John Walter Rawls

John Walter Rawls was born on November 15, 1929 to William Fort  and Avon Rawls in Rawls, Arkansas. He passed away on March 6, 2023 at his home in Philadelphia, Mississippi.

A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until service time beginning at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 11, 2023 located at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Dr. Murry Hodge. Interment will be held at Forest Park West Cemetery.

He became a Christian at an early age, and regularly took his family to church, as he served in numerous roles where he was needed. He was a member of Queensborough Baptist Church, Grawood Baptist Church, and finally at Summer Grove Baptist Church. John was active in the Queensborough and Sunset Masonic Lodges.

John was preceded in death by his parents, beloved wife of 40 years, Mary Corinne McCartney Rawls, brothers, Jerry, Robert, and Frank Rawls, sons, Ricky, Bobby, and Rodger McCartney, and son-in-law, Gerald Jacobs.

He is survived by daughter Susan Tubbs and David King, son David Rawls and wife Susan, son Jeff Rawls and wife Donna, daughter Lisa Lubbess and husband Dave, daughter-in-law Debbie McCartney, daughter, Sheila Jacobs, and son Ronnie McCartney. He is also  survived by a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, all of whom will miss him dearly.

John enjoyed tending to his goats, chickens, geese, rabbits, and other livestock and pets that he was in charge of. He liked to hunt, fish, and work a vegetable garden every season; sharing the produce with family and friends. He was dedicated to, and retired from the United States Marine Corps, where he was very proud of his service to this country. After retiring from the Marine Corps in 1968, he went to work for the Ford Motor Battery Plant in Shreveport, a job that became a second career; ending with Exide Technologies.

Honoring John as pallbearers will be Jeffrey Rawls, Jr., Christopher Rawls, Eric Rawls, Matthew Rawls, Jason Williams, and Daniel Ramseur.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Shriners Hospital for Children.