Elizabeth Zappa Haynes

Funeral services will be held for Mrs. Elizabeth “Liz” Zappa Haynes, age 78, at First Baptist Church, 406 W Main Street, Homer, LA, on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., with Rev. Brian Thurman, officiating. Interment will be at Salem Cemetery in Athens, LA. Visitation will be at the church from 1-2 p.m., prior to the service.

Liz was born August 1, 1946, in Athens, LA, to Curtis L. and Ella Mae Liles Zappa. She entered into rest on May 11, 2025, in West Palm Beach, FL. Liz was avid about education. She taught special education for elementary children for over thirty-five years before becoming a pupil appraisal coordinator. Liz’s main enjoyment was her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We visited them every chance we had. Liz really enjoyed going to the beach. She would enjoy just sitting in the sun and getting darker. With her dark skin, she thought she did not need any sun screen lotion. One trip to the beach, she found out differently. She sat in the sun too long (way too long) and blistered very badly. So badly in fact that her face became so swollen that her eyes were nearly shut. She used sun screen after that. She really enjoyed going to the mountains. Her first encounter with the mountains were shortly after we married. Her parents were stationed in New Mexico and we would visit them and during each visit we would take a trip into the mountains. Later our son lived near Seattle WA and we made a couple of trips out there. During one trip we went into the Cascade mountains east of Seattle. They were covered with snow and she really enjoyed that trip, other than she was so concerned about my driving in snow. Liz enjoyed cooking, especially around Christmas when all of the kids were home. She made sure there were ample candy, cookies, and other desserts. While we were in graduate school in Ohio, we went to the University of Michigan Biological Station in extreme northern Lower Peninsula Michigan. It was situated on a beautiful lake. She would always get her sun tanning done there. There were numerous state forest lands near the Station and dwarf blueberries were abundant. Anyone could go into the forest and gather as many blueberries as they wanted. We would take our son with us and we would go gather blueberries and freeze them to take home at the end of the session. Then she would make blueberry pies. Oh, were they good.

Finally, Liz was passionate about spreading God’s Word. She did so through the Auxiliary of the Gideons International. We joined the Association in May of 2008 with the Claiborne Camp. Liz quickly became a leader in the Camp, eventually becoming Camp President. Following her tenure as president, she began working at the state level as Area Director. The area included all parishes from Claiborne to DeSoto parishes. After that she moved through the ranks for the state, eventually becoming State President. She was so respected as president that she chaired sessions at the International Convention in Orlando. Following her tenure as president, she was appointed International Auxiliary Cabinet Representative, which involves representing the International Cabinet at state association conventions. One year of training is required, and she had completed almost all training and had been assigned a convention to represent the Cabinet. Then her health began to deteriorate. First, she had a major eye problem followed by edema of the legs followed by a major fall resulting in brain damage. Regrettably, she had to resign as Cabinet Representative.

She is preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, James Zappa, John Zappa, and Finnis Zappa; three sisters-in-law, Mary Jo Zappa, Jeannie Zappa, and Nita Matherly and husband, Robert Matherly; and in-laws, Tom A. and Ruby L. Haynes.

She is survived by her loving husband of 57+ years, Robert R. Haynes of West Palm Beach, FL; son, R. Charles Haynes and wife Tanitra Thomthong of West Palm Beach, FL; daughter, Roxann Nixon and husband Rev. John Ashley of Virginia Beach, VA; grandchildren, C. Don and wife Haley Haynes of Huntsville, AL, Ella Nixon, Sara Nixon, and J. Robert Nixon all of Virginia Beach, VA; great-grandchildren, Zoey Haynes and Luca Haynes; sister, Sherline Zappa Carver of Athens; sisters-in-law, Betty Williams of Homer, LA; and Edna Fern Zappa of Athens, LA; twelve nieces and nephews; many great and grand-nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.

Liz’s family would like to express their gratitude to Trustbridge Hospice of Florida and doctors and nurses who treated her.

Pallbearers will be Russell Langley, David Avery, Jason Williams, Jef Staats, Kim Grigg, and John David Watson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Gideons and Auxiliary of the Gideons.

In lieu of flowers honoring Liz, her family suggests memorials be made to Gideons International or First Baptist Church of Homer, LA.

Rose-Neath Funeral Home

Homer Chapel (318) 927-6110