Welch.

Visitation will be at Bethel Baptist Church (42592 Bethel Road, Franklinton) Tuesday October 17th from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm. A funeral service will be held in the church at 1:00 pm Tuesday with Rev. Rick Cook and grandson Rev. Brian Morgan officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Pallbearers: Jason Morgan, Aaron Morgan, Hunter Welch, Braiden Morgan, Cole Morgan, Bryce Morgan