Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Jimmie Birdsong
Jimmie Birdsong, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather died Friday, July 13, 2018, at his home.
He was the owner of Birdsong Appliance in De Queen, Arkansas for 17 years. He entered into the ministry in 1981 where he pastored churches in Arkansas and New Mexico. He was currently pastoring the Mt. Zion Church of God in Garvin, Oklahoma for the past 9 years. Mr. Birdsong was also a Sergeant in the Army National Guard, having served from 1963-1969.
Mr. Birdsong is survived by his wife of 54 years, Bonita Louise Birdsong; son Jerry his wife Misti Birdsong of League City, Texas; son Jeffrey his wife Brandy Birdsong of Haworth, Oklahoma; brother Donald his wife Nina of De Queen; his 10 grandchildren, Morgan, Kody, Tyler, Maygun, Kyelin, Nikolus, Kamryn, Alexander, Tracy and Tyler; 11 great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Opal Birdsong and his daughter Faye Ann Birdsong.
Funeral services for Pastor Birdsong will be at 2:00 p.m., Monday, July 16, 2018, at the First Pentecostal Church of God in De Queen under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home. The family will have a private burial at a later time.
Verna Austin Sharp Kreider
Mrs. Verna Austin Sharp Kreider, age 79, a resident of Horatio, Arkansas, died Saturday, July 7, 2018, in Texarkana, Texas.
She was born May 21, 1939 in Foreman, Arkansas. She was a former employee of the U.S. Postal Service in Horatio and the Horatio State Bank, and was a member of the Williamson Community Church..
Mrs. Kreider was preceded in death by her parents, Othor S. and Ellie Whisenhunt Austin; her husbands, A.E. Sharp and Clyde C. Kreider; and a brother, Loye Austin.
She is survived by one son, Donald Edwin Sharp of Horatio; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Cathy and Leonard Wolcott of North Pole, Alaska, Teri and John Cribb of Horatio and Corina Schindel of California; three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Joe Austin of Texarkana, Texas, Glen and Vicki Austin of Little River Club and Bob and Pat Austin of Harlingen, Texas; her grandchildren, Rodney and Stephanie Wolcott of North Pole, Alaska, Tyler and Kristen Cribb of Magnolia, Arkansas, Matt Cribb of Horatio, Crystal Hicks of California and Trevor Hicks of Fargo, North Dakota; 4 great grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mrs. Kreider will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 10, 2018 in the Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Jimmy Roden officiating. Burial will follow in the Clear Creek Cemetery in Horatio.
The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Monday, July 9th, at the funeral home.
Carol MacNamara
Mrs. Carol Myrtle (Deline) MacNamara, 74, passed away July 3, 2018 in Texarkana, Texas surrounded by her family.
She was preceded by her parents Ward Finley and Ruby Olena Deline; brothers, Franklin Deline, Gary Deline, and Ronald Deline.
She is survived by her loving husband Jerry MacNamara; four children, Mary Elizabeth (and husband, Michael) of Tucson, Arizona, Patrick Sean (and his beloved late wife, Tina) of Conway, Arkansas, Regina Marie (and husband, Raul) of Houston, Texas, Jeremiah Matthew (and wife, Ashley) of Chicago, Illinois; Grammy to seven grandchildren, Molly Elizabeth Hattabaugh, Meghan Leigh Hattabaugh, Matthew Michael Hattabaugh, Madeline Lee MacNamara, Creed Patrick MacNamara, Raul Xavier Christoph Hernandez III, and Sybil Caroline MacNamara; brother, Millard Deline (and wife, Virginia) of Sedro Woolley, Washington; sister Inez Aipperspach (and husband, Glen) of Anacortes, Washington.
Born January 18, 1944, in Wheeling, West Virginia, Carol was a 1962 graduate of Central High School in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Digital Art and Design in 1998 from Henderson State University.
She met Jerry in Dallas, Texas while she was a stewardess for Braniff Airways while he was a Captain in the United States Army as a Flight Instructor based at Fort Wolters in Mineral Wells, Texas. They were married on November 5, 1966 at Christ the King Church in Dallas, Texas.
She was a fun-loving and deeply devoted Grammy to her seven grandchildren, which will leave an unforgettable legacy for generations. She had a passion for travel with five trips to Israel, two trips to Russia, two trips to Ethiopia, a tour of Ireland for her 50th wedding anniversary, and a trip to London.
She poured her heart and soul into her family and friends with a loving and gracious heart. Her life’s priority was to live to know Jesus Christ and make His Name known. She was influential in numerous peoples’ lives in their decision to accept Jesus as their Savior.
We are all honored and thankful to God for giving this world seventy-four years with this absolutely incredible woman.
Memorial services for Mrs. Carol MacNamara will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, July 7, 2018, in the First Baptist Church of De Queen, with Bro. Josh Herweck officiating. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen.
Should friends desire, contributions may be sent to Feed the Children, https://donate.feedthechildren.org/donation/f6774089/.
Barbara Maxine Knighten
Barbara Maxine Knighten, age 88, a resident of Foreman, Arkansas, died Thursday, July 5, 2018 in Christus St. Michael Health Center in Texarkana, Texas.
She was born February 28, 1930 in Wichita Falls, Texas. She was a retired teacher, was a member of the Wanda Cowling Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church in Foreman.
Mrs. Knighten was preceded in death by her parents, George Washington Corwin and Clara Hamre Littell; her husband, William James “Bill” Knighten; one daughter, Wilda Jane Knighten; two sisters, Jean Littell and Eleanor Cox; one brother, Glenn louise True; one step-son, James O. Knighten; and two step-daughters, June Miciotto and Bernice Kirby.
She is survived by two sons, William S. and Tillie J.Knighten and Thomas R. and Lawanda Knighten; three daughters, Wilda and James Akins, Tillie and Rodney Lile and Clarressa Addy all of Foreman; one brother, George S. Littell of Wickes; 26 grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and other relatives.
A memorial service for Mrs. Knighten will be held at 3:00 p.m., Monday, July 9, 2018, in the First Baptist Church in Foreman with Bro. Trent Liggon officiating.
Lola Inez Montgomery
Mrs. Lola Inez Montgomery, age 91 , a resident of Dierks, Arkansas, died, Wednesday, July 4, 2018 at Dierks Health and Rehab.
She was born in Gore, Oklahoma on March 7, 1927 to S.V. and Etta Bryan. She loved to be outside gardening, mowing and working with her flowers. She also loved cooking for her family. She was a member of Dierks First Assembly of God Church and a Media Church member of Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Mrs. Montgomery was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Fletcher Montgomery; siblings, Harlas, Rufus, Bill and Charles Bryan and one sister, Ruth Powell.
She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Larry and Virgie McRae of De Queen, Arkansas and Jimmy and Charlotte McRae of Hot Springs, Arkansas; two daughters and a son-in-law, Nina Rodgers of Dierks and Trish Lingo and Joe Eldon of Nashville, Arkansas; one step-daughter, Brenda Smith of Atlanta, Texas; six grandchildren, Brad, Tyler, Brenda, Becky, Shasta and Meghan; twelve great-grandchildren, Zach, Zoe, Michael, Gary Don, Amber, Michelle, Riley, Haley, Celia, Major, Alex and Addria; eight great-great-grandchildren, Brady, Kaden, Baylee, Kamden, Kylie, Katlin, Logan and Teralee and her family at Dierks Heathcare.
Pallbearers will be Ronny Bailey, Billy Con Stokes, Gary Don Stewart, Michael Blankenship, Zack Kesterson and Tyler Lingo.
Funeral services for Mrs. Montgomery will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 7, 2018, at Dierks Assembly of God Church with Brother Kevin Herrington and Brother Mark Hodges officiating. Burial will follow in the Chapel Hill Cemetery in De Queen under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen.
The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00 p.m., prior to the service on Saturday.
The family will reside at 823 Old Hwy 70 West in Dierks.
Katie Jennette Shaw Valdez
Mrs. Katie Jennette Shaw Valdez, age 60, a resident of De Queen, Arkansas, died Tuesday, July 3, 2018, in De Queen.
She was born August 8, 1957 in De Queen. She operated Rainbow Youth Day Care and was a Pentecostal.
Mrs. Valdez was preceded in death by her parents, Osben Milton “Slats” and Inez Gentry Shaw; one brother, Doyle “Buck” Shaw and two sisters, Patricia Shaw and Mary Jane Holt.
She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Charles Valdez and Lavonda Icenhower of De Queen; two brothers, Curtis Shaw and Sammy Ray Holt both of De Queen; five sisters, Lorene Mullinax, Jewell Shaw, Diane Shaw, Mary Kay Brizendine all of De Queen and Shirley Pratt of Broken Bow, Oklahoma; two grandchildren, Braden Valdez and Jaden Valdez and her nieces and nephews, Michael Felipe, Devin Felipe, Eric Medina, Derrick Medina, Shane Vasquez, Cody Nava, Dylan Cardoso, Jeffery Pratt, Sheila Holcombe, Teressa Shaw, David Shaw, Ronnie Shaw, Gwenda Luna, Annette Sanchez
Funeral services for Mrs. Valdez will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, July 6, 2018, in the Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel with Jerry Minchew officiating. Burial will follow in the Chapel Hill Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Thursday, July 5th at the funeral home.
Alta Fern Manasco Linville
Mrs. Alta Fern Manasco Linville, age 83, a resident of Umpire, Arkansas, died Tuesday, July 3, 2018, in Dierks Health and Rehab.
Mrs. Linville was born October 31, 1934 in Umpire. She was a house wife, homemaker, farmer, and a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Umpire. She was the best grandma in the world and had an open place for everybody.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Wingo and Inez Marie Keith Manasco; her husband, Leroy Linville; one daughter, Sheila Farias; one grandson, Chance Long; one brother, Charles Manasco; and two sisters, Sharon Pennington and Phyllis Manasco.
Mrs. Linville is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Lisa Linville and Buster Roberts of Greens Chapel; three sons and daughters-in-law, Master Chief USN Ret. Charles and Debbie Linville of Ft. Worth, TX, Steve and Kathy Linville of Umpire, AR; and Mike and Krista Linville of Foreman, AR; one sister, Carolyn Wakefield of Nashville, AR; 13 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services for Mrs. Linville will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 7, 2018 at Galena Cemetery near Umpire, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in Dierks.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Friday, July 6th at the funeral home in Dierks.
