With full hearts, we celebrate the life of Horace “Chester” Mullins, who passed away from cardiac arrest on April 20, 2026. He was seventy-nine years young, still active and enjoying life. Chester was born in McComb, Mississippi in 1947 and was the oldest of four children blessed to Delmar and Genevieve Mullins. He had a childhood across Mississippi and nearby states, ending in Farmerville for all of his high school years. His southern roots ran both deep and wide.

Chester joined the Army in 1968 in the early days of the Vietnam War. He was with the Infantry Third Brigade 82nd Airborne, obtained the rank of Staff Sargeant and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. After an honorable discharge, Chester maintained a genuine patriotic streak and deep appreciation for the work and sacrifices of the U.S. Military, both for veterans and those currently serving. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the Disabled American Veterans.

He volunteered at his local VFW chapter and assisted at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Home. Chester’s Bingo games for local vets were a much-anticipated monthly event.

Following his service to our country, Chester continued his education at Louisiana Tech University obtaining a degree in Micro Biology. After college, he worked in research at LSU Medical Center in New Orleans and Shreveport and American Type Culture Collection in Virginia. He retired from his last work at the Social Security Administration in 2009. On December 20, 1998, Chester married Martha Allen Yates. In addition to obtaining a wife, he received a ready-made family of Martha’s children, Dorothy and Brandon Yates. “For better or worse, in sickness and in health” was true for this family. Through the dreaded teen years, numerous health challenges, cancer treatments, and ultimately Dorothy’s loss, the love in this family persisted. In 2023, Chester’s role as PawPaw changed to Dad as he and Martha legally adopted their granddaughter, Emma Jo.

In retirement, Chester remained a busy man. He had a love for

woodworking and always had a project or two going. He tackled big projects (like constructing a playhouse, complete with a loft, for Emma Jo) and small ones (such as building toy boxes, step stools for wife and pets, a bird house for their backyard sanctuary). When he wasn’t working with wood, he was working in his yard. He was more than the typical guy who mowed the lawn and tamed the weeds. He had plants galore, a beautiful koi pond, a memorial garden for Dorothy, and always more weeds than he

wanted. (One weed is one too many!) Chester had a special love for cacti, succulents and orchids. He was skilled at growing the most beautiful Japanese maple trees from seed. He and Martha spent Chester’s last day in the garden for hours, enjoying the beauty and serenity they had created together.

You would think that volunteering, gardening, woodworking, and child-rearing would be a full plate, but not for Chester. He was the guardian angel of his neighborhood. He visited his neighbors, checked on their health, did their chores, drank beer on their patios, and expressed his love and care through selfless acts of kindness and support.

Chester was preceded in death by his parents Delmar and Genevieve Mullins, his brother Russell Mullins, and his stepdaughter Dorothy Allen Yates McCathran. He is survived by his wife Martha, stepson Brandon Yates (with wife April and their sons Jeep and Kolbe), grandchildren Carson Hyde and Emma Jo Yates (now daughter), sister Rebecca Mullins Murphy (and husband A. B.), brother (Donald Mullins and wife Esther), niece Kimberly, and brother in law Richard Allen (and wife Lu).

Chester was a member of Broadmoor Baptist Church, which will host a memorial service on Monday, April 27 at 11:00 in the Chapel. He will be interred at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in their scatter garden. Honorary pallbearers will be Brandon Yates, Jeep Yates, Kolbe Yates, Carson Hyde, Charles Livingston, and Earnest Roberts.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery Foundation. Additionally, please honor Chester’s contributions as an organ donor by becoming a donor yourself. His donations of bone, tendons, ligaments and skin after his death will allow others to lead improved lives. Donations can be arranged through the Louisiana Donor Registry at donatelifela.org.

The family offers sincere appreciation for Dr. Albert Krause and the medical and security staff at CHRISTUS Highland Hospital in Shreveport for their skilled and compassionate care.

“I have fought the fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7