Funeral services for Cecil Lynwood Winn, 83, of Bossier City, Louisiana, will be held on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at Cypress Baptist Church in Benton, Louisiana. Rev. John Fream and Rev. Tommy Patton will officiate. Burial will follow at Forest Park Cemetery East. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Cypress Baptist Church.
Cecil was born on January 10, 1940, in Natchitoches, Louisiana to Cecil Hubert Winn and Ruth Langley Winn and went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on April 26, 2023.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Ruth Winn, his brother, Waynon Clint Winn, and his wife, Julie Diane York Winn. Those left behind to honor and cherish his memory are daughter, Julie Turnbow, her husband Tom of Shreveport, LA, granddaughter Abby Turnbow Pepper and husband John of Baton Rouge, La., granddaughter Tally Turnbow and fiancée Cody Walker of Bentonville, AR, and granddaughter, Rachel Turnbow of Shreveport, LA; daughter Stephanie Hammons and her husband, Chris of Dallas, TX; daughter Amy Winters and her husband, Brad of D’Iberville, MS, grandson, Kyle Winters of Jackson, MS, and grandson, Ryan Winters of D’Iberville, MS.
Over the course of his life, he lived in many places and was involved in many church and community activities. He grew up in Ajax, La., moving to Shreveport, La. for his high school years where he graduated from Fairpark High School and played on the 1957 State Champion Baseball Team and also played basketball. He then went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree at East Texas Baptist College where he played basketball and recently became a “Gold Jacket Alumnus.” He earned a Masters Degree in Theology at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and met his wife, Diane, of 55 years while in New Orleans. As they built their life and grew their family, Cecil served his community and his church wherever they chose to live. From New Orleans, to Baton Rouge, to Mandeville, to Bossier City, to Hattiesburg, MS, and back to Bossier City, Cecil was always serving the community through his involvement in Kiwanis, United Way, Telephone Pioneers, and Camp Bluebird, among others, always rising to positions of leadership in those organizations. And though his chosen career path led him to work for South Central Bell for 33 years, where he was continually promoted to higher leadership positions, his first love was always serving his church. Wherever he and Diane lived, he never failed to faithfully serve as a teacher, deacon, committee member, or administrator, or whatever was needed. Upon retiring from South Central Bell in 1995, he began serving as an associate pastor at Cypress Baptist Church, where he retired at the age of 80 from the “job” he loved dearly and where he developed lifelong friends and “family.”
A faithful father, brother, son, friend, leader, and minister, Cecil was an all-around wonderful person who enjoyed life. He loved yard work, planting his annual vegetable garden, taking tomatoes to the neighbors so he could invite them to church and share the gospel with them, traveling with his wife, Diane, spending time with his “girls” and his grandkids, and walking his beloved Schnauzer, Shadow. He never hesitated to help someone in need, and even when he was nearing the end of his life, he did not fail to ask anyone he came in contact with if they knew Jesus. He loved a corny joke, and he loved to make others smile. He never met a stranger, and it never failed, wherever we went - even if it was halfway across the country - he always ran into someone he knew. Oh, how he must have exploded with joy when he “ran into” Jesus when he arrived in Heaven.
While we mourn our loss and his absence will be felt deeply, we rejoice in the fact that Daddy has gone home to be with his Lord, Jesus Christ, to whom he was extremely faithful and loved beyond measure. We know this is not goodbye, because we will join him there one day!
Serving as pall bearers will be Kevin Flattmann Jr., John Bodine, Henry Cantrell, Brian Opbroek, Bill Mullinnix, and John Wingo. Honorary pall bearers will be Kyle Winters, Ryan Winters, John Pepper, and Cody Walker.
We, his daughters, would like to express our sincere thanks to the following people and facilities who went above and beyond to care for not only Cecil himself, but also our family. Their attentiveness and loving care are sincerely appreciated: The Blake at Bossier City – Ms. Jan, Nurse Brannon, Mrs. Renee, and countless staff members; the nurses and staff at Willis Knighton Bossier and Christus Bossier Emergency Hospital; Drs. Gerard Henry, Daniel Payne, Gurleen Sikand, and Rodney Reeves; And in the final days of his life, we thank Dr. Royal Becker, Dr. Joe Jones and PA Ben, and the caring nurses and staff, including Mr. Dell the security guard at Intensive Specialty Hospital in Shreveport. The patience, care, and attentiveness you showed our dad and our family at such a difficult time are unmatched.
To Cypress Baptist Church Family and staff: it is difficult to put into words how much Dad loved you all and cherished every moment he spent serving, working, and fellowshipping with every one of you. Specifically, Pastor John, Pastor Tommy, and Stephanie – your friendship, devotion to and care for our dad was so special, and we thank the Lord daily that he allowed our dad to experience the relationships he had with you all. Thank you for being there for us as well.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Cypress Baptist Church Building Fund: Cypress Baptist Church, P.O. Box 340, Benton, LA, 71006,
Published in The Shreveport Times
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