Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Tobitha Centilla Gill
Mrs. Tobitha Centilla Bailey Gill, age 82, resident of De Queen, Arkansas, passed peacefully from this life on Saturday, October 31, 2020, at her home surrounded by family.
She was born to James Macon “Jim” and Roxie Ann Nash Bailey on June 25, 1938 in DeRidder, Louisiana. She was a CNA, spending around 30 years working in nursing homes in Louisana and Arkansas. She married the love of her life, Dewey Elmo Gill, on February 13, 1971 in DeRidder. She enjoyed fishing, flowers, gardening, was an avid Loretta Lynn fan, and cherished the time spent with her children and grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, Dewey E. Gill; one daughter, Mary Hayes Bernudez; and six sons, Robert Bailey, Danny, Vonnie, Kenneth, Steve and Tony Gill.
She leaves to cherish her memory, six daughters and two sons-in-law, Jackie and Michael Talent of De Queen, Debra and Robert Bebee, Joy Etcheson, Judy Williams, DeLoris Cromp, all of Rosepine, Lousiana, and Teresa Jones of Jena, Louisiana; four sons and two daughters-in-law, James Lowe of Rosepine, Louisiana, Edward Lowe of Oakdale, Lousiana, Leonard and Barbara Lowe of Lafayette, Lousiana, and Dallas and Sonya Hayes of Amber, Oklahoma; one sister, Mag Perkins of DeRidder, Louisiana; 31 grandchildren and 51 great-grandchildren; a special friends she thought of as a daughter, Bessie Bailey of Horatio; as well as, nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.
Graveside Services for Mrs. Tobitha Gill will be held at 2:00 P.M., Thursday, November 5, 2020 at the Horatio Cemetery, Horatio, Arkansas, with Chaplain Rufus Robinson, officiating. Burial will follow under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M., Wednesday, at the funeral home.
Due to current health conditions, the use of a face mask or covering will be required during your time at the funeral home.
Donna Kay Caswell
Donna Kay Golden Caswell age 65 a resident of Gillham, Arkansas left this earth on October 26, 2020. She was born in Silverton, Texas on November 22, 1954 to the late Albert and late Floyce Pate Golden of Athens, Arkansas.
She is survived by her three children, Lori Ann Caswell Cary of Lockesburg, AR, Mark Andrew Caswell of Gillham, AR and Jennifer Lynn Caswell Glasgow and her spouse Alan Glasgow of Central, AR; eight grandchildren whom she loved to pieces; Kayla, Codey and Kyle Cary, Jade Goss, Molly and Parker Caswell and Harley and Mia Glasgow; four sisters Lavern Smith of Mena, AR, Anna Mathews of Watson, Oklahoma, Kathy and Ike Sigman of Centerpoint, AR and Marlene Bailey of Cove, AR, one brother Allen Ray Golden of Lockesburg, AR; her nieces and nephews Tammy Perison of Amarillo, TX, David Smith of Mena, AR. A special nephew Ricky Garcia of De Queen and special friend Leana Hensley of Lockesburg, AR.
She is preceded in death by her husband Clarence Butch Caswell, her parents Albert and Floyce Golden, two sisters, Hazel Webb of Amarillo, Texas and Marvell Garcia of De Queen and one brother Randal Golden.
Donna Kay enjoyed spending time with her family, she loved to hunt and she loved to go fishing. She also enjoyed taking care of her sister Kathy. She was ready to be with her Lord and Savior. Donna was loved by all and will tremendously be missed.
Graveside services are Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at the Athens Cemetery, in Athens, Arkansas.
Cremation arrangements by Wilkerson Funeral Home, De Queen.
Mr. Joe Stafford
Mr. Joe Thomas Stafford, age 80, resident of the West Otis Community of Sevier County, Arkansas, passed from this life on Friday, October 23, 2020, in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
He was the youngest of six sons born to James Samuel and Bertha May Chandler Stafford on March 6, 1940 in West Otis. He married the love of his life, Nancy Mae Black, on May 27, 1960 in Horatio. To this union, four children were born. Joe worked in several capacities during his life, including the Treating Plant in De Queen and Cement Plant at Foreman, but his joy came in Agriculture. Joe enjoyed his time spent at the farm with Nancy, their children and grandchildren, as well as, deer hunting.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, William Stafford; two great-grandchildren, Hiedi Smith and Blake Williams; and four brothers, Cecil, Curtis, Jack and Willis “Bump” Stafford.
Joe leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife of over 60 years, Nancy Stafford of Horatio; two daughters and sons-in-law, Lorraine and Rick Williams, and Jolene and Preston Smith, all of Horatio; one son and daughter-in-law, Cliffton and Andrea Stafford of Horatio; eight grandchildren, Matt (Destinee), Stephen (Ashley), Alicia, Will, Wes (Paige), Katherine, Kaitlin and Connor; seven great-grandchildren, Harper, Kaiden, Gerrick, Tucker, Saprina, Jet and Haven; one brother, Luke Stafford of Lockesburg; as well as, nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.
Graveside Services for Mr. Joe Stafford will be held at 10:00 A.M., Monday, October 26, 2020 at the West Otis Cemetery, with Bro. Larry Sherman officiating. Burial will follow, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen.
Due to current health conditions, the use of a face mask or covering will be required during your time at the funeral home.
Mr. Freeman O’Neal
Mr. Freeman O’Neal, age 82, resident of Gillham, Arkansas, passed from this life on Thursday, October 22, 2020, at a local hospital.
He was born to Asa Clemon and Era Amie Freeman O’Neal on March 26, 1938 in Cotton Port, Louisiana. Freeman was a Texarkana High School graduate and custom home builder. He owned and operated O’Neal Custom Built Homes for more than ten years. He formerly attended First Baptist Church of Texarkana and Gillham, and most recently, De Queen First Assembly of God. He was a pilot and enjoyed time spent flying around. When he was not flying, Freeman sometimes liked to fish and cherished the time spent with his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a number of brothers and sisters.
He leaves to cherish his memory, one son, Shane O’Neal of Gillham; three grandchildren, Kristi Stephens and husband Chris of Texarkana, Jennifer O’Neal of Conway, and Natalie O’Neal of Gillham; two great-grandchildren, Cael and Kinley; two sisters, Wanda Sartwelle and Mertha Crowson, both of Gillham; as well as, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Graveside Services for Mr. Freeman O’Neal will be held at 3:00 P.M., Sunday, October 25, 2020 at Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Texarkana, Arkansas, with Bro. Bob McManus officiating. Burial will follow, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen.
Due to current health conditions, the use of a face mask or covering will be required during your time at the funeral home.
Alicia “Ricky” Bell
Ms. Alicia Carlotta “Ricky” Bell, age 73, resident of Lockesburg, Arkansas, passed peacefully from this life on Monday, October 19, 2020, in the CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System, Texarkana, Texas.
She was born to Theo Bond and Thelma Marie Clardy Bell on April 11, 1947 in Lockesburg, Arkansas. She joined Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church at an early age. She was a 1965 graduate of Sevier County High School. After graduation, Ricky worked at Dierks Lumber and for Patsy Cook at Hobnob Café in De Queen. She worked eight years as a Nurse’s Aide at the De Queen Medical Center and in August 1976, she began taking classes with Cossatot College Nursing Program. She graduated in July 1977 as a LPN and returned to De Queen Medical Center. Later, Ricky worked in several nursing homes and served 11 years as the Occupational Nurse for Tyson Foods. She truly loved caring for people. She enjoyed watching television, especially the Hallmark Channel, and playing scratch-offs, but most of all, she cherished the time spent with her children, grandchildren and family.
Ricky was preceded in death by her parents; one grandson, Tukai Leeper; and two sisters, Edna June Lampkin and Crystal Bell.
She leaves to cherish her memory, two sons and daughters-in-law, Greg and LeBetha Patterson, and Ceaser “Packy” and Debbie Jones, all of Provo; two daughters and sons-in-law, Renata and Michael Sanders of Little Rock, and Leslie “Nikki” and Steven McGary of Texarkana; 16 grandchildren, Tifani, Elisha, Jalon, Braxton, Brennan, Bryson, Lenny, Sadie, Steven, John David, Shannon, Brittany, Brittini, Danielle, Dante and Ayden; 13 great-grandchildren; four brothers and sisters-in-law, Skip and Barbara Bell, Billy Bell, Theo and Marilyn Bell, and Steven and Carolyn Bell; three sisters and brother-in-law, Carolyn and Tommy Halsell, Bonnie Bell and Angela Bell; special loved ones, TJ “Popa” Bell, April Lampkin and Kathy Thrash; as well as, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral Services for Ms. Ricky Bell will be held at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, October 24, 2020 in the Chandler Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Tommy Halsell officiating. Burial will follow at Holly Springs Cemetery, Lockesburg, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M., Friday, at the funeral home.
Due to current health conditions, the use of a face mask or covering will be required during your time at the funeral home.
Mary Ellen Moore Wake
Mary Ellen Moore Wake, age 96, a resident of Lockesburg, Arkansas died Tuesday, October 20, 2020, in her home.
She was born June 15, 1924 in Holdenville, Oklahoma. She and her husband Virgil were owners/operators of a grocery store in Lockesburg. She was an avid outdoors enthusiast and loved fishing, picking berries and spending time at Russell’s Deer Camp.
Mrs. Wake was preceded in death by her parents John and Bessie Sweden Moore, her husband Virgil Wake; one grandson, Russell Lynn Smith, two sisters, Lena Mae Kibby and Nelma Hester.
She is survived by two sons, Gary Wake of Lockesburg and Russell Wake of Ashdown, Arkansas; three daughters, Linda Smith of Holdenville, OK, Libby Wake and Brenda Wake both of Lockesburg, one sister, Johney Wingo of Holdenville, OK and a number of grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Graveside Funeral services for Mrs. Wake will be held 1:00 p.m., Friday, October 23, 2020 in the Lockesburg Cemetery with Bro. Wesley Blankenship officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral home in De Queen, Arkansas.
General viewing will be held from noon until 7:00 p.m. Thursday, October 22nd at the Funeral home in De Queen.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to George Dillard for being an extraordinary friend to her for many years.
Mae Rene Hendrix Reese
Mae Rene Hendrix Reese, age 74, a resident of De Queen, Arkansas died Wednesday, October 14, 2020, in Nashville, Arkansas.
She was born January 5, 1946 in Rosston, Arkansas. She was a homemaker, enjoyed working in her yard and garden, was a foster grandparent at the De Queen ABC Pre-school and a volunteer at the food banks in De Queen and Horatio.
Mrs. Reese was preceded in death by her parents, Hollis and Loraine Almond Hendrix; husband George Willie Reese, Jr. and one brother, Le Roy Hendrix.
She is survived by two sons, Shannon and his wife Cheryl Fielding and Mark Fielding all of Horatio, Arkansas; two daughters, Sherry and husband Tony Dinger of De Queen and Carla Lawrence of Texarkana, Texas; one sister, Mary Lee Matthews of Maud, Texas; ten grand-children and their spouses, Garrett Fielding, Laken and Dustin Plunk, Falon and Daniel Johnson, Marley Fielding, Jason and Stacia Cranford, Kelsey and Lane Gunckel, Tabitha Steiner, Amanda and Richard Carrell, Samantha and Brandon Cowen, Kati Brinkley and 18 great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
A memorial service for Mrs. Reese will be held 12:00 p.m., Saturday, October 17, 2020 at 355 Strawberry Hill Road De Queen, Arkansas with a potluck following the service.
Cremation arrangements by Wilkerson Funeral Home, De Queen.
