Frankie Lane DeSoto

July 18, 1954 February 27, 2024

Frankie Lane DeSoto, 69, of Center, passed away Tuesday, February 27, 2024, in Center. Funeral service was at 2:00 p.m., Friday, March 1, 2024, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center with visitation beginning at noon. Bro. Danny Sikes and Bro. Hayden Wilkes will officiate. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center.

Born July 18, 1954, in Mansfield, La., Frankie is the son of Frank Samuel DeSoto and Gladys Lucille Lee DeSoto. On June 8, 1974, he married the love of his life, Cynthia Kay Windham DeSoto. A Baptist minister, Frankie pastored Antioch Baptist Church in Center, Pine Ridge Baptist Church in Joaquin, and was most recently a member of Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Center. Frankie was a member of Joaquin Masonic Lodge #856. He was a die-hard Dallas Cowboy fan.

He is survived by his wife, Cynthia Kay Windham DeSoto; children, Angie Gillis (Travis) of Center and Jennifer Rumbo (Brad) of Brownsboro; grandchildren, Sara Gillis, Travis “Bubba” Gillis IV, Alexis Wehrmann (Gage), Paisley Rumbo (friend, Grayson), and Anna Grace Gillis; sisters, Shirley Brownfield of Denham Springs, Louisiana, and Susan Johnson of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana; sisters-in-law, Hazel Miller (Carl) of Joaquin, Patsy Riley (Danny) of Tatum, Sue Gill (Leslie) of Tenaha, and Mary Cummings (Kenneth) of Joaquin; brother-in-law, Fisher Windham of Center; a host of nieces and nephews; and fur babies, Snake, Wendy, and Ceaser.

Preceded in death by parents, Frank Samuel DeSoto and Gladys Lucille Lee DeSoto; infant brothers, Frank S. DeSoto Jr. and Donnie W. DeSoto; nieces, Tracy Brownfield and Amanda Johnson; infant son, Baby DeSoto; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Rev. Felix and Anner Dee Windham.

Pallbearers will be David Miller, Keith Riley, Jeff Cummings, Justin Brownfield, Eric Brownfield, Gage Wehrmann, Grayson Epperson, and Bubba Gillis.

For those wishing to send remembrances, the family asks consideration for memorial donations to St. Jude Children’s Research, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or www.stjude.orgOnline condolences and tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfh.com