History
John Frederick Honaker 1915-2006
J. Fred Honaker est. 1943
Mr. Honaker began his tenure in the funeral profession in 1937, serving residents of the great State of Louisiana and surrounding areas with the care and concern as he would for his own family. Mr. Honaker also provided ambulance service for many years in Slidell along with his duties at the funeral home.
J. Fred Honaker was the first board certified licensed funeral director embalmer to live and work in Slidell while serving its residents. He also opened and closed the graves of many Slidellians and then erected many of the permanent granite, bronze, and marble memorials that exist today in local cemeteries in the area.
Mr. Honaker served on many boards and committees and was elected to public office in the nineteen fifties as Alderman or Councilman at Large for the City of Slidell and served his term with pride and distinction. He also was a charter member of Slidell Elks Lodge BPOE No. 2321, past president of the Noon Lions Club and recipient of the Melvin Jones Award, a Master Mason and member of the Slidell Lodge No. 311 F.& A.M for over 50 years. His accomplishments in youth sports will be cherished for many years to come through his charter membership and work helping establish the Slidell Bantam Baseball Association.
Fred Honaker's most valuable works, other than his family, which was first in his heart, were serving his Lord and Savior as a deacon and Sunday School teacher for over fifty years for the First Baptist Church of Slidell. His principles and values all came from his introduction to his faith at an early age in Bogalusa and followed him throughout his life and the lives of others whom he served and ministered to during difficult times.
In 1970, the opportunity to purchase Forest Lawn Cemetery became a reality, and so began the journey to open the first funeral home-cemetery combination in the State of Louisiana, pioneered by Fred Honaker and his family, which now has four generations working to this day.
Percy Lindsey Honaker 1918-1996
Percy L. Honaker est. 1943
Mrs. Honaker was the foundation of Fred's ability to achieve the accomplishments in his life. Married in 1937, a native of Mobile, AL, while living in Bogalusa, Percy formally met Fred at a school social dance in Washington Parish, even though she lived next door at her uncle's home. Percy loved to tell the story that while living in Mt. Vernon, AL, her parents were unable to afford to pay for her and her siblings' books too, so with great regret she moved to live with her aunt and uncle in Louisiana, where the schools furnished the books for study. As with many during this time in America, the great depression forced families to make sacrifices, and as in Mrs. Honaker's case, everyone agreed that her education was very important. She was very proud of the fact that she graduated from high school and stressed the importance of receiving a diploma, not only for herself, but for her family as well.
Percy worked and lived above the funeral home on Robert Street in Olde Town Slidell, where they raised their children, Fredine Honaker Tranchina and Francis Honaker.
Percy maintained the family home while working the evening visitations (all-night wakes), funerals, and assisting in the business office, answering phones, bookkeeping, and styling hair.
In 1970, the opportunity came about to purchase Forest Lawn Cemetery in Slidell, and with Fred and Percy's experience in funeral service management, she agreed that was the direction the Honaker family would take.
Mrs. Honaker's love and devotion to her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends and neighbors was her gift to the Slidell community in which she served.