Erma Downs Harp

Funeral services for Mrs. Erma Harp, 83, of Monroe, LA, will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, March 19, 2022, in the chapel of Mulhearn Funeral Home Sterlington Rd., Monroe, LA, with Rev. Warren Eckhardt officiating. Interment will follow in Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Friday, March 18, 2022, at Mulhearn Funeral Home Sterlington Rd., Monroe, LA.

Mrs. Harp was born June 5, 1938, in Union Parish, LA and passed away March 16, 2022, at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, LA. Mrs. Harp was raised in Union Parish and graduated from Northeast Louisiana University with a degree in Social Work. She worked briefly as a social worker in southern Louisiana before moving to Monroe, where she met her future husband of 57 years.

Mrs. Harp was a member of North Monroe Baptist Church for more than 50 years and enjoyed spending time with ladies from her church group playing cards and volunteering at North Monroe Community Hospital. She was a devout Baptist who loved attending Sunday school and church services. Mrs. Harp adored her grandchildren and loved family gatherings, always having cakes and pies ready for visitors. She loved flowers, camping at Lake Ouachita, and playing cards and dominos with friends and family. She loved a clean house, a REALLY clean house, and there was no room for negotiation on this! Mrs. Harp also loved shopping, but NOT spending. She and Paul loved to travel- coast to coast. She was a kind, caring person who was always sincere in caring for others.

Mrs. Harp was preceded in death by her parents, Mattie Ann Dean and Henry Alvin Downs (both of whom were born in Union Parish); four sisters, Helena Rogers Patrick, Nevesa Dumas, June Holton, and Eunice Herring; and one brother, Ralph Downs.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Paul Harp; one son, Paul Harp, Jr. and wife, Erin, from Lewisville, NC; three grandchildren, Garrett, Olivia and Andrew Harp of Lewisville, NC; five sisters, Ann Bonner of Bastrop, LA, Carol Hay of West Monroe, LA, Evonne Peoples and husband Bill of Walnut Grove, MS, Julie Hale Langley and husband Ronald of West Monroe, LA, and Kathy Beth and husband Howie of Putnam Valley, NY; one brother, Dale Downs and wife Kay of Sterlington, LA; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Pallbearers will be Alan Rogers, Eric Holton, Garrett Harp, Heath Doles, Rocky Bonner, and Steve Rogers. Honorary pallbearers will be Shane Hale and Terry Dumas.