Gary and Marianne Chapman Remembered For Bringing Joy to Family and Community
Two beloved Central area business owners were laid to rest on Dec. 30, 2025, after a tragic traffic accident claimed their lives.
Gary and Marianne Chapman owned and operated Plant World on Florida Boulevard starting in 1974. They moved to Greenwell Springs Road near what is now the City of Central in 1977.
The couple commuted from their place near Centreville, MS, at least six days a week. That’s quite a commute — about 44 miles each way. But Gary said he loved the time he and Marianne spent together in the car.
They met when he was a manager at Woolworth’s and she worked there. They were married 65 years.
Plant World was a combination hardware store and nursery, but it was really much more than that. It was more of a community center where people of every race, color, and creed felt welcome.
When you walked into Plant World, whether friend or stranger, you were likely to be teased or be the subject of a practical joke by Gary.
The jokes were endless. Rev. Tony Spell remembers going in to get some propane. “I never knew what to expect,” he said. This time, when he asked Gary for some propane, Gary said he would have to check with the propane department. He picked up the phone and pretended to make a call. “Is this the propane department? Do you have any? Oh, good!” Then he turned to Pastor Spell and said, “You’re in luck. Go in the back.” Gary rushed ahead and was manning the “Propane Department” when Rev. Spell made it back there. “May I help you?” he said.
Gary’s bird CiCi added to the fun. She loved Gary and hated everyone else. She would give him a kiss and turn and take a nip from your ear if you weren’t careful!
For all who came, Plant World was a wonderful experience. No doubt Gary and Marianne have a new location and when you walk in, he will say, “Welcome to our heavenly location of Plant World!”
Gary C. Chapman, Sr. • Aug. 28, 1938 – Dec. 18, 2025
Gary C. Chapman, Sr. of Centreville, MS, owner and proprietor of Plant World Hardware and Nursery was born on Aug. 28, 1938 and passed away on Dec. 18, 2025.
He was a relentless salesman who loved to run his store with his devoted wife of 65 years, Marianne (Landry) Chapman.
Living to interact with customers, he was a devoted retail-man, husband, father, and grandfather. Chapman was a graduate of North Little Rock High School and a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve.
As soon as he deemed himself old enough, he began working in retail and found his true calling. He ran Woolworth stores all across the South and eventually decided to open his own discount store in Columbia, Mississippi in 1971.
In 1974, Gary and his family made their way back to Baton Rouge and opened Plant World with their first store on Florida Blvd. They eventually moved to their iconic location on Greenwell Springs Rd. in 1977.
Gary operated Plant World everyday for 48 years — even up to the day before his death. His success would not have been possible without his stalwart wife, Marianne Landry Chapman and faithful sons.
He is survived by his three sons: Gary Jr. (Tara), Steve (Cindi), and Jeff (Susan), as well as 18 grandchildren: Misty Regan (Jason), Heather Acord (Kevin), Gary III (Merrisa), Stephen, V, Abigail Hess (Jake), Jarett (Lexi), Jeffery Jr. (Lillian), Jennifer Dindinger (Daniel), Jonathan (Hattie), Jonah (Deborah), Jamie Miller (Conrad), Joyanna Melnik (Daniel), Justina Hostetler (Mahlon), Joseph (Ruth), Joshua, Jasper, Jason, and Justin.
Gary and Marianne also left a legacy of 19 great-grandchildren: Nannette and Annabelle Regan; Jackson and Cooper Acord; Anniston, Kaycee, Cordell, Everly, and Stella Chapman; Ariel and Hudson Dindinger; Colton, Cody, and Chyenne Chapman, Gatlin, Gage, and Georgia Miller; Stacey Hostetler, and coming soon, baby girl Melnik.
A Celebration of Life service for both Marianne and Gary was held at Luke 10:27 Church, 536 Centerville St., NE, in Denham Springs, on Dec. 30, 2025. They will be greatly missed but we have comfort in knowing that they are, forever, together.
Mary Anna “Marianne” Landry • Aug. 15, 1942 – Dec. 26, 2025
Mary Anna “Marianne” Landry Chapman of Centreville, MS was born on Aug. 15, 1942 in Belle Rose, LA and passed away on Dec. 26, 2025, succumbing to injuries sustained in a car accident. Her husband of 65 years, Gary C. Chapman, Sr., also died as a result of the accident.
Marianne was preceeded in death by her parents Leonce Landry and Virginia Valenti Landry and siblings Charles Landry and Bernadette Lejeune.
She graduated from Baton Rouge High School in 1960 and met her husband while they were working together at the Woolworth store in Bon Marche Shopping Center in Baton Rouge.
Eventually, she and her husband became the proprietors of Plant World Hardware and Nursery in Baton Rouge and devoted their lives to its operation for more than 50 years. Marianne was the beloved mother of three sons, Gary, Jr. (Tara), Steve (Cindi), and Jeff (Susan). She was the precious Nanny to 18 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. She was also the cherished “Aunt Sister” and “Sister” to her cousins, nieces, and nephews.
