Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Melanie Anne Ross Carlton
Melanie Anne Ross Carlton, age 41, of De Queen, passed away Thursday, May 24, 2018 at The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.
Melanie was born in Texarkana, Texas, and was a 1995 graduate of Arkansas High School. She was a proud alumnus of Ouachita Baptist University, graduating in 2000 with a degree in mass communications. During her time at Ouachita, she was a majorette and was a member of the TriChi women’s social club.
From 2000-2006, she was employed by Arkansas Children’s Hospital, first as a writer and editor in public relations, and then as a patient activity specialist. From 2007-2011, she was the owner and instructor of De Queen Dance Works. In 2011-2012, she was the Executive Director of Foundation for Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas. And for the past five years, Melanie greatly enjoyed teaching reading at De Queen Primary School. She was a member of Memorial Baptist Church. She loved reading, traveling, and the arts, especially music and dance.
She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Tom Berry, and Lela and Clarence Ross.
She is survived by her husband of 18 years, Jason; her daughters Riley Catherine and Amelia Elizabeth of De Queen; her mother, Cathy Berry Ross; her brother Daniel Ross; and her grandmother Betty Berry, all of Texarkana; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Joe and Edna Carlton of De Queen; and a number of nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of De Queen on Saturday May 26, with the Rev. Nathan Rogers of Longview, TX officiating. The family will receive friends at First Baptist Church beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. A private family burial will be held.
General viewing will be from 5-8 p.m. Friday at Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen.
Pallbearers will be Bill Cummings, Doug Curtis, Loren Hinton, Paul Lee, Jason Lofton, and Erik Smith.
Memorials may be made to Arkansas Children’s Hospital or Bogg Springs Baptist Camp.
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Jeffrey Lynn Yeargan
Mr. Jeffrey Lynn Yeargan “Snake Doctor”, age 58, a resident of Union Valley, Oklahoma died Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at his home, surrounded by family.
He was born October 13, 1959 in Bluffton, Indiana. He was a truck driver of 42 years, and was employed by Anderson Trucking. He also attended the Church of God in Broken Bow.
Mr. Yeargan was preceded in death by his parents, Larry Steve and Mary Lou Shaw Yeargan and his father-in-law, Virgil Lee Bailey.
He is survived by the love of his life of 36 years, his wife, Shiela Bailey Yeargan of Union Valley; a son and daughter-in-law, David and LeKeta Yeargan of Idabel, and their children, Addisyn June, Emiley Virginia, and Connor Lee; a daughter and son-in-law, Katie and Derek Davis of Durant, and their children, Shaylee Lynne and Laynee Anne; a brother, Tim (Wally) Yeargan of Texarkana, and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Yeargan will be held at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, May 26, 2018, in the Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel in De Queen, with Raymond Dees, officiating. Burial will follow in the Chapel Hill Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Friday, at the funeral home.
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Jack Clark Long, Jr.
Jack Clark Long, Jr., 68, of Texarkana, AR, died Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in a local hospital. He was born May 12, 1950, in Memphis, TN, to Jack Clark Long, Sr., and Helen Page Long. He was the retired manager of a Motorola Radio Shop for Weyerhaeuser Company, and was a United States Navy veteran, having served 7 years and achieving the rank of Petty Officer First Class as an electronics and radar technician. Mr. Long was a member of Belt Road Church of Christ.
In his spare time, he enjoyed building and flying remote controlled helicopters and quadcopters, and was a Ham Radio enthusiast. His love of baseball, especially the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals, gave him the opportunity to attend many games with his granddaughter. He always enjoyed traveling and exploring new places with his wife, and loved working in his yard and cultivating Bonsai trees.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Vinita Lovell Long of Texarkana, AR; one daughter, Amanda Long Woodhead of Arlington, VA; one son, J.C. Long of Starkville, MS; one granddaughter, Shelby Woodhead of Arlington, VA; one sister, Lana Long Hollis and her husband, Larry, of Spearsville, LA; two sisters-in-law, Donna Lovell Smith and her husband, Adger, of Texarkana, AR, and Cecilia Lovell McKee and her husband, Stan, of Artesia, NM.
The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 P.M. Friday, May 25, 2018, at Texarkana Funeral Home, Texarkana, AR.
A graveside service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Millwee Cemetery near Horatio, AR, with Larry Evans officiating. Burial will be under the direction of Texarkana Funeral Home, Texarkana, AR.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, PO Box 98018, Washington, D.C. 20090-8018 or online at www.donate.lls.org
Dr. Harold Thomas Brinson
Dr. Harold Thomas Brinson, former president of Southern Arkansas University, died Friday, May 18, 2018.
The son of the late Emmitte and Hazel Brinson, he was born on Jan. 22, 1930 in Harper Springs, Howard County, Ark. His family moved to De Queen, where Brinson graduated in 1947. He joined the Arkansas National Guard and began playing football for Magnolia A&M Junior College (now Southern Arkansas University).
Brinson finished at the two-year school and transferred to Tulane University in New Orleans, La. on a football scholarship where he earned a bachelor of education in health and physical education with a science minor. After graduation in 1951, Brinson was honorably discharged from the Arkansas National Guard to join the U.S. Marine Corps. He was put on active duty, married Nelda Gene Lee in Huttig, Ark. on December 29, 1951 and was sent to Camp LeJeune, NC for officer training.
Brinson served two years active duty in the Marine Corps and was transferred as a second lieutenant to the reserves unit in 1953. He retired as a Lt. Col. from the Marine Reserve in 1976.
Brinson earned a master of education from the University of Texas-Austin in 1953 and began teaching science in Levelland High School, and then Abilene High School. He also coached football and track. He was hired as assistant principal at Abilene High School in 1965.
In 1970, he graduated with a Ph.D. in education administration from UT-Austin, and was hired as assistant superintendent for the Abilene Independent School District. After four years, Brinson stepped into the superintendent’s position.
Dr. Brinson moved to Arkansas in August 1976 to assume presidency of Southern Arkansas University, his alma mater. He served as president for more than 15 years, accomplishing many things for the university. Included in his accomplishments are finishing and funding the new bell tower with a 14-bell chime; building a vocational agricultural building, and improving the sports complexes; designing and building the art building and other curriculum areas. The president’s home, Overstreet Hall, and Bruce Center were also remodeled under his direction.
While president, Brinson guided the name change to Southern Arkansas University (1976); directed reorganization of the university into four schools: business, education, liberal and performing arts, and science and technology (1977); a new curriculum center, economic development center and the Grant research Information Center; A drama scholarship program, the Southern Arkansas University Foundation (1981) and the SAU Student Foundation. Brinson organized improvements at both SAU-Tech (Camden) and SAU-El Dorado during those years.
In 1991, Brinson retired as president and was named president emeritus. He taught classes and continued to raise money for the University. In 1992, the new art building was named after the Brinsons.
Dr. Brinson is survived by his wife of 66 years, Nelda Gene Lee Brinson of Hot Springs Village, Ark.; daughter, Kathryn Ann Brinson Martin of Hot Springs, Ark.; sons, Max Harold Brinson and his wife, Johanna, of Dingmans Ferry, Penn.; Paul Thomas Brinson, and wife, Peggy, of Irving, Texas; grandchildren, Andrew Thomas Martin of New York City, Benjamin Luke Martin of Hot Springs, Lovisa Ljundquist Brinson of Dingmans Ferry, Penn.; and Stephen Paul Brinson of Irving, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, John Howell Brinson of Paducah, Texas.
Visitation is scheduled Wednesday, 5-7 p.m. at Caruth-Hale in Hot Springs Village. A second visitation is planned at 9 a.m. Thursday morning, at Balboa Baptist Church, followed by the funeral service at 10. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Alzheimer's Association of Arkansas or Southern Arkansas University.
Mrs. Lori Connolly
Mrs. Nannette Laurise (Lori) Connolly, age 53, a resident of Frisco, Texas, passed away Friday, May 18, 2018, at her home.
Mrs. Connolly was born to Duane Cash and Claydene Reel Whedbee on March 9, 1965, in Weatherford, Texas. She was a nail technician, a homemaker and a member of the First Assembly of God in De Queen. She enjoyed spending time with her family and spoiling her granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Claydene Reel Whedbee.
She is survived by her husband, John Connolly of Frisco, Texas; one son, Kyle Huckaby and wife Amy of Little Rock, Arkansas; three daughters, Haley Huckaby of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Kelsey Connolly of League City, Texas, and Portya Connolly of Boulder, Colorado; her father, Duane Cash and his wife Betty of Fairfield Bay, Arkansas; her step-father, Daniel Whedbee of Gillham, Arkansas; one brother, Joel Cash and his wife LaDonna of De Queen, Arkansas; one sister, Taracia Lee and her husband Terry of Weatherford, Texas; her granddaughter, Elise Ordiales of Hot Springs, Arkansas; as well as, a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral Services for Mrs. Lori Connolly will be held at 10:00 A.M., Thursday, May 24, 2018, at the First Assembly of God, De Queen, with Revs. Ron Drye, Kent Irvan and Ray Reynolds officiating. Burial will follow at 2:00 P.M., in the Lovelace Cemetery, Witcherville, Arkansas, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, May 23rd, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M., at the funeral home.
Patricia "Tipp" Allen Akins
Mrs. Patricia “Tip” Allen Akins, died May 8, 2018 due to complications of Alzheimer’s.
Tip was born July 24, 1923 in De Queen, AR. She graduated from De Queen High School and attended Henderson State Teachers College. She fell in love with Morris Sheppard Akins and married him in 1946. In 1950, they moved to Carthage, TX., where she wrote a society column for the local paper and worked at First National Bank, before moving to Shreveport in 1958, where she was a secretary at Fair Park High School for 24 years. Tip was well known as a beautiful soloist and sang in the choirs at Mangum Memorial United Methodist Church and, in her later years, Broadmoor United Methodist Church. After retiring, she lived in Fayetteville, AR., Shreveport, LA., and for the past two years resided in Houston, TX. ‘Grammy’ was an invaluable part of our lives, loved by family and friends and especially adored by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She shared her unconditional love and generous spirit with all those around her. She proclaimed to everyone that she chose to be joyful; her source of joy and happiness was her deep, personal faith in Christ.
Preceding Tip in death were her parents, brothers, husband Morris Sheppard Akins, Sr. (Putt), and her beloved grandson Dirk Duane Miller, Jr.
Left to cherish her memory are Tia Akins Gurvitz, Lexington, KY; Morris Sheppard ‘Shep’ Akins, Jr. (Susan), Fayetteville, AR; Jeri Akins Carlton (James), Houston, TX; loving grandchildren Shira Gurvitz Gambrel, MD (John Ross), Lexington, KY; Kelsi Gurvitz Harrington (John), Houston, TX; Matthew Alan Akins (Kate), Fayetteville, AR; Elizabeth Leigh Akins, PharmD, Fayetteville, AR; and five great-grandchildren: Maddax, Miller, Brooks, Hudson and Holland.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Tip will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 26, Broadmoor United Methodist Church in Shreveport, LA., officiated by Dr. Greg Davis. Burial will be at Redmen Cemetery, in De Queen, AR.
Tip loved music, so sing and dance to your favorite songs to celebrate her life! Donations can be made in her memory to Friends of Dirk Fund at MD Anderson Cancer Center; mdanderson.org/gifts (choose “other” to direct the donation and type Friends of Dirk Fund) or mail check to MDACC (write Friends of Dirk Fund in comments), P.O. Box 4486, Houston TX, 77210.
Mrs. Grace Butler Vandiver
Mrs. Grace Marie Butler Vandiver, age 102, a resident of Foreman, Arkansas died Tuesday, May 15, 2018 in Little River Nursing and Rehab in Ashdown, Arkansas.
She was born November 16, 1915 in Lockesburg, Arkansas. She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Vandiver was preceded in death by her husband, Earnest Warren Vandiver; her parents, John Henry Butler and Ellen Jemima Houser Butler; a daughter, Patricia Ann Aikin; four sisters, Lorena May, Easter Cadie Butler, Elsie Jemima Butler, and Zoly Gladys Butler, and four brothers, Henry Lee Butler, Rufus William Butler, Sam Butler, and Johnie Lettie Butler.
She is survived by her granddaughter, Denise (Greg) Coberley of Springdale, Arkansas; a grandson, Stephen (Karolyn) Aikin of Houma, Lousiana, a number of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, including two special great nieces, Alicia Horn, and Linda Sanders.
Graveside funeral services for Mrs. Vandiver will be held at 2:30 p.m., Friday, May 18, 2018, in the Campground Cemetery with Thomas Coberley officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen.
The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Thursday, May 17th at the funeral home.
