Karen Follins

The Life and Legacy of Karen “Peaches” Marie Follins Karen “Peaches” Marie Follins, a loving mother and doting grandmother departed this life and entered eternal rest on Friday, February 19, 2021 at 5:20 a.m. A Port Allen, Louisiana native and Atlanta, Georgia resident, she transitioned after a courageous battle with Thyroid Cancer, pneumonia and Covid-19 at the age of fifty-five. Karen Follins was born March 19, 1965 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was raised in Port Allen, LA by her parents Rev. Leon and Marie Follins. As a “Pastor’s Kid” she sang in the St. Peter BC choir and participated in pageants, parades and plays in West Baton Rouge Parish, where she was also educated. Acknowledging her faith, she was baptized by her father as a teenager in Erwinville, Louisiana’s Poydras bayou. She loved the calmness of lakes and oceans and to travel. She discovered her love of art and poetry at an early age and would go on to pen a poem, “Missing You” that was published nationally in 2001. She put her administrative skills to use as an employee of the State of Louisiana for twenty years and then the United States VA’s Office in Los Angeles, California. It was her role as mother and eventually grandmother that brought her the most joy. As important as her family was to her, to know Karen was to know she was serious about her faith. She was sure to unite with a church home in whatever city she moved to and worked diligently in ministry for over 30 years, serving in various capacities. She recognized a higher calling on her life and preached her initial sermon in 2017 at the Greater Faith Church in Panama City, Florida. Most recently she was enrolled in the Minister in Training course at her home church, the RhemaNation Church. Raising her children with Christian values was important to her and it was both her family and faith she relied on as her health began to decline. Her life’s legacy of faith and family will be carried out through her children and grandchildren for many years to come. Karen is preceded in death by her parents, Rev. Leon Earl Follins, Marie Follins and birth mother, Jeanette Segars, her grandmother Ivory Keelen, her only sister, Emma Tucker and her former husband Rupert Boyer. She leaves to cherish her memories, five devoted children; Aaron Follins of Atlanta GA, Rupert Follins of Baton Rouge, LA, Sierra Boyer-Ealy of Riverdale, GA, Bryan Boyer of Panama City, FL and Genevia Boyer (Shaquille) Starks of Labadieville, LA as well as five beloved grandchildren; Zion Boyer, D’Ayrah Boyer, D’Ann Ealy, Giannis Starks and Braylon Boyer. She will also be missed by her only brother Frederick “Bam” Dyson Sr. of Chicago, Illinois, two loving nieces, Karla Tucker and Marchelle (Abdual) Jolla, one aunt, Catherine (Coda) Tolbert, her godmother Cynthia Morrison and a godson, Lester Williams all of Baton Rouge, LA. A special bonus daughter Brittany (Jordan) Barrow of Houma, LA, best friend Christine Griffin of Jacksonville, FL as well as several family members, church members, neighbors, colleagues, friends and the Port Allen High School class of 1983.

Karen Follins

March 19, 1965 - February 19, 2021