Florence Ebarb Finnelle

Florence Ebarb Finnelle finished the work our Lord had for her and joined him in heaven on January 15, 2023. She was a good and faithful servant who served God and her church throughout her long life. She was 99 years old when she departed this life for the next one.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary of the Pines Catholic Church, 1050 Bert Kouns Ind. Loop, Shreveport, Louisiana on Friday, January 20, 2023. Burial will follow at Forest Park East Cemetery, 3700 St. Vincent Ave. in Shreveport.

Florence was born in Zwolle, Louisiana and lived there and in Mansfield, Louisiana during her early life. She was one of nine children and left at an early age to live with family in Shreveport for several years before moving out on her own. Florence held many jobs in her life, mostly in retail sales, but her most treasured service was to her church, St. Mary of the Pines, and its many organizations, groups, and ministries, including her “beloved” Catholic Daughters, Holy Trinity Altar Society, and Knights of Columbus Auxiliary.

Florence married Drew Finnelle in 1955. They enjoyed a fine life together and traveled to many places in the world. She enjoyed sharing her memories of her journeys. Florence was a plain-spoken person and welcomed the opportunity to share her experiences and opinions.

About her life, she said, “God has given me a long life. I have lived in good times and bad times. God gave me a good husband. The only thing I wish is that I could have had one more dance with Drew to Patti Page’s ‘Tennessee Waltz.’ My love to family and friends and to my loving helper, Pearl.”

Florence was preceded in death by her husband, Drew; her parents, Abram Ebarb and Elizabeth Nigreville; four brothers: Joseph, Monroe, Alvin and her twin, Larry; three sisters: Lurline, Irene (Dolly), and Lula Mae; and one half-brother, James. She is survived by her daughter, Maryann Priddy of Henderson, Tennessee; two grandchildren, Marla Annette Newman and Douglas Allen Priddy of Henderson; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Florence and Drew also raised Drew’s grandson, John (Trey) Tucker of Bogalousa, Louisiana as if he was their own.

She asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her name to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.