WBRZ - Baton Rouge

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• Family spared in crash pays respects to dead pilot

  June 12, 2013 10:44 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The family who was inside a house just minutes before a plane crashed on top of it and exploded paid respects to the pilot who was killed in the crash. Wednesday, the Smith family spent the evening at funeral services for John Fowler. Fowler died Friday when... more »

• Services for fallen soldier today

  June 10, 2013 10:23 AM

  DENHAM SPRINGS - Services are scheduled for this morning to honor a fallen soldier from Tickfaw. Spc. Chris Drake, 20, died recently in Afghanistan after the truck he was driving was hit by an RPG. The funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. today at Eagle Heights Church in... more »

• Funeral home: No one wants to bury bomb suspect

  May 4, 2013 10:39 AM

  BOSTON - A Massachusetts funeral home director is scrambling to find a cemetery that will bury a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings. Worcester funeral home owner Peter Stefan has 26-year-old Tamerlan Tsarnaev's body. He says protesters have gathered outside his business, upset with his decision to handle the funeral.... more »

• Private funeral for Mindy McCready

  February 22, 2013 11:15 AM

  NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Country star Mindy McCready's funeral has been scheduled for Tuesday in her hometown of Fort Myers, Fla. The funeral will be private. A memorial organized by friends and the music community is tentatively scheduled for March 6 at Cathedral of the Incarnation. McCready committed suicide Sunday at... more »

• Thousands expected at ex-sniper's memorial service

  February 11, 2013 7:33 AM

  ARLINGTON, Texas - Thousands are expected to attend a public memorial service today for former Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle, who was killed at a Texas shooting range allegedly by a young veteran he was trying to help. Mourners will gather at Cowboys Stadium to pay tribute to the 38-year-old... more »

• Bill Clinton to speak at Ed Koch's funeral in NYC

  February 4, 2013 2:34 AM

  NEW YORK - Ed Koch is being remembered as the quintessential New Yorker - an admired but tough former mayor who will be honored at his funeral by former President Bill Clinton. At the service Monday morning at Manhattan's Temple Emanu-El, mourners will also hear about Koch's other fierce loyalty:... more »

• Funeral set for slain Chitimacha police officer

  January 30, 2013 10:59 AM

  FRANKLIN- A funeral service will be held Thursday for the Chitimacha tribal police officer killed in shootings that also wounded two sheriff's deputies and left another man dead. The service for Sgt. Rick Riggenbach is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Crossing Place Church in Franklin, followed by burial at a... more »

• Pa. man gets drive-thru send-off after funeral

  January 28, 2013 12:34 PM

  YORK, Pa. - A Pennsylvania fast-food fan had one whopper of a funeral. Family members say David Kime "lived by his own rules" so it's only fitting he'd have it his way on the way to the cemetery. The hearse carrying the 88-year-old York man led his funeral procession through... more »

• More funerals today for victims of school shooting

  December 19, 2012 1:25 PM

  NEWTOWN, Conn. - For a third straight day, funeral processions are rolling through a grieving Connecticut town. The first of today's funerals in Newtown for victims of Friday's shootings at an elementary school was for 7-year-old Daniel Barden. He was the youngest of three children, and his family says he... more »

• TNT: Funeral coming for J.R Ewing on new 'Dallas'

  December 11, 2012 1:01 PM

  NEW YORK - J.R. Ewing will get a send-off with a proper funeral on "Dallas." TNT begins the second season of its "Dallas" revival next month. The network said Tuesday that it will hold a funeral for Larry Hagman's memorable character at some point in the 15-episode season but that... more »

• Private memorials for "Dallas" star Larry Hagman

  November 26, 2012 2:55 PM

  DALLAS - "Dallas" actor Larry Hagman will be remembered this week during private, invitation-only services in Dallas and Los Angeles. The television actor known for starring as slick oilman J.R. Ewing on "Dallas" and Major Tony Nelson on "I Dream of Jeannie" died Friday of complications from cancer. He... more »

• Biden to attend funeral today for ex-Sen. Specter

  October 16, 2012 10:41 AM

  PHILADELPHIA - Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania's longest-serving U.S. senator, will be remembered at a funeral service attended by Vice President Joe Biden, his longtime senate colleague. Family members say the 82-year-old Specter died Sunday of complications from non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The public service is scheduled for noon Tuesday at Har Zion... more »

• Thousands gather to say final farewell for deputy Play Video

  August 22, 2012 6:12 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Thousands of friends and family members, including law enforcement from as far away as Chicago, crowded Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home to give a final farewell to Deputy Brandon Nielsen. "They woke up one morning to go to work to protect us, all of us in... more »

• Deputy Brandon Nielsen remembered Play Video

  August 21, 2012 6:17 PM

  LAPLACE- One day before friends and family prepare to say their final goodbyes to Deputy Brandon Nielsen, the man known for his skills on the street and his prowess on a motorcycle is being remembered. "He wanted to make sure he was the best at what he could do,... more »

• Shunick's body released to family

  August 21, 2012 11:08 AM

  LAFAYETTE - The body of Mickey Shunick was returned to her family, according to the Lafayette Parish Coroner. Shunick's family plans to have a private funeral for friends and family and a public memorial to celebrate Mickey's life. The date of the public memorial has not been set. Shunick... more »

• Thousands mourn as deputy laid to rest Play Video

  August 20, 2012 6:16 PM

  LAPLACE - Thousands of deputies and police officers from nearly every corner of the state showed up to lay St. John Deputy Jeremy Triche to rest today. "It hurt, because they're out there supporting us and they're gonna get their life taken the way they did, no one deserves... more »

• Community pays final respects to fallen deputy

  August 20, 2012 1:05 PM

  LAPLACE - People lined the streets of LaPlace to say farewell today to a St. John the Baptist Sheriff's Office deputy killed in the line of duty last week. Mourners and law enforcement agencies turned out along the funeral procession route to pay their final respects to Jeremy Triche,... more »

• Funeral arrangements set for slain deputies

  August 17, 2012 6:58 PM

  LAPLACE - The St. John the Baptist Sheriff's Department released funeral arrangements for the two deputies killed at a LaPlace trailer park this week. Deputies Jeremy Triche and Brandon Nielsen were killed Thursday when they were "ambushed" by a suspect with an assault weapon, according to Sheriff Mike Tregre.... more »

• Funerals planned; survivor and witness recount horror

  July 24, 2012 10:40 AM

  AURORA, Colo. - Family members of the victims of Friday's movie theater shooting in Colorado are planning funerals. A full military funeral and burial are planned next week in Reno, Nev., for Jonathan Blunk. The 26-year-old served three tours in the Middle East, and planned to re-enlist with the goal... more »

• Founder of Baton Rouge TV station WAFB dies

  June 25, 2012 3:44 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The founder of Baton Rouge television station WAFB-TV, Tom Gibbens, died this weekend. He was 95. Gibbens launched the station in 1953 and was its first general manager. It was the first live television station in Baton Rouge, and only the second in Louisiana. Visitation... more »

• Funeral arrangements set for beaten, bitten child

  June 20, 2012 11:26 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A funeral home donated their services to help the family of an 8-year-old boy beaten to death in Baton Rouge. A visitation for Xzayvion Riley is scheduled for Saturday, June 23 at 1 p.m. at Wilson-Wooddale Funeral Home. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. ... more »

• Crash victims' family speaks of forgiveness at funeral Play Video

  June 8, 2012 5:31 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Members of the community turned out to give their final goodbyes for six people killed at the hands of a suspected drunk driver. Friday thousands attended the Baton rouge funeral for Brenda Gaines, her daughter Denise Gaines Johnson, and Denise's children 15-year-old Willie, 6-year-old Jyron and and... more »

• Appeals court hears caskets dispute

  June 8, 2012 11:21 AM

  NEW ORLEANS- The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Thursday in a case pitting the state's funeral directors against an order of Roman Catholic monks who make and sell caskets. Louisiana funeral board lawyer David Gruning said a statue that required caskets to be purchased from funeral homes... more »

• Victims in Slaughter drunk driving wreck laid to rest

  June 8, 2012 9:32 AM

  BATON ROUGE- Today five members of a family who died after a fatal wreck last week will be laid to rest. According to State Troopers, 30-year-old Brett Gerald was driving drunk when he hit Brenda Gaines, her daughter Denise, their friend Angela Mosely and Denise's 4 children. 13-year-old... more »

• Sole survivor fights for life, benefit concert set, after fatal Slaughter crash Play Video

  June 6, 2012 6:23 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Doctors fear for the life of the only survivor , of a head-on crash in East Feliciana Parish. Brenda Gaines, her daughter Denise, four of Denise's children, and a family friend were hit driving back from church near Slaughter. Five died at the scene, another days later.... more »

• Visitation scheduled for today for Mitchell Guist

  May 18, 2012 11:35 AM

  GONZALES - People will say goodbye to a co-star of the History Channel show "Swamp People" who died earlier this week. A visitation for Mitchell Guist is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. today at the Ourso Funeral Home in Gonzales. Another visitation is Saturday at 9 a.m.... more »

• Funeral home sex abuse investigation

  April 6, 2012 11:42 AM

  LONGVIEW - A Washington funeral home employee has been cleared by police of sex abuse allegations. The employee, still working at the funeral home, had been accused of fondling a deceased woman's breasts. The Washington State Department of Licensing investigated Columbia Funeral Services. A female employee told police that she... more »

• Hundreds mourn teen family claims was bullied to death Play Video

  March 14, 2012 6:17 PM

  NEW ROADS - Hundreds paid respects today to a teen who took her own life in Pointe Coupee Parish after her family says she was bullied. Several of Tesa Middlebrook's classmates wore T-shirts to remember her today. Others sang and spoke at her funeral. Many claim Middlebrook was... more »

• New York funeral held for reporter killed in Syria

  March 12, 2012 8:41 AM

  OYSTER BAY, N.Y.- War correspondent Marie Colvin is being laid to rest in the Long Island community of her childhood where she first decided to become a reporter. A church in Oyster Bay is holding a funeral Monday for the Sunday Times of London journalist killed while covering the slaughter... more »

• Mourners say goodbye to Whitney Houston

  February 18, 2012 11:30 AM

  NEWARK, N.J. -The New Hope Baptist Church in Newark is filled for the invitation-only service, with some people standing in the aisles. A gospel choir whose members are dressed in white and gold is performing, and churchgoers were swaying and clapping along. Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys are among those... more »

• Houston family directs donations to NJ school

  February 14, 2012 1:21 PM

  NEWARK, N.J. - Whitney Houston's family is asking that any donations in her memory be sent to the arts-focused public school in New Jersey that she attended as a child and that is now named after her. In lieu of flowers, they say mourners should donate to the Whitney Houston... more »

• Houston funeral plans

  February 14, 2012 10:24 AM

  LOS ANGELES - Pop star Whitney Houston's funeral service will be held Saturday in the New Jersey chuch where she first showcased her singing talents as a child. Houston's funeral will be held at Noon Saturday in Newark, New Jersey at New Hope Baptist Church. Her body was... more »

• Family, friends gather for Etta James' funeral

  January 28, 2012 1:37 PM

  LOS ANGELES - Hundreds of Etta James' friends, fans and family have convened to remember the legendary rhythm and blues singer. Mourners at James' funeral Saturday are to include entertainment luminaries, with both Stevie Wonder and Christina Aguilera scheduled to perform. The service is being held at City of Refuge... more »

• Slain New Orleans baby laid to rest today

  December 23, 2011 1:10 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A little girl killed by a stray bullet was laid to rest today in New Orleans. Keira Holmes would have turned 2 years old Thursday. New Orleans police say the child was shot while playing in the yard of her home in the 3300 block... more »

• Family says goodbye to fallen firefighter Play Video

  December 7, 2011 5:56 PM

  WALKER-- You could feel the heart wrenching grief as Scott Osenenko's family and fellow firefighters said goodbye to him for the last time at Revival Temple Church in Walker. You could hear the agony, too, as firefighters in white gloves and dress hats sounded the alarm on a bell... more »

• Funeral held for NJ tot found in car seat in creek

  November 28, 2011 12:47 PM

  ASBURY PARK, N.J. - While a nationwide search continues for her father, relatives gathered Monday to lay a 2-year-old girl to rest nearly a week after she was found slain in a creek, still strapped in her car seat. Three people carried Tierra Morgan-Glover's tiny coffin from Cathedral International... more »

• Obama sends note for Heavy D funeral

  November 18, 2011 1:03 PM

  MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. - Heavy D was remembered with laughter and tears at his funeral on Friday. Diddy and Usher were among the celebrities in attendance, and the Rev. Al Sharpton delivered a message for his young daughter, which he said was directly from President Barack Obama. Sharpton... more »

• Kennedy widow attends Hannan funeral

  October 5, 2011 2:06 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Victoria Kennedy, widow of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, will attend Thursday's funeral for retired New Orleans Archbishop Philip M. Hannan. A spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of New Orleans confirmed Victoria Kennedy's plan to attend but said Wednesday that no other Kennedy family members had... more »

• Jori Lirette laid to rest in Thibodaux

  August 23, 2011 4:14 PM

  THIBODAUX - Hundreds gathered at St. Genevieve Church in Thibodaux to say their final goodbyes to Jori Lirette Tuesday morning. Lirette's father, Jeremiah, remains in jail. Detectives said he admitted to killing Jori last week, then decapitating him. Police say Wright was tired of taking care of Jori, a... more »

• Funeral held for slain Thibodaux boy

  August 23, 2011 12:55 PM

  THIBODAUX - Family and friends of 7-year-old murder victim Jori Lirette gathered in Thibodaux to say their final goodbyes today. The family held a funeral mass at the St. Genevieve Catholic Church for Lirette, who was found murdered and dismembered Aug. 14. Police arrested Lirette's father, Jeremiah Wright,... more »

• Vigil, funeral set for beheaded Thibodaux child

  August 20, 2011 12:14 PM

  THIBODAUX, La.- A candlelight vigil for a 7-year-old disabled boy who was beheaded and dismembered is planned for Sunday. A funeral for the boy is scheduled for Tuesday. The vigil will take place at 7 p.m. in Peltier Park in Thibodaux. Jori Lirette, a wheelchair-user and second-grader with... more »

• Judge rules monks can sell caskets

  July 21, 2011 2:21 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A federal judge has ruled that an order of monks can sell caskets without having a Louisiana funeral home license. The monks of St. Joseph Abbey in St. Tammany Parish sued in August, saying the Louisiana Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors maintains a "casket cartel"... more »

• Funeral Arrangements set for Police Chief's son

  March 1, 2011 2:57 PM

  Port Allen- Funeral Arrangements have been set for the son of Port Allen Police Chief, Fred Smith, who died in a car crash over the weekend. Police say 18 year-old Trent Smith veered off Florida Street in Baton Rouge early Sunday morning, slamming into a gas pump at the... more »

• Man killed in crash during funeral procession

  January 16, 2011 9:23 AM

  AMITE, La.- A man died in a car crash during a funeral procession. It happened Saturday afternoon on LA 16 in Tangipahoa Parish. Louisiana State Police identified the victim as 76-year-old Ira Vaughn, of Amite, La. Investors found that Vaughn pulled out of a driveway into the path... more »

• Funeral Wed. for La. soldier killed in Afghanistan

  November 2, 2010 6:30 AM

  MILTON - Funeral services for Spc. Steven Lloyd Dupont will be held Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milton. The 20-year-old soldier died in Rangrizan, Afghanistan, while nearing the end of a one-year tour of duty with the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, stationed in Vilseck, Germany. The... more »

• Soldier killed in Afghanistan buried in Louisiana

  October 24, 2010 9:46 AM

  More than 100 people turned out for the funeral of a 20-year-old Louisiana native killed in Afghanistan. U.S. Army Spc. Matthew C. Powell of Slidell died Oct. 12 after his military vehicle was attacked near the Pakistan border. He was the 23rd Louisiana service member killed in Afghanistan. ... more »

• Jazz Funeral memorializes LSU's possible budget cuts

  October 7, 2010 5:34 PM

  LSU faculty and students showed up in groups today to protest budget cuts in a New Orleans-styled jazz funeral. The sounds of horns wailed across the LSU Parade Ground as hundreds slowly marched in protest of the looming budget cuts. The brassy notes memorialized a list of foreign languages... more »

• Funeral arrangements for Fred Dent, Jr.

  September 13, 2010 3:59 PM

  Services At: Rabenhorst: 825 Government St., Baton Rouge Visitation: 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday 8 a.m. until time of service Wednesday Burial: St. John Catholic Church (Plaquemine) 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010 ... more »

• Biker gang funeral ends peacefully

  June 26, 2010 8:34 PM

  Funeral and memorial services Saturday for an Outlaws motorcycle club member slain by federal agents were undisturbed amid heavy security and sightings of rival gang members. Police Chief Dana M. Kelley of Old Orchard Beach, Maine, said Diablos members were spotted Saturday and other rival bikers reportedly were seen... more »

• Ron Zappe funeral underway

  June 5, 2010 1:47 PM

  Funeral services for Ron Zappe began a couple of minutes ago at St. James Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge. Zappe, the founder of Zapp's potato chips, died earlier this week in Houston, where he was undergoing treatment for throat cancer. He was 67. Outside the church, the Zapp's... more »

• Funeral for Concordia deputy set for Friday

  May 20, 2010 5:56 AM

  Funeral services will be held Friday for a Concordia Parish sheriff's deputy who was killed in a traffic accident. John T. Mott Jr. of Ferriday died in the crash Sunday on La. Highway 568. Mott's funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Fishnet Worship Center, 4401 La. Highway 34... more »

• Hundreds celebrate Ed Buggs' life

  May 11, 2010 5:50 PM

  Friends, family and fans celebrated the life of former WBRZ anchor Ed Buggs today. He died at his home last week, but an autopsy didn't pinpoint the cause of death. Buggs was well known for his work in news, both TV and radio, and as a local leader.... more »

• Funeral arrangements made for Kirt Bennett

  May 4, 2010 2:32 PM

  Update : The family of Kirt Bennett has made funeral arrangements for the prominent community leader. The service will take place May 8, 2010 at St. Joseph's Cathedral in downtown Baton Rouge. Viewing will be from 9 am - 11 am. Services will begin at 11 am with burial... more »

• Funeral services set for Baton Rouge Police officer

  April 12, 2010 10:37 AM

  Funeral services are set for a Baton Rouge Police Officer killed in a deadly crash on I-10 near Grosse Tete. Visitaion for Russell Kiger will be tonight from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Voice of Pentecostal Church on Greenwell Springs. Visitation will continue Tuesday morning at 8,... more »

• Marva Wright to lie in state today

  March 30, 2010 5:35 AM

  There will be a tribute by friends of Marva Wright to honor the late blues and jazz singer. Wright will lie in state at Gallier Hall today from noon until 6 p.m. Starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, a number of fellow musicians will perform in tribute to her at Gallier... more »

• Funeral services set for Ouachita deputy

  March 9, 2010 5:42 AM

  Funeral services will be held Thursday for a Ouachita Parish sheriff's deputy who died after being shot by a suspect he was trying to arrest. Services for Cpl. J.R. Searcy, an eight-year veteran, will be at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church in West Monroe. Visitation is from 5... more »

• Funeral held for Central High student

  March 2, 2010 4:54 PM

  A memorial service was held today for a Central High School student who crashed her car in December. Kelsey Lieux was ejected from her car. The vehicle flipped and landed on her legs. She had been in a medically induced coma for months. Lieux was a cheerleader and honor... more »

• Jazz funeral will be held to bury "Aints" nickname

  February 19, 2010 8:43 AM

  For many years, the Saints were so bad that fans wore paper bags over their heads and called the team the "Aints". Now, they've won the Super Bowl, and some Who Dats think its time to bury that nickname. Trombonist Glen Davis Andrews and the Baby Boyz Brass Band... more »

• Funeral arrangements set for office shooting victims

  December 29, 2009 11:07 AM

  Funeral services will be held this week for the two women shot and killed at their office in Baton Rouge. Cheryl Boykin and Diana Tullier were gunned down last week at Grady Crawford Construction Company. Investigators say former employee Richard Matthews opened fire because he was upset over unemployment benefits.... more »

• Bengals attend Henry's Funeral in Louisiana

  December 22, 2009 1:58 PM

  Members of the Cincinnati Bengals are in South Louisiana this afternoon, where funeral services are being held for their teammate, Chris Henry. Henry, who is from Belle Chasse, died last week after he fell out of the bed of a pickup truck. Henry and his fiance, Loleini Tonga, had... more »

• Funeral held in Baton Rouge for D.C. Sniper

  November 17, 2009 6:25 PM

  A private funeral was held in Baton Rouge for the D.C. Sniper. John Allen Muhammad was executed in Virginia last week for killing Dean Harold Meyers at a gas station during an October 2002 shooting spree. It left 10 people dead and terrorized Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., over... more »

• Jackson laid to rest today

  September 3, 2009 6:04 AM

  Michael Jackson will finally be laid to rest. His funeral is at Forest Lawn Glendale outside Los Angeles this evening, more than two months after he died. He will be interred in the cemetery's Great Mausoleum. The area is restricted and many parts of it are accessible only by pass... more »