TALLULAH — Funeral services for Mr. Martin A. Verhagen Sr., age 78, of Tallulah, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, March 18, 2011, in the First Baptist Church of Tallulah with the Rev. John W. Rushing officiating. Burial will follow at the Silver Cross Cemetery in Tallulah with Glenwood Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Visitation will be Friday at the church from 9 a.m. until funeral time at 10 a.m.

Mr. Verhagen died early Wednesday, March 16, 2011, at University Medical Center in Jackson after a brief illness.

He was born in Tallulah, where he lived most all of his life. He was a retired school superintendent with the Madison Parish School System. Mr. Verhagen was a coach, teacher and a principal. He also worked for 15 years as Tech-Prep coordinator for Tallulah Vocational School. He served his country in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Tallulah.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann Verhagen of Tallulah; one son, Martin A. Verhagen Jr. and wife Kim and grandson A.J., all of Monroe, La.; one daughter, Stacy V. Solet and husband Mike of Houma, La., and grandchildren, Conner Westmoreland, Morgan Westmoreland, Cydney Westmoreland and Scarlett Hall; and a sister, Josephine Soboloff of New Orleans.

Active pallbearers will be Harold “Sonny” Clark, Don Pennington, Terry Murphy, Bill Querry, Wayne Edwards and Todd Westmoreland.

Honorary pallbearer will be James Washburn.

Donations may be made to the Cancer Foundation League of Monroe, La., and to the Alzheimer’s Association.