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Kemper Williams Sr., 95, a resident and native of Patterson, La. passed away peacefully Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at 4:55 a.m. at Franklin Foundation Hospital.
Visitation will be observed on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at the Good Hope Baptist Church in Patterson, La., from 10 a.m. until funeral services beginning at 1 p.m., with Pastor Patrick Jones Sr., officiating. Burial will follow funeral services in the Shields Cemetery in Patterson, La.
Memories of Kemper Sr. will forever remain in the hearts of his son, Vernon Williams of Patterson, La.; three daughters, Cedes Brooks, Orelia Harris and Charlene (Earl) Williams all of Patterson, La.; one daughter-in-law; seven teen grandchildren, twenty-five great grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.
Kemper Sr., was preceded in death by his wife, one son, and three daughters.
Jones Funeral Home of Morgan City-Franklin-Jeanerette-Houma in charge of arrangements.
Visit www.jones-funeral-home.com to send condolences to family.

Anyone who has lived in Franklin in the last fifty years, or has visited for more than an hour or two, has (whether they know it, or not) probably seen Curless Estelle riding his bicycle around the streets of downtown.
Curless might even be referred to as a “mainstay” of Franklin, were one so inclined. And if not, at least it cannot be denied that the sight of Curless pedaling down this street, or that, is as reliable to the initiated as the business hours of the parish courthouse.
He is a local handyman in Franklin, 63 years old, and says he has been doing odd jobs for people around the city for most of his life.
“Ever since I was a little boy, I always just wanted to help people. That’s just how we were brought up,” he said.
Born in Centerville, Curless has lived in and meandered around Franklin for so long that he has become a bit of an icon here.
A fan of country music and westerns, he tends to routinely dress in blue jeans and checkered shirts, and until Friday, could be found behind the upturned handlebars of his old bike, riding casually with his fists upside down and his elbows out.
He has been delivering newspapers for the St. Mary & Franklin Banner-Tribune for 14 years, and has done so from the basket on the front of his bike.
Friday morning, the door to the office of the Banner-Tribune swung open, and in wheeled a new, red bicycle alongside Joan Adams, a Franklin local.
Adams explained that the new bike was meant for Curless and that she was dropping it off at the Banner in anticipation of Curless’ regular Friday visit to the office.
She said that a week prior, she and her husband Jody had been driving around Franklin when they caught sight of Curless wrestling with the handlebars of his bike.
Jody stopped and helped Curless with adjustments to his handlebars; and then, the Adams went on their way.
“He (Jody) got back in the truck and said he thought we should get Curless some new handlebars,” Adams said, “And I said, ‘Why don’t we just get him a new bike?’ So, that’s what we did.
“He’s needed a new bike for a while now, and he does a lot for this community.”
She also noted that Kim and Rodney Adams also chipped-in for the bike.
In order to complete the surprise successfully, Debbie Billiot, circulation manager at the Banner, called Curless at home and asked if he could come to work early, to help her with an unnamed task. She offered to pick him up in the van, and as usual, Curless accepted.
Curless and Billiot arrived 20 minutes later, and as he walked in, Curless’ eyes widened. He put his hand to his chest and literally took a step backwards exclaiming, “For me? Wow!”
He inspected the new bike, complete with air pump, bike lock and reflectors, all the while struggling to find the words to express his feelings.
He finally said, “I’m speechless!”
He used his new air pump to fill the tires and took his bike for a spin. He has since then said that his favorite part about it is its red color, and that the ride it provides is “smooth.”
Lastly, Curless had a message for the Adams family, “I love it. Thanks very much. I sure appreciate it, and I’m going to continue like I always did.”
Now those who come to Franklin will see Curless on his new bike, delivering papers and working the odd jobs he always has, except that these days, he is rolling in style.

Members of St. Catherine of Siena Court 2735 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas helped with the St. Joseph Catholic Church Fun Fest on Oct. 27 in Patterson. Helping were, from left, Lisa Morgan, Ann Picou, Evelyn Estay, Jamie Guidry and Lennie Alleman. Court members also held a recent rummage sale to raise funds for local charities. The court expressed thanks to everyone who helped make the events a success.

BITLIS, Turkey (AP) — For the buffaloes in eastern Turkey, the hot springs in the mountainous Bitlis province are a welcome refuge from the freezing wintry weather.
Residents in the tiny village of Budakli walk hundreds of buffaloes up snow-covered roads to the geothermal springs near the dormant Nemrut volcano in the winter. The animals already know the way and spend hours in the steamy 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) waters — so much so that the young men herding them struggle to get the massive animals out of the water and go home.
The hot springs help keep the animals clean as they go through the winter. In the summer, the buffaloes swim in the cool waters of the plains. One caretaker likened the bathing to a form of therapeutic meditation for buffaloes. The men can also take a break from winter and enjoy the swim.
It’s mostly children who take care of the animals, taking them to fields to graze and to their swim. The children often don’t receive an education beyond middle school because they need to help their families in the small village, covered in snow for nearly half the year. The village’s main source of income is cheese, butter and milk from the buffaloes.
Villagers say the hot springs heal buffaloes’ wounds, alleviate discomfort in their udders and make quality milk. Tourists, mostly local, also come to bathe, especially for rheumatic diseases and skin ailments.