Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Jettie Louise Maness
Jettie Louise Maness, 89, of Little Rock, died 
on Friday, October 24, 2003. She was born
in Higginson, AR. She was a graduate of Searcy High School and received her Teacher's Certificate from Arkansas State, Beebe. She lived in Searcy and taught school in Higginson later moving to Little Rock where she was employed for over 25 years for Pfeifer Blass, later Dillard's in the linens department, at the Park Plaza store. Jettie loved gardens, traveling and walking in the park with her son Lanny. She was a member of Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Searcy and attended Grace Presbyterian Church in Little Rock.
She was predeceased by a son Larry Leslie Maness in l973. Jettie is survived by one son, Lanny O. Maness of Little Rock, Larry's wife, Sue Maness of Missouri, three grandchildren, Steven, Marc and Michael Maness and six great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sunday at the Ruebel Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Oaklawn Cemetery
in Searcy at 9:30 a.m. Monday followed by a memorial service at 1:00p.m. Monday at Grace Presbyterian Church in Little Rock. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Pulaski County.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Lt. Col. Norman Porter Magers, Jr.
Lt. Col. Norman Porter Magers, Jr. USAF (ret) Age 84 of Little Rock, died of congestive heart failure at home on July 18, 2003, surrounded by his loving family.
Norman "Tony" Magers was born
in Des Moines, Iowa, on October 13, 1918. He graduated from Roosevelt High School and studied Electrical Engineering at Iowa State College in Ames. He was drafted into the US Army in 1941. He graduated from Officers' Candidate School and Provost Marshal General School. As a Second Lieutenant in the US Army Air Corps he was assigned to West Point in 1942. He served in the European Theater in World War II and the occupation of Germany 1944-1947. He was Headquarters Company commander in the 831 Aviation Engineers and Security Officer during the construction of the Rhine Main Air Force Base near Frankfurt, which was used as the main airport for the Berlin airlift of 1948.
Norm was discharged as a Captain and a decorated war veteran in 1947. Three years later he was recalled into the Strategic Air Command and assigned to Ben Guareeer Air Base in Morocco. He later served at March Field in California (1852-58), England (1958-59) and Little Rock Air Force Base (1959-64) as Base Deputy Commander for Security and Law Enforcement. His service at Little Rock included special security responsibilities in Central Arkansas during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1964 he was transferred to Offutt AFB, Omaha, Nebraska, headquarters of the Strategic Air Command, where he commanded the SAC Elite Guard. He was greatly respected by his men, and the members of the Elite Guard gave a special farewell parade in his honor upon his retirement in July 1966. At that time he also received the Air Force Commendation Medal.
After retirement from the Air Force, Norm returned to Little Rock where he worked for ten years as vice-president and audio-visual specialist with Educators' Service Center. He was a member of the Retired Officers Association and the Heights Optimist Club. After his second retirement, he focused his energies on his hobbies of carpentry, gardening and travel. He remodeled his house, built custom furniture, and delighted his granddaughters with hand-made custom-designed doll houses. Norm and his wife enjoyed their travel abroad and in all 50 states. In 1997 he attended the opening ceremony of the American Air Museum in Duxford, England, as a founding member of the museum, which honors American airmen who served their country in Britain during World War II.
Norman is survived by his wife Bea Fugua Magers; his sons Norman P. Magers III (Altlanta, GA), James B. Magers (North Little Rock); his daughter Pamela C. Magers (San Francisco, CA); his step-son Richard Hegenberger (Charleston, NC); step-daughter Carla Fishman (New Orleans, LA); and nine grandchildren.
There will be a private family interment. The memorial service followed by a reception will take place at 3 pm Sunday, July 20, at Pulaski Heights Presbyterian Church, 4401 Woodlawn, Little Rock. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Salvation Army or Pulaski Heights Presbyterian Church.
Bessie Stathakis Lytle
Bessie Stathakis Lytle, age 85, of Little Rock, died Monday, February 24, 2003. She was born
in Little Rock where she graduated from Little Rock High School. She later became a teller for First National Bank for over 40 years. She was a member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. She is predeceased by her husband, C. J. Lytle who died in 1978.
Mrs. Lytle is survived by 2 stepsons Jack Lytle and wife Lori of Little Rock, William Lytle and wife Marion of Huntsville, Alabama, one sister Christine S. McKinney of Little Rock, 7 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.
There will be a visitation Wednesday, from 6 to 8 pm with a 6:30pm Memorial Prayers service at Ruebel Funeral Home. There will be a funeral service Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church officiated by Reverend Doctor Nicholas Verdaris. Services are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
Memorials in lieu of flowers should be made to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.
Maria Luisa Mabilangan Haley
Maria Luisa Mabilangan Haley
Maria Luisa Mabilangan Haley, Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) and a woman whose career in public service, economic development and international business and trade spanned four decades, two Arkansas governors and the presidents of two nations, died Tuesday night, September 13 in Little Rock. She was 70.
Born in the Philippines during the Japanese occupation, Ms. Haley began her life living in a small hut hiding from enemy soldiers. Upon the granting of independence to the Philippines, Ms. Haley’s father, Felipe Mabilangan, Sr., a political science professor, joined the Filipino Diplomatic Corp as an ambassador, and at age 10 Ms. Haley began what she often referred to as her journeys and adventures.
As the daughter of a diplomat, Ms. Haley was educated and traveled all over the world, living in India, Pakistan, France, Spain and Laos. She credited her father for inspiring her love of democracy and public service and her mother, Felisa Hugo Mabilangan, a grade school teacher, for teaching her strength, discipline and graciousness. All of these traits were the benchmarks of Ms. Haley’s life and career.
That career began in the Philippines in 1966 as Sales Manager for the Manila Hilton, the first international hotel in the Philippines, where she traveled extensively to develop new markets worldwide.
In 1971, Ms. Haley immigrated to the United States to become a U.S. citizen and the bride of Mr. John Haley, a prominent Little Rock attorney who is now deceased. Ms. Haley described coming to Arkansas by saying, “I fell in love with John and the moment I set foot in Arkansas I fell in love with the state. I had an instant family with three wonderful children. This is home. This is where I belong.” Throughout her amazing life and career, Ms. Haley has remained close to her Arkansas family and recounted her time with them as some of her most precious.
As an Arkansan, Ms. Haley began her career in the United States in executive management with Fairfield Communities, Inc. but was soon recruited by then Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton to head the international and marketing divisions of the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission (now the AEDC). While serving her first Arkansas Governor, Ms. Haley used her international experience to move Arkansas forward by heading Arkansas’ foreign trade offices in Brussels, Tokyo and Taipei, and taking responsibility for international economic development of the State, including exports and foreign investments. Ms. Haley was fond of saying, “that under Governor Bill Clinton’s watch, exports and foreign investments tripled.”
When Governor Bill Clinton decided to run for President, Ms. Haley hit the campaign trail early on his behalf, where she was appointed Senior Advisor for Asian American Affairs for Clinton/Gore. In this capacity, Ms. Haley traveled across the country making speeches, heading rallies and mobilizing Asian American support for the Clinton/Gore campaign. In California, Ms. Haley would laughingly recall that her campaign van was aptly named, “Haley’s Comet for Clinton/Gore.”
Upon the election of President William Jefferson Clinton, Ms. Haley joined her President in Washington, D.C. in November 1992 as The Deputy Personnel Director for the Clinton/Gore transition team. Upon inauguration she joined him in the White House as Special Assistant to the President and Associate Director of Presidential Personnel for Economics, Commerce and Trade.
In 1994, Ms. Haley was nominated by President Clinton, and confirmed by the Senate twice, to serve as a member of the Board for The Export Import Bank of the United States. Ms. Haley was proud to be the first Filipino American in U. S. history to be confirmed by the Senate. Ms. Haley’s charge from the President was to increase the Bank’s capacity for providing trade financing to small business with a goal of setting aside 10% of the Bank financing for small business. In Ms. Haley’s usual overachieving fashion, five years later the Bank small business portfolio had grown to 21%. Ms. Haley was also the first Ex-Im Bank Board member to travel to Africa, chairing the Bank Africa task force and opening opportunities for U.S. exports to the continent.
In July 1999, Ms. Haley was asked to return to the White House to serve as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel, where she staffed the President, the Chief of Staff, and the Director in the selection and approval of Senate confirmed cabinet, sub-cabinet and senior level appointments. Upon her departure from the White House in the early morning hours of January 20, 2001, Ms. Haley said, “I left the White House still awed by its beauty, ---- and grateful to my President for the experience and the memories.”
For Ms. Haley, serving one president was not enough. Upon leaving the White House, she was called immediately by Philippines President Gloria Arroyo to serve as her advisor as well as advisor to the Philippines Ambassador to the U.S. on Philippines-US relationships. Ms. Haley moved directly from this assignment to a new position at Kissinger McClarty Associates where she served as Senior Director for Asia in the international strategic advisory firm, headed by Arkansan and former Clinton Chief of Staff and Envoy to the Americas, Thomas F. “Mack” McLarty and former Secretary of State, Dr. Henry Kissinger.
Ms. Haley’s appointment in 2007 by Governor Mike Beebe to head the state agency responsible for bringing businesses to Arkansas and maintaining the presence of and growing existing business in Arkansas, was described by long-time colleague and associate, Mack McLarty, as the capstone of Ms. Haley’s storied career. And, in Ms. Haley’s words, “my life came full circle.”
In her five years with the AEDC, Ms. Haley’s tireless energy and love for Arkansas was expressed in her record of accomplishments at AEDC. Governor Mike Beebe lauded Ms. Haley saying, "Maria Haley did more for the State of Arkansas than most people will ever know. Her tireless mission to create and keep jobs in Arkansas was a primary factor in our ability to ride out the recession as well as we have. After living all over the world, Maria made Arkansas her adopted home, and dedicated herself to its betterment for more than 30 years. She was one of the first people I wanted on my team when I became governor, and she will be dearly missed as a friend and colleague.”
As a proponent for women, Ms. Haley also frequently talked about the importance of “sisterhood” and the importance of preserving and nurturing her relationships with her “girlfriends.” She has said, “I could not have lived my life as happy and fulfilled without the support and love of my female friends.” Her sisterhood around the world will dearly miss Ms. Haley.
In her acceptance speech to the Lions World Services for the Blind Vision Awards Luncheon, Ms. Haley summed up her life this way, “I came here as an immigrant bride…24 years later I walked down Air Force One with the President of the United States. Only in this great country can this happen. America and Arkansas have given me tremendous opportunities…and now… I want to give back.”
In her career, Ms. Haley has received numerous prestigious awards, including the 1997 Ronald H. Brown Export Enhancement Award from the Small Business Exporters Association, the 2000 Stan Suyat Memorial Leadership Award from the Asian American Government Executives Network, the 2000 Philippine Presidential Award given by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, and the 2010 Vision Award given by the Lions World Services for the Blind Foundation. She was a charter member of the Arkansas Women’s Forum-affiliated with the International Women’s Forum.
Ms. Haley is survived by her brother, Ambassador Felipe Mabilangan, her sister-in-law, Ada Ledesma Mabilangan, her nephew, Jose L. Mabilangan and nieces, Anne Marie M. Ozaeta and Lisa M. Coory; Also her stepchildren, John S. Haley and wife Danette, Susan Betts and husband, Mark, and David C. Haley and wife Lori. She also leaves eight beloved grandchildren, John C. Adams, Anne L. Haley, David Haley, Andrew J. Adams, Colleen Haley, P. Conner Haley, Lauren N. Haley, and Katherine Haley. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home..
A memorial service will be held at the Clinton Presidential Library on Monday, September 19th, 2011 at 1:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers donations in the form of checks may be sent to CFSI, MCC PO Box 2733, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Wire transfers should be addressed to: CFSI, Account Number: 6734-0077-63, BPI Family Bank, G/F Filomena Building, 104 Amorsolo Street, Makati City, Philippines, Swift Code: BOPIPHMM.
Community and Family Services International (CFSI) is a non-profit, humanitarian organization working closely with the United Nations system to protect and assist refugees and persons displaced by armed conflict, natural disaster, and other exceptionally difficult circumstances in Asia (www.cfsi.ph). Based in the Philippines and now celebrating its 30th year of distinguished service, CFSI helps meet the basic needs of these uprooted populations and prevents displacement by promoting peace, respect for human rights, and the equitable distribution of resources.
Sarah B. Lincoln
Sarah B. Lincoln, was born
in Dallas, Texas, June 18, 1905. She died on Friday, April 18, 2003 in Little Rock, Arkansas. She is survived by her daughter, Sara Ann Lincoln, of Lansing, Michigan; and two surrogate sons, Harold Greer of Topeka, Kansas, and Dale Whitman of Hot Springs.
Sara was very proud of her membership in the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Her grandmother, Ann Eliza Hill Heslep, was born
in 1841 on New Years Creek, near Old Washington on the Brazos, before Texas became a state.
Sara met her husband, Bert H. Lincoln, at the University of Colorado in Boulder. She was taking a chemistry class taught by Bert, then a graduate assistant. They danced to the music of Glenn Miller. They married
in 1927 and their first baby, Gilbert, was born
in 1928 in Ponca City, Oklahoma where Bert served as Chief Chemist for the Continental Oil Company. Daughter Sara Ann was born
in 1932, and son John in 1936.
Sara and Bert and the children were active in the First Presbyterian Church. Sara served as president of the Presbyterian Women's Association. She was long active in Christian Education. Her most prized honor is the pin recognizing her service, and she was awarded honorary membership in the National Board of Christian Education.
Son Gilbert was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1954. John and Sara Ann both became teachers. All three children became active in their local churches.
Sara and Bert built their dream home in Ponca City in 1938, a two- story colonial brick home with great white columns. In the design of the house, Sara used architectural drawings from the restoration of Williamsburg. The Flemish Bond brick added a special look, as did the broken pediment over the front door. Sara gradually filled this stunning home with early Victorian antiques, including antiques that belonged to her family. Relatives still mention memories of visiting Sara's home : " She made it truly memorable. Her hospitality was perfection. Sara is artistry from head to toe, back to front, inside and out."
When recalling her years in Ponca, Sara often said, "never let it be forgot that once there was a Camelot." Bert died in 1975, John in 1995, and Gilbert in 1998.
In Ponca, Sara was a leader in establishing a child guidance clinic for the county, and was on the board of directors of the Kay County Association for Child Guidance. They studied mental health problems and developed a legislative proposal for financing a clinic that would deal primarily with preventive work. The clinic was finally built in Ponca City.
Sara's husband, Bert specialized in chemical research and gained 164 patents for Continental Oil Company. He was a Major in the Chemical Warfare Reserve, and after World War II he was given a Distinguished War Service Award. A biographical sketch of Dr. Lincoln appears in 20 different Who's Who volumes. In 1954 he was made a Fellow in the Royal Society of Arts in England. Bert studied law on his own, and was admitted to the Patent Office as a patent attorney in 1933. In 1937 he was awarded an honorary doctorate through New York University and the Academy of Arts and Sciences of Brazil. Bert was an elder in the Presbyterian Church. From 1958 to 1968, he was head of the Chemistry Department at Arkansas State University in Magnolia, Arkansas.
Sara and Bert moved to Little Rock in 1974 and Bert died in 1975. Sara moved into Presbyterian Village retirement community in 1981. At Presbyterian Village, Sara was active in Kerygma, the Bible Study group sponsored by Second Presbyterian Church. Others who attend speak with deep admiration of her knowledge of the Bible and her prayers.
Sara often quoted songs and poems from her childhood. One of her favorites is poignant, if you know of her shift from a 15 room house, to an apartment, to a smaller apartment at Presbyterian Village, to a single room in the Village Lodge, to a smaller room in Personal Care, to half a room on the nursing floor: Said the wee little worm in a hickory nut, as happy as she could be, "I live in the middle of the whole wide world, and it all belongs to me.
Memorial services will be held later next week. Sara will be buried
in the Lincoln family plot in Ponca City, OK, along side her husband and sons. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Arkansas Hospice or Presbyterian Village. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home.
Sheffield Smith Lander
Sheffield Smith Lander, age 90, of Little Rock, died Thursday, December 18, 2003. Sheffield was born
in Paragould, Arkansas to the late Chief Justice Griffin and Amelia Sheffield Daggett Smith. She was a graduate of Marianna High School before attending Sarah Lawrence College in New York, and a member of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral for over 75 years. She was also a member of The Country Club of Little Rock, Junior League of Little Rock, past President of the Aesthetic Club, and The Second Friday Book Club.
She is predeceased by her husband, Drew H. Lander who died in 1995 a daughter, Sheffield L. Owings who died in 1996, and her brother, Griffin Smith, who died in 2000. She is survived by a daughter, Roslyn L. Knutson of Little Rock, 5 grandchildren: Dodson and Andrew Christian, Roslyn and Ford Donald, And, Sheffield C. Duke and 5 great-grandchildren; Helen Sheffield and Riley Duke, Maggie Donald, Will Christian and Andrew Hiebert.
A funeral service will be held Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral officiated by The Very Reverend Henry Hudson. Burial will be at Roselawn Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers memorials should be made to Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.
