A memorial service celebrating the life of Kay Susan Walker Southern, 88, of West Monroe, Louisiana will be held at 4:00 P.M., Saturday, January 3, 2026, in the chapel of Mulhearn Funeral Home with Rev. Michael Wood and Rev. Ille Boyd officiating.

The visitation will be held from 3:00 P.M. until the time of service.

Kay Susan Walker Southern was born on May 28, 1937, in Minden, Louisiana, to Curtis Odell and Rosalee Whitten Walker, who were affectionately known as Pop and Granny. Kay and her older sister, Diann, were raised in the small town of Taylor, Louisiana, where life revolved around their father’s family’s business, Woodard Walker Lumber Company. Kay graduated from Gibsland High School in Gibsland, Louisiana. She went on to graduate from Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana.

Kay lived in Monroe, Louisiana, for many years where she raised her four children, Brent, Susan, Chris, and Amy. She was married to the father of her children, Marvin Eugene “Doc” Southern, for 25 years. Kay later moved to West Monroe, Louisiana, to be closer to her daughter, Susan, and her family.

Kay passed away on November 24, 2025, in the comfort of her home.

Kay loved sports! All sports! She coached some and watched many! Her favorite teams through the years were any team her children played on or coached. She then went on to enjoy watching her grandchildren and great grandchildren who were a part of many sports, including baseball, football, basketball, softball, soccer, track, lacrosse, gymnastics, cheer, drill team, and dance! She attended as many sporting events as possible. She especially loved her Ole Miss Rebels! Kay spent many weekends in The Grove in Oxford, Mississippi, surrounded by her family and friends ready to cheer them on… “Hoddy Totty!” She loved to watch sports on tv, especially college and professional basketball. She would often say, “I don’t know what people that don’t like sports watch on tv!”

Kay also had a deep love for animals! She had several beloved pets throughout her life. She never met an animal she didn’t want to take in and care for.

Kay definitely had a servant’s heart for others. She was very involved in her church with whatever was needed. She was a long-time active member of Parkview Baptist Church in Monroe. In 1989, she became one of the founding members of Northminster Church in Monroe. She, along with a small group of people, had a vision to start their own church and began meeting on Sunday mornings in her living room. This church was always such a special place to her. As she aged and her health prevented her from going to church, she would faithfully watch services from Northminster, First West in West Monroe, and Grace Avenue Methodist Church in Frisco, Texas.

One of her greatest passions was owning and running the Desiard Street Shelter for the homeless in Monroe, Louisiana. Her desire to care for and feed others led her to this endeavor. She purchased a vacant building in downtown Monroe and started the shelter as a safe haven for others. She spent many years devoting so much of her time and money to making sure the shelter provided whatever the homeless people in our area needed. She often said she felt like this was her calling and found great joy in serving and helping others. As she aged and became less able to run the shelter, she generously donated it, and it would become what is now The Renewal Center in Monroe. She would check on “the shelter” often. Kay helped so many people and touched so many lives through the shelter.

Kay was lovingly called “Pay” by all that knew her. Anticipating her first grandchild, Kay wanted to be called Momma Kay. But, that first grandchild, Heather Kay, simply called her “Pay” and it stuck!

Kay had many special friends throughout her lifetime including ones from her time at Louisiana College, her neighborhoods, her very special ladies’ group known as the “beach bunch,” ones she met through church, sports, and days working with the homeless in our area. Kay instilled in her children and friends a love for the beach! Many happy memories were made in Gulf Shores, Alabama, at The Beach House!

Kay is preceded in death by her parents Curtis Odell and Rosalee Walker, her sister Diann Coleman and her son Kevin Coleman, and Gene Southern.

She is survived by son Brent Eugene Southern and Kelley, daughter Susan Dell Southern Aulds and Buddy, son Christopher Lee Southern, daughter Amy Diann Southern and Rhonda; 7 grandchildren: Heather Kay Aulds Guillot and Rick, Mallory Annette Aulds Meredith and Bryn, Shelby Esters Aulds, IV and Alyson, Sarah Ellen Southern Krivanec and Chad, Susanna Southern Goodman and Russell, Walker Christopher Southern and Rachel, and Ashton Ray Southern; 11 great grandchildren: Brady Aulds Guillot, Jack Anderson Guillot, Maggie Mae Meredith, Nora Kay Meredith, Briggs David Meredith, Remi Elizabeth Aulds, Whitten Samuel Aulds, Anderson Shepherd Aulds, Annalee Mosby Goodman, Andrew Rush Goodman, and Ellen Grace Krivanec.

Kay is also survived by her niece, Kathy Diann Coleman Allen and Patrick, nephew, Kent Walker Coleman and Tammy, and niece, Kellye Susan Coleman; and great nieces and nephews Ashley Diann Allen, Sean Thomas Coleman and Tara, Daniel Walker Coleman and Bliss, Kennedy Alexis Coleman, and Nicholas Walker Coleman.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The River Cities Humane Society for Cats, in Monroe, LA (rivercitiescats.org), The Renewal Center (722 Adams St. Monroe, LA 71201), or St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org).