James Clarence Toney

Funeral Services celebrating the life of Mr. James Clarence Toney, 82, of Rayville, Louisiana will be held at 2:00 P.M., Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at New Light Baptist Church in New Light Community (944 Highway 576, Mangham LA 71259) with Brother Jesse Owen officiating. The interment will follow immediately after at Welcome Home Cemetery in Grayson, Louisiana, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 12:00 P.M. until the time of service at the church.

Mr. Toney was born on August 11, 1942, in Holly Ridge, Louisiana and passed away on April 18, 2025, in Monroe, Louisiana.

James began working in the cotton fields with his dad, as a young man. Growing up he was a store clerk with Ratcliff’s Grocery in Mangham. He worked for Richland Parish for a while, and after thirty-three years of dedicated service, he retired from the LA Department of Transportation and Development. He was superintendent his last few years at the Rayville Unit. After retirement, James worked a few years with the Boll Weevil Conservation in Winnsboro.

James loved hunting and fishing with his son, our dads, and his best friends. Together they experienced many adventures and shared many exciting stories, especially after catching a big fish! James loved to grow a vegetable garden each year. He really had a technique for knowing what each plant needed to mature. His specialty was growing tomatoes. Eager to plant them and watch them grow day to day. He could grow some of the largest and best tasting ones. Someone gave him the nickname, “Tomato King.” James would begin with twenty or so and end up with over a hundred, doing everything himself, from planting and clearing the land for the next year. He always had different experiences and loved the challenges. He rarely sold any but he always had the pleasure of giving them to family and friends, and he would watch them enjoy his work and always say, “I’m not going to do this next year.” But he would continue doing it as soon as the season began.

James loved animals but most of all his dogs. He had blue healers, beagles, rat terriers, and Bavarian Mountain Hound. He also raised cows, chickens, turkeys, and quail but he didn’t keep them too long because he didn’t want them to interfere with his hunting or fishing.

We only knew each other two months and three days when we got married and my sister-in-law said it wouldn’t work but my family liked him. It only took a few minutes, the first time James came to see me, with my dad looking him up and down and they became instant friends. James mentioned fishing and my dad was hooked! My family began to love him too and he became a son and brother to them. James loved his family fiercely. Once, my brother offered him some chewing tobacco and I said, “No, he doesn’t do that.” Well James did it anyway after a few minutes of chewing, he began to change colors and out the back door he ran. After a while, I thought I better go check on him, I met him in the hallway coming back in and I asked, “Are you alright?” and he replied, “I am now!” Then I asked, “Do you want another chew?” and he quickly said, “No!”

We had some special and awesome times, both good and bad. We loved and cared for each other. We were best friends and knew we could always count on each other. We were always there for each other because we worked to make our marriage work. How blessed we have been! James was such a special man and I do mean, “Man!”

James was preceded in death by his only precious and loving son, James Edward “Eddie” Toney; loving parents, J.W. and Ethel Lee King Toney; sister, Florence Noland; brother, Lawrence Toney; and niece, Kathy Walker.

Those left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of forty-eight and a half years, Sharon Varnell Toney; daughter-in-law, Liz Toney; three grandchildren, Aaron (Deanna), Colleen (Jared), and Nichole (Crystal Johnson); six great grandchildren, Axel Toney, Easton Toney, Landry Toney, Bowen Toney, Rayce Smith, and Audrey Smith; sister-in-law, Diane Toney; special hunting and fishing buddy, Junior Underwood; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Oh what memories they have made throughout the years!!!!

The pallbearers will be Axel Toney, Aaron Toney, Roger Gibson, Jared Smith, Rayce Smith, Damen Roberts, and Jerry Spencer, Jr.

Honorary Pallbearers are Chris Gibson, Mike Johnson, Jeffery Hesser, Eddie Conley, Junior Underwood, and William Meredith.