Just ahead of Valentine's Day, a couple from Benton was honored by Louisiana Family Forum as our state's longest-married.

Lawrence and Varrie Player just celebrated 81 years of marriage on January 27. This is the same couple honored as longest-married last year.

teasleys
Photo: Facebook via Mike Johnson
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State Representative Mike Johnson and his wife Kelly got to visit with the Players and with Will Henry and Virginia Teasley of Bryceland, named second-longest-married couple, at 79 years.

Each couple received framed Official Statements from the governor, a bouquet of flowers, a large cake and other gifts provided by LFF.

Johnson shares these facts about the two families:

Mr. & Mrs. Player are a delightful Christian couple who met in 1925 and were married by the ages of 21 and 15, respectively. (He turns 103 yrs old next month, and she is 96!) They now have 8 living children, 35 grandchildren, and 21 great grandchildren, and 10 great, great grandchildren.

Mr. & Mrs. Teasley are also an incredible Christian couple who met at the Louisiana State Fair in 1935, and married a year later. He will turn 100 later this month, and she is 98. They have three children and many grandchildren, On their wall is another plaque commemorating their "countless hours of service rendered out of an unselfish love for others" at the local Baptist Retirement Center.

I asked both these fine gentlemen to share their secret to a lifelong marriage, and they gave some great wisdom.
Mr. Teasley said with a warm smile: “Just let her think she’s the boss.”

Mr. Player, who we also gave the award to in 2015, reiterated what he advised me last year: "Work hard, do right, and be sweet and kind to her and everyone. …Oh, and buy her a new car every three years.”

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