Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Laura Afton Ennis
Laura Afton Ennis., age 34, a resident of De Queen, Arkansas passed from this life on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at her home.
She was born February 4, 1987, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. She graduated from De Queen High School and attended U.A.L.R.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Junior and Emmalene Ennis and her maternal grandparents, Maurice and Lou Beth.
She is survived by her parents Richard and Barbara Ennis of De Queen; one sister, Emily Ennis of Bella Vista, AR; three uncles, Jeff and Carol Sue Ennis of Franklin, TN, Mike and Jan Beth of Texarkana, AR and Steve and Charlotte Beth of Nashville, AR; one aunt, Sandra McCord of Texarkana.
Family will receive friends from 4:00p.m. – 6:00p.m., Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at funeral home.
The family requests that everyone wear a face mask and practice social distancing for safety.
Cremation arrangements by Wilkerson Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Nashville, TN chapter in memory of Afton Ennis.
Checks can be mailed to:
4538 Trousdale Drive
Nashville, TN 37204
Online donations: cff.org/give-today
Mr. John Whitaker
Mr. John Michael Whitaker, Sr., age 79, a resident of Pensacola, Florida, and former resident of De Queen, died peacefully Tuesday, February 23, surrounded by his family.
He was born one of ten children born to Hershel Ernest and Mary Mae Bozarth Whitaker. John was born November 18, 1941 in Cement, Oklahoma. He was a 1958 graduate of De Queen High School, where he played football for the Leopards, and then for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. John served his country proudly with the U.S. Army, and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was self-employed, and enjoyed computers, walking, watching football, but most of all, He cherished the time he spent with his family, especially his grandchildren.
John was preceded in death by his parents, and all of his siblings, Hershel Whitaker, Jr. Wanda Joy Henry, Patricia Gaylord, Ella Joyce Spriggs, Ruth Kellums Jean Stephens, Mary Mae Leatherman, and Helen Vick.
John leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 56 years, Sue Whitaker of Pensacola, Florida, one son, John Michael Whitaker, Jr. of Horatio, one daughter, Tonja Michelle Whitaker, and her husband, Brian Gaylord of Pensacola, Florida, eight grandchildren, Amber, Keria, Tabatha and her husband Malcolm, Austin and his wife, Gabbi, Zoey, Chris and his wife, Cassie, Naomi, and April, five great-grandchildren, Ashley and husband Darion, Hayden, Kai, Emmie, and Astrid; one great-great-grandchild, Cora Rose, as well as nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.
Graveside funeral services with Military Rites will be held at 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, March 3, 2021 in Redmen Cemetery, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen. Visitation will be general.
The use of a face mask or covering will be required during your time at the funeral home.
Mary Lou (Mullins) Bourns
Mary Lou (Mullins) Bourns, formerly of De Queen, AR, passed away Sunday, February 21, 2021, at the Longview Regional Medical Center in Longview, TX, after a brief illness. She was 90 years old.
Mary Lou was born to Mack Henry and Edna Margaret (Combs) Mullins in Ashdown, AR, on March 1, 1930. She was the youngest of 5 children and was raised on a farm in the Red Bluff Community. She was a student in the Ashdown school system and graduated from Ashdown High School in 1948.
She attended her first year of college at Jacksonville Bible College, in Jacksonville, TX. Her friends encouraged her to enter the college beauty pageant that year and she won. The following year, she transferred to Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, AR, where she majored in Elementary Education and received her teaching degree. Here she met the love of her life, Jerrell Omagene Bourns.
Mary Lou and Omagene married in January of 1951. They soon moved to DeQueen, AR, to begin their careers and start a family. Mary Lou began her 37 year teaching career at Central Elementary School where she taught 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th grades. Omagene began his 40 plus years working for the United States Postal Service. They had 2 boys, Mike and Randy.
Mary Lou had many talents and hobbies. She enjoyed working in her yard and her flower bed as well as sewing, cooking, camping, and painting. Mary Lou and Omagene enjoyed playing dominoes with friends on the weekends. They also loved to travel and once Mary Lou retired, they purchased a camper – and away they went!
Mary Lou spent her life as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She is remembered by her family as a dedicated prayer warrior with resilience and determination who loved her family with all her heart and who loved God above all.
Mary Lou and Omagene were married for 53 years before he passed away on April 10, 2004, after a long illness. Mary Lou was a member of First Baptist Church of De Queen where she attended faithfully for over 60 years.
Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents, Mack and Edna Mullins, her 3 brothers Pete, David and John Ed and sister Dorothy Mullins and by her husband Omagene Bourns.
She is survived by her two sons Mike (Mary Lynn) Bourns of Little Rock, AR, and Randy (Charlotte) Bourns of Longview, TX, three granddaughters Christy (Derek) Ward and Lindsay (Robert) Coon, all of Little Rock, and Shelby Bourns (Mauricio Hernandez) of Dallas, TX, one grandson Daniel (Kira) Bourns of Pittsburg, TX, 8 great-grandchildren – Lucy, Sally and Sam Coon and Henry, Emily and Thomas Ward all of Little Rock, AR, and Dayton Bourns, of Pittsburg, TX, and Aubrey Hernandez of Dallas, TX, and a number of nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Saturday, February 27, at 10:00am prior to the service in the Wilkerson Funeral Chapel at 11:00 with the Rev. Jason Carlton officiating.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials in Mary Lou’s name to the De Queen Elementary School library. Send to De Queen Elementary School Library 233 Treating Plant Road, De Queen, AR. 71832
The family requests that everyone wear a face mask and practice social distancing for safety.
Shirley Cogburn
Shirley Delores Cogburn, age 70, a resident of Nashville, Arkansas, died Tuesday, February 23, 2021.
She was born September 29, 1950. Mrs. Cogburn was a homemaker.
Mrs. Cogburn was preceded in death by her parents Hubert J.D. and Lilly Odell Blackwood Mitchell and her husband’s Arley Provence and Jimmy Dale Cogburn.
She is survived by her three sons, Tim Provence of Nashville, Matt Provence of Rufe, Oklahoma and Brad Provence of Tulsa, OK; two brothers, Terry Mitchell of Dierks, Arkansas and Charles Mitchell of Powderly, TX; one step brother, Jerry Mitchell of Rufe, OK; two step sisters, Lola Mae Mussett of Rufe, OK and Priscilla Barbre of Saline, LA and a number of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
A memorial will be held for Mrs. Cogburn at 5:00 p.m., Saturday, March 13, 2021 at Living Rock Church, 1328 Mine Street., Nashville, Arkansas.
The family requests that everyone wear a face mask and practice social distancing for safety.
Darrell W. Lawless
Darrell W. Lawless, age 77, a resident of De Queen, Arkansas, passed away Monday, February 22, 2021.
He was born November 30, 1943, in Glenwood, Arkansas. He was a member of the De Queen Church of Christ.
After his retirement he enjoyed his woodworking and taking care of the yard and his flowers. He was also able to take many trips exploring the US and Canada. He was very proud of his son, and his grandkids, who knew him as Papa D. He was the type of person that was sure to take care of everyone else ahead of himself.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Verdene Lawless.
He is survived by his wife a 53 years Patsy Lawless; one son, Brad Lawless of Bentonville, Arkansas; a granddaughter, Zoe Lawless and a grandson, Finnian Lawless of Fayetteville, Arkansas.
General viewing will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at the funeral home.
Graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at the Biggs Chapel Academy Cemetery in Nathan, Arkansas with Bobby Tatum, Minister officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home.
In Lieu of flowers please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association, online at Alz.org or the Biggs Chapel Academy Cemetery, Gary Cox, 27 Bacon Creek Farm Road, Nashville, Arkansas 71852.
The family request that everyone wear a face mask and practice social distancing for safety.
James Eddie Bateman Sr.
James Eddie Bateman Sr., age 80, a resident of Hooks, Texas, passed from this life on Saturday, February 20, 2021 in Texarkana, Texas.
He was born February 23, 1940, in Bowie, Texas. Mr. Bateman served in the National Guard. He was a grocer for over 48 years and was a member of the Westside Church of Christ in Texarkana, Texas.
Mr. Bateman was preceded in death by his parents, Ervin R. and Hattie Langford Bateman; his wife, Effie Bridges Bateman and one brother, Bob Bateman.
He is survived by two sons, Jim Bateman of Texarkana, TX and Michael Bateman of Foreman, AR; three daughters, Carla and Bennie Price of Hooks, TX, Kathy and Joe Castillo of Texarkana, TX and Laura Bateman of Hooks; two grandsons, Rusty and wife Heather Castillo and Ryan Castillo; one granddaughter, Kimberly and husband Cody Burns, five great-grandchildren and two nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Bateman will be held at 1:00p.m., Friday, February 26, 2021 at Beverly Heights Church of Christ in Hooks, Texas with Brother Lance Mays and Brother Dave Smith officiating. Burial will follow at Green Cemetery near Foreman, Arkansas, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen.
Visitation will be held from noon until service time at the Church.
Memorials may be made to Westside Church of Christ, 524 Sowell LN Texarkana, TX 75501.
Evelyn Willene Moore
Evelyn Willene Moore, age 87, a resident of Rockwall, Texas, died Friday, February 19, 2021.
She was born March 3, 1933, in Rio Grande Valley County, Cameron, Texas. Mrs. Moore worked and retired at Dallas Post Office, she attended the Haworth Assembly of God Church.
Mrs. Moore was preceded in death by her parents Willie and Ethel Francis Tollison Thomas; one sister Virginia Hudgins, numerous cousins, aunts and uncles.
She is survived by her husband Bobby Moore; one daughter and son-in-law, Sherry and Harold Johnson, two sons and a daughter-in-law, Davy and Linda Sue Moore and Joe Bob Moore; grandchildren, Heather Lay, Kyle McGowan, Cliff Moore, Holly Eve Romero, Tina Moore, Missy Lindsey and Rodney Richards, blessed with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mrs. Moore will be held at 2:00p.m., Saturday, February 27, 2021 at Stateline Baptist Church with pastor Mark Davidson officiating. Burial will follow at Cerrogordo Cemetery, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen.
General viewing will be held from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., Friday, February 26, 2021, in the Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen.
The family requests that everyone wear a face mask and practice social distancing for safety.
