Funeral services for Paul E. Gresham, age 88 of Quitman, LA will be held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at Sweetwater Baptist Church with Bro. Stuart Toms and Dr. Wilton Wall officiating. Interment will follow in Sweetwater Baptist Church Cemetery in Quitman, LA under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA.
Paul, known as Bobby, Red, and his favorite, Poppy, to his family and friends was born February 16, 1937 in Quitman, LA and passed away Saturday, September 13, 2025, at his home in Quitman, LA. Paul accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior in 1957 at Sweetwater Baptist Church, where he then was ordained as a deacon in 1968, and served faithfully until his health prevented him from doing so. He retired after 39 years of working at Smurfit Stone in Hodge, LA. After his retirement, Paul was able to fully devote his time to his love for cattle ranching, (he never met a cow he did not like) vegetable gardening, and raising the most beautiful roses. Paul loved to have family and friends come and fish his catfish pond and he loved to share with others what God had blessed him with.
Paul was preceded in death by his first wife, Yvonne Alexander Gresham; parents, Arch Gresham and Mary (May) Gresham Diffey; brothers, J.D. Gresham and Joseph Edward Gresham; sisters, Bessie Gresham and Shirley Gresham; and his niece, Janie Coats.
Paul is survived by his wife of 27 years, CoyNell; daughters: Renee and husband Gilbert Pickens, Pamela and husband Tim Buckelew, Paula and husband Rodney Thomas, Melanie and husband Wesley Crawford, and Crystal and husband Stacy Stewart; grandchildren: Emily and husband Steve Gatlin, Suzanna and husband Shane Burris, Morgan and husband Daniel Dison, Tanner Buckelew, Jason Brown and wife Melissa, Carrie Brown, Nicholas Brown and wife Kele, Kandi Crawford, Ashley and husband Cole Britt, Lydia Crawford, Haley Stewart, Emma Stewart, and Lindsay Stewart; great-grandchildren: Ellie Burris, Mollie Burris, Hadley Gatlin, Brooks Dison, Evangeline Dison, Bodie Dison, Henley Buckelew, Granger Brown, and Beckham Brown; sister, Charlotte Geter; nephew, Keith Geter; niece, Judy and husband Jerry Miller; and a host of friends.
Serving as pallbearers will be Jason Brown, Nicholas Brown, Tanner Buckelew, Steve Gatlin, Shane Burris, and Daniel Dison. Honorary pallbearers are the Deacons of Sweetwater Baptist Church.
Visitation will be held 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Monday, September 15, 2025 at Sweetwater Baptist Church.
