Town of Winnsboro honors oldest Franklin Parish woman in walking trail extension

WINNSBORO, La (KTVE/KARD) – The town of Winnsboro is expanding a walking trail used by the community for years. With the extension, the oldest woman to live in Franklin Parish, Lillie Rose Cotton, will be honored.

The additional portion of the walking trail will be named the “Lillie Rose Cotton Walking Trail” and is the second step of a years-long project. KTVE/KARD spoke to Winnsboro Mayor Alice Wallace about why the town honored Ms. Lillie.

Ms. Lillie is a long time citizen of Winnsboro. She was one hundred and eight years old. She passed this past Saturday. She was always walking and we thought it would be befitting to name this walking trail, this portion of the walking trail after Ms. Lillie.

Alice Wallace, Mayor of Winnsboro

Cotton is survived by two children: a son who lives in Winnsboro and a daughter residing in Chicago, IL. Over the years, Mayor Wallace also became close to Ms. Lillie. Wallace hosted a birthday party each year for Cotton. Wallace gave KTVE/KARD more details about who Ms. Lillie was and what she meant to the town.

The entire community loved Ms. Lillie. She wasn’t the president, the mayor the chief, the sheriff or any of those people, but she was ours. She was a little peace of leather but she was well put together. She was feisty but we loved Ms. Lillie. Matter of fact the whole town loved Ms. Lillie.

Alice Wallace, Mayor of Winnsboro

Wallace also stated that the name of the walking trail has been approved by the council via phone poll and is awaiting an official vote at the regularly scheduled council meeting. She provided KTVE/KARD with further details about the future of the walking trail.

This is an existing walking trail that has been here for years. We’ve been funded for a second phase. The plan is to extend it all the way to Louisiana Delta Community College. Where people can bike to school, walk to school, etcetera.

Alice Wallace, Mayor of Winnsboro

She continued by thanking the community for their kindness to Ms. Lillie. According to Wallace, the town will break ground on the second phase of the trail in about 45 days.