Phillip A. Ponder

Phillip Ponder, 71, passed away peacefully on November 15, 2025. He was born on September 21, 1954, to Willie and Bettye Ponder in Shreveport, Louisiana.

A funeral service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 900 Jordan Street, Shreveport, Louisiana, with Reverend Jacob Dickson and Reverend Allison Sauls Sikes officiating. A private interment will follow at Lane Memorial Cemetery in Sibley, Louisiana.

Visitation will take place at Osborn Funeral Home on November 24, 2025, from 4:00–6:00 p.m.

Phillip graduated from Parkway High School in 1973 and later earned an Associate Degree in Business Administration from BPCC in 1995. In 2018, he married Pamela Naifeh after sharing more than thirty years together.

Throughout his life, Phillip worked in many fields as he pursued his love of learning and natural curiosity. In high school, he chose welding as his trade which took him first off shore, back to Riley Beard, and then onto the ownership of his company, PAP Construction, where he worked throughout the state. Phillip also held positions in sales and entertainment, and earned his general contractor's license, using his skills to help build homes in South Bossier subdivisions. Ultimately, he returned to his passion for welding, teaching Advanced Pipe Welding at Job Corps before retiring.

Phillip had a sincere desire to understand how things worked-whether mechanical or part of God's creation. He generously shared that passion with others as a teacher, mentor, and friend, always willing to help anyone who needed to learn, solve a problem, or complete a task.

His hobbies reflected his diverse interests: analyzing stock market charts, collecting guns and target shooting, bike riding, gardening, and hiking on vacations with Pam.

Phillip was preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Bettye Ponder, and his brother, Stephen Ponder.

He is survived by his wife, Pam Naifeh; sister, Karen Scott; brother, Mark Ponder and wife Valerie; nephew, Chase Ponder and wife Jessica, son of his late brother, Stephen; Michele and John Sauls and their daughter, Allison Sauls Sikes, along with her husband Brandon Sikes and their daughter, Celeste. Phillip was loved deeply by many extended family members, numerous nieces and nephews, and a wide circle of friends.

Pallbearers will be Mark Ponder, John Sauls, Brandon Sikes, Chase Ponder, and Jase Ponder.

The family requests that memorials be made to First Presbyterian Church, 900 Jordan Street, Shreveport, LA, or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or to a charity of the donor's choice.