James Larry Skinner

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of James Larry Skinner, 86, on June 23, 2026 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He gained his wings to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 26, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. with a visitation starting at 9:00 a.m. at Union Baptist Church, 9696 Hwy 175, Belmont, Louisiana. A burial will follow at Belmont Cemetery, 9237 Hwy 175, Belmont, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Brother Jerry Penfield.

Larry was born on August 17, 1939 in Many, Louisiana and grew up in Belmont, Louisiana. He was the son of Daniel Harvey Skinner and Virginia Abrams Skinner.

Larry played basketball for Belmont High School and was proud of the Bears winning two state championships and 59 games in a row, a then state record. He attended Northwestern State University continuing his basketball career. He lettered 4 years and was a three-year starter who was twice All-Gulf States Conference. In 1960, he was named the State of Louisiana’s 5th Best Active Collegiate Athlete by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

After graduating Northwestern, Larry served in education for over 35 years as a teacher and coach. He coached the 1967 Many High School Tigers to the state basketball championship. He served 9 years as principal of Many High School and was superintendent of schools in Sabine Parish for 14 years. He served as vice-president and president of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents. He also chaired and served on several Southern Association of Elementary and Secondary School evaluation committees.

Even after retirement from the public school system, Larry served as principal and helped coach basketball at Central High School in Grand Cane, Louisiana. He was inducted into the Northwestern Sports Hall of Fame in 1986, the Hall of Distinguished Educators at NSU and the Sabine Parish Hall of Fame.

Outside of work, Larry loved playing golf, traveling to Colorado in the winter and visiting with teammates, former players, and friends and relatives to rekindle the days gone by. Larry was a compassionate person who was an encourager at heart. Larry dearly loved his family and each and every accomplishment of his girls and his grandchildren.

He is survived by his daughters, Melanie McGaha (Skip) of Shreveport, Louisiana, Julia Skinner of Madison, Mississippi, and Ginger Warren (Danny) of Bossier City, Louisiana; stepdaughters, Lina Claire Peterson of Many, Louisiana and Judith Peterson of Alexandria, Louisiana; 5 grandchildren, Rebecca McGaha (Adam) of Shreveport, Louisiana, Katherine McGaha (Clark) of Houston, Texas, Kory Arthur of Bossier City, Louisiana, Brandy Elmore (Chris) of Bossier City, Louisiana, and Jesse Warren (McKayla) of Havelock, North Carolina; 9 great-grandchildren, Grant, William, Andrew, James, Avery, Jacob, Irelynn, Bowen, and Brewer; and brother, Asa Allen Skinner (Karen) of Lake Charles, Louisiana.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Skinner; parents, Daniel and Virginia Skinner, and brother, Reverend William Ronald Skinner.

Honoring Larry as pallbearers will be Clint Skinner, Dudley Lang, Robbie Lang, Colby Lang, David Miller, Bruce Hendrickson, Jarvis Blinks, and Skipper McGaha.

Services and care were provided to the family by Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Many, Louisiana.