Rushing

Published 4:24 pm Friday, February 15, 2019

Neil Jackson Rushing, a life-long resident of Bogalusa, has gone to his home in Heaven at the age of 86. Neil was born on April 21, 1932 at the Bogalusa Community Medical Center and raised on Main Street in Richardsontown. He graduated from Bogalusa High School in the class of 1951. After high school, he joined the United States Navy and proudly served aboard the USS Cabot during the Korean War. He was awarded the national Defense Medal. After returning home, he went to work at Crown Zellerbach and soon after that met Alice Nell Roberts. After courting, they were married on Aug. 12, 1955. Neil and Alice were blessed with two sons, two granddaughters, and one great grandson.
Neil was a life-long member of Calvary Baptist Church and then Memorial Baptist Church after they were incorporated together. Neil was a Mason and a member of the USS Cabot Association. He rose to the position of boiler operator in the power house and retired from Gaylord in 1998 after 47 years of service.
Neil was born just 18 years after Bogalusa was incorporated and had an abundance of memories of the history of Bogalusa and Richardsontown. He loved to share his memories of the good old days. Neil passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Thursday, February 14, 2019.
Neil is survived by his wife of 63 years, Alice Nell Rushing; two sons, Bruce Rushing of Bogalusa, La. and Reid (Dawn) Rushing of Bogalusa, La.; two granddaughters, Mandy (Kevin) Gregory of Hattiesburg, Miss. and Natalie Rushing of Bogalusa, La.; and one great grandson, Deacon Gregory.
Neil was preceded in death by his parents, Lemuel Jackson Rushing and Zutell “Tellie” Missouri Moran Rushing and two sisters, Ruby Marie Burks and Elizabeth JoAnn Hubbard.
Services will be held at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. and continue until funeral service begins at 2 p.m. Rev. Larry Mizell and Rev. Larry Lassley will officiate. Interment will follow at the Garden of Peace in Ponemah Cemetery. Military honors will be presented by Magic City American Legion Post #24.
Memories and Condolences may be shared on the Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home website at: www.pooleritchiefuneralhome.com.