James Russell Hearn, Jr.

Funeral service for Mr. James Russell Hearn, Jr., 71, of Monroe, LA, will be held on Wednesday, at 12:00 PM, June 4, 2025, at Parkview Baptist Church with Rev. Terry Barnes officiating under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home Sterlington Rd. Monroe. Interment will follow at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until service time, June 4, 2025, at the church.

Russell was born on September 2, 1953, in York, Alabama, to James Russell Hearn, Sr. and Norma Earline Moore. He passed away on Monday, May 26, 2025, in Monroe after a valiant battle against cancer.

Family and faith have been important to Russell all of his life. He and Lydia have always supported their children and grandchildren, especially in their participation in sports. Most recently, Russell has not missed a single opportunity to watch his granddaughters participate in high school softball and track.

Russell was an active member of Parkview Baptist Church in Monroe where he served as a deacon, member and chairman of the finance committee, taught adult Sunday school, cooked for church events, chaired the annual church golf tournament and more.

His father’s career moved the family from Alabama to Mississippi and then south Louisiana, where Russell graduated from Opelousas High School. In 1972, the family moved to Monroe and opened a family seafood restaurant, Catfish Cabin. After his first year at LSU, Russell made the decision to join his mom and dad in the new family business. This launched a successful career that lasted for 52 years, when he and his wife Lydia and siblings, Patricia and David, retired, and sold the business. During those years. Russell and the Hearn family were very supportive of the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM). Russell was very involved with ULM athletics and loved attending all of the different sporting events. He especially enjoyed financially supporting ULM athletics as well as cooking for and feeding the players and new recruits. In 2014, Russell was presented the ULM Athletic Foundation’s, J.H. “Slim” Scoggin Exemplary Service Award.

Russell’s absolute passion in sports was golf. He played golf at every opportunity. As an avid golfer, he was a member of Pine Hills Country Club, Squire Creek Country Club and most recently Bayou DeSiard Country Club, where he was recognized as one of the best golfers. For over 40 years, Russell and his closest golfing friends, enjoyed a once-a-year trip each fall to play golf at Hot Springs Village.

Russell was preceded in death by his parents, James Hearn, Sr. and Norma Earline Moore, as well as his grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Lydia Kaye Maxwell Hearn; daughter, Nicole Creighton (Michael) of Monroe, son, James Russell (Russ) Hearn III; grandchildren, Abagail and Hannah Creighton, Zoey, Chloe and Beckett Hearn; sister, Patricia Hearn Armstrong Tolar (John), brother, David Hearn(Janet); beloved step-mother and “Bonus Mom”, Janis Pepper Trevillion Hearn; step-sister, Ashleigh Trevillion Collins (Chris), step-sister, Jana Geiger (Sam); nieces and nephews, Brian Armstrong (Lee Ann), Natalie Hearn Doss (Richard), Rachel Hearn Pruitt (Jacob), Hayden Collins (Hailee), Kayley Collins Klingbeil (Seth), Laurel Collins Wright (Matt), Mason Collins, Mallorie Geiger Moody (John), and Madison Geiger; seven great nieces and nine great nephews.

Pallbearers will be Davis Hardy, Ken Vines, Jeff Letson, Robby McDonald, Kent Perry and Kenny Brasher.

Honorary Pallbearers will be the Deacons of Parkview Baptist Church

Memorials may be made to: Parkview Baptist Church 1001 Forsythe Avenue Monroe, LA 71201

• ULM Athletic Foundation – Softball 308 Warhawk Way Monroe, LA 71209