Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Jennie Gilbert
Jennie Rebecca Graves Gilbert, 98, retired store merchant of Dierks, went to be with her Lord, January 27, 2004, at Brookewood Nursing Center, De Queen. She was born to Walter and Ellis Graves in Greens Chapel, Sevier County, Arkansas, on December 7, 1905. She was predeceased by her husband Roy Gilbert.
Ma Jennie is survived by one son, Keith Gilbert and wife, Ann, of dierks; four grandchildren, Van Gilbert, Sonya Miller, Steven Gilbert, and Ben Gilbert; and six great-grandchildren. She was a member of the Dierks United Methodist Church.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, January 29, at Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel in Dierks from 6:00-8:00 in the evening.
Her funeral will be at the Dierks United Methodist Church, Dierks, at 10:00 a.m., Friday, January 30, Garry Wiles officiating. Burial will follow in the Greens Chapel cemetery, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home.
Mary Alexander
Mrs. Mary Stella Watson Alexander, age 96, of Dierks died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004 at Hot Springs, Ark.
She was born September 1, 1907 at Dierks and was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Dierks.
She was predeceased by her husband, Clifford Alexander, and two daughters, Jean Tippit and Patsy Sue Alexander.
Survivors include one daughter, Lucy Alexander of Hot Springs; one sister, Opal Hogg of Dierks; two brothers, Wesley Watson of Little Rock and Lake Watson of Ridley, Calif.; five grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 9 at the First United Methodist Church of Dierks with Bruce Tippit officiating. Burial was in the Green's Chapel cemetery.
The family received friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Wilkerson Funeral Home in Dierks.
Jason Alexis Nunez
Jason Alexis Nunez, age 2, resident of De Queen, died Sunday, Jan. 18, 2004 in De Queen Regional Medical Center.
He was born Nov. 24, 2001 in De Queen to Epigmenio and Margarita Arriaga Nunez; and was a member of St. Barbara’s Catholic Church in De Queen.
He is survived by his parents; his paternal grandparents, Julita Garcia and Ignacio Nunez; and his maternal grandparents, Timotea Nunez and Juvenal Arriaga.
Funeral services will be held in Mexico, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home of De Queen.
Charles F. Johnson Sr.
Charles Franklin Johnson Sr., age 72, resident of De Queen, died Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2004 at his home.
He was born Aug. 17, 1931 in the West Line Community to Pompie Franklin and Lola Williams Johnson; was a retired butcher; an Army veteran of the Korean Conflict; and a member of the Assembly of God. He was predeceased by two sons, Charles “Chuck” Johnson Jr. and Herschell Johnson; and a grandson, Jeremy Johnson.
He is survived by his wife, Mildred Green Johnson of De Queen; two sons, Harold Johnson of Broken Bow, Okla., and Jerry Bob Johnson of San Antonio, Tex.; a daughter, Brenda Chandler of De Queen; a brother, Jim Johnson of Clarksville, Tex.; 13 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16 in Redmen cemetery with Rev. J.L. Walker officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home.
Paul L. “Sonny” Burke
Paul L. “Sonny” Burke, age 71, resident of Eagletown, Okla., died Friday, Jan. 16, 2004 in De Queen Regional Medical Center.
He was born July 31, 1932 in Overturf to the late James Paul and Dona Viola Herring Burke; and was a cattle rancher. He was predeceased by his parents; a brother, Gary Burke; and two sisters, Billie Lloyd and Floy Kennon.
He is survived by a son, Cody Burke of Texarkana, Tex.; three daughters, Gerri Armstrong of Hot Springs, Sonja Burke and Carla Jean Smith; five sisters, Pauline Jones and Nelda Richardson, both of Grannis, Jo Milam of Mena, Patsy Hagler of Berryville, and June Mitchell of Texarkana, Tex.; one grandson, one great-granddaughter; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19 in Overturf cemetery in Gillham under the direction of Beasley-Wood Funeral Home of Mena.
James E. Teague
Mr. James E. Teauge, a resident of Enterprise, Alabama and formerly of Arkansas died Sunday, January 25, 2004 in Enterprise. He was 85.
Graveside funeral services were at 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 30, 2004 from the Chapelwood Memorial Gardens in Wake Village, Texas with Patterson-Sorrels Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Teague was a native of Texas, having lived in Arkansas for a number of years before moving to Enterprise, Alabama. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was preceded in death by his wife, Edna Ruth Teague, and a son, James E. Teague, Jr.
Survivors include three sisters, Polly Westbrook, Modesto, California, Francis Tobias, Kapowsin, Washington, Katie Marie Griffis, Celeste, Texas; a daughter-in-law, Judy J. Teague, Enterprise, Alabama; a granddaughter, Ruth L. Pawlik (Scott), Enterprise, Alabama; a grandson, James E. Teague III, Melbourne, Florida; great-grandchildren, Brittany and Brandi Pawlik, Enterprise, Alabama; a special friend, Sharon Ross, De Queen, Arkansas; and nieces and nephews.
William Ramon Roberts
William “Bill” Raymon Roberts, age 73, resident of Brushy Ridge, Okla., died Wednesday, Jan. 21 at Mena Medical Center.
He was born Aug. 18, 1930 in Chocotah, Okla., to the late John and Bertha Parton Roberts; was a carpenter for 47 years; and was involved in the Polk County Singing Convention. He was predeceased by his parents; and his wife, Naomi Roberts, on Aug. 17, 2003.
He is survived by a son, Wesley Roberts of Mena; four daughters, Judy N. Whitaker of Cove, B. Lynn Thomas of Paso Robles, Calif., Sandra Jane Badger of Rocky, and Rhonda J. Smith of Plunkettville, Okla.; four brothers, Bob Roberts, Tony Roberts and Tom Roberts, all of Cove, and Fred Roberts of Benton; one sister, Dorothy Aurthur of Hatfield; 15 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24 in Pleasant Grove Church of the Nazarene with Bro. Don Sisk officiating. Interment followed in Pleasant Grove cemetery under the direction of Hall Funeral Service of Mena.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wickes Senior Citizens Center.
Melvin L. “Bob” Hamby
Melvin L. “Bob” Hamby, age 81, resident of De Queen, died Monday, Jan. 12, 2004 at his home.
He was born May 26, 1922 at Durant, Okla., to Robert Otho and Esther Jane Clayton Hamby; served with the U.S. Marines during World War II, where he received a purple heart; was retired from AMOCO of Texas City, Tex.; a member of the V.F.W.; and attended Kern Heights Baptist Church in De Queen. He was predeceased by his parents; and two brothers, Ervin Hamby and Darwin Hamby.
He is survived by his wife, Lorene Beard Hamby of De Queen; three sisters, Faye Bingham and Chloe Young, both of De Queen, and Erma Rollins of Mablevale; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14 in Mt. Ida cemetery with Rev. Harold Brewer officiating, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home of De Queen.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, Jan. 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
La Wanda Baird
Mrs. La Wanda Houser Baird, age 72, a resident of Lockesburg, Ark., died Tuesday, January 13, 2004 in Lockesburg.
She was born November 9, 1931 in Lockesburg to Ed and Adel Dowdle Houser. She was a waitress, truck driver and worked security for S.R.T. in Ashdown.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Baird.
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Archie and Sharon Dorsey of Lockesburg; a daughter and son-in-law, Theresa Sparkman and Lee Roy Sparkman, Sr., of Idabel, Okla.; a brother, DeWayne Houser of Lockesburg; five grandchildren, Jason Dorsey, Tracy Sutton, Whitney Sutton, Lee Roy Sparkman, Jr., and Cathrine Flood; three great-grandchildren, Jerrome Hensley, Jessica Hensley, and Justin Sparkman; a number of nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.
Graveside funeral services for Mrs. Baird was held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 15, 2004 in the Lockesburg cemetery with Revs. Jerrel Helms and Charles Jones officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home.
The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, January 14, 2004 at the funeral home.
