Extracted from The News-Star (Monroe, LA)
Thursday, December 26, 2002

RITA MAE SIKES MEDLIN

Cox Funeral Home
Delhi, LA

Funeral services for Rita Mae Sikes Medlin of Rayville, formerly of Lake Providence will be held on Friday, December 27, 2002 at 10:00 AM in the Cox Funeral Chapel in Delhi with the Reverend James C. Hayes of Oak Grove, and the Reverend Ken Evans of Lake Providence officiating. Burial will be in the Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery in Monroe under the direction of Cox Funeral Home of Delhi.

Granny was born on September 27, 1921 in Richland Parish, LA. She went to celebrate the birthday of Jesus with him in Heaven on Christmas Eve, 2002. If you listen closely, you can almost hear that angelic voice, and know that she is the newest member of that heavenly choir.

Our hearts are saddened knowing how much we will miss her, but we also remember that she has gone to join her deceased husband, Pete Sikes, her father and mother, Alec and Viola McCarty, her brothers, Earnest and Basil McCarty, and her sister, Edna Herrington.

She will be greatly missed by her only living sibling, Margaret Willamson.

When you look at the people who loved her so deeply, you will understand why we feel that our lives were made better because she was a part of them. She is survived by her children, Alice Perry and husband, Bufurd, Velma Rhoten, Florece Coleman and husband, Ralph, Jan Alderman and husband Adren, and one son, Scooter Medlin and wife Becky. She also has fifteen loving grandchildren, Olivia Payne, Lamar Perry, Melanie Snyder, Taama Galyean, Bronwyn Crane, Spencer Rhoten, Randy Coleman, Penny Oswalt, Kelly Coleman, Kristi Fontenot, Michelle Alderman, Misty Alderman, Hope Alderman, Courtney Fulmer, and Nathan Medlin. She gave her family a strong foundation, which is evident by her twenty- three great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild, Abigail, who was born on the day of granny's home going.

Visitation will be Thursday, December 26, 2002 from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Cox Funeral Home in Delhi. Pallbearers will be Joey Coleman, Scooter Medlin, Chase Snyder, Mike Crane, Jake Perry, Josh Payne, Spencer Rhoten, Kelly Coleman and Adren Alderman. The grandchildren of Mrs. Medlin will provide the music at the service in her honor. Penny Oswalt will sing Amazing Grace Randy Coleman will sing Leavin on My Mind and Lane Coleman will sing a song that our Granny has sung to us many times which is the Old Rugged Cross.

We are blessed to know that Granny is with our Lord and Savior in a heavenly mansion and celebrating a happy reunion with her loved ones that have gone on. She will be greatly missed, but how can we be sad when she is so happy. We will remember her and smile, knowing that she loves us as much as we love her.

Any planned memorials may be made to the Melbourne Baptist Church in Transylvania.