Voncile Hood

Funeral services will be held for Gayle Voncile Canterbury Hood, age 82, at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 28, 2018, at First Baptist Church of Arcadia. Bro. Randy Ray and Bro. Jeff Hoffman will officiate. The interment will follow at Hurricane Cemetery. Visitation will be held Saturday, January 27, 2018 from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home of Arcadia, LA. Gayle Voncile Canterbury Hood was born August 20, 1935 in Athens, LA to Ernest Shumpert "Dock" Canterbury and Camille Arma Pike Canterbury. She entered into rest peacefully at her home in Ruston, Monday, January 22, 2018, where she had been living for the past 15 years with her daughter and son-in-law. Voncile grew up in the community of Hurricane, Claiborne Parish, where she made many lifelong friends. She was born the oldest of eight children during the Great Depression, and learned the value of hard work at an early age. When she wasn't working hard, she was in the company of her friends or loved ones laughing and loving life. Voncile was a true southern lady, with a ready smile, a kind word and loving spirit. She was a devoted Christian and faithful member of First Baptist Church of Arcadia until her health failed and she could no longer physically attend. She never turned down an opportunity to play games, especially cards or dominoes. She graduated from Athens High School in 1953. She was a resident of Arcadia for over 40 years where she and her former husband, Wade, raised their family. She retired from the United States Postal Service after 23 ½ years of service. In 1971, Voncile became the first mail carrier to deliver mail door to door in Arcadia's downtown business district. That same year, she took part in a pioneering experiment that drew national attention to Arcadia, by taking mail delivery out of the Post Office and into the neighborhoods by using 'cluster boxes'. These shared mail boxes were successfully introduced for the first time in Arcadia and Voncile became the first mail carrier in the U.S. to perform this duty. Voncile is preceded in death by her parents, Dock and Camille Canterbury, brother Donald Ray Canterbury, sister Joyce LaWanda Nemec. She is survived by her son Randal Wade Hood and wife Becky, daughter Tina Gayle McCann and husband Jerry, 5 brothers, E. Darrell Canterbury and wife Joyce, James Malvin Canterbury and wife Clarine, Harold Lynn Canterbury and wife Belinda, Michael Wayne Canterbury and wife Judy, and Ronald Gene Canterbury and Ruth, by 3 grandchildren Nicole Jowers and husband Greg, Brandi Kyzar and husband Kasey, and Shane Hood and wife Katie, 6 great grandchildren, Austin Corley and Jessica, Ayden Jowers, Avery Faith Jowers, Kaylee Kyzar, Keira Kyzar and Drake Hood, and by many nieces, nephews and other family and friends. Pallbearers will be Jerry McCann, Greg Jowers, Shane Hood, Austin Corley, Ragan McCann and Tim Janacek. Honorary pallbearer will be Ayden Jowers.