Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
William Grant Pickler
William Grant Pickler, age 21, of Pine Bluff, died early Friday morning, June 27, 2003 of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Grant was born December 9, 1981 in Pine Bluff, a son of George and Lynda Bussey Pickler. He was reared and educated in Pine Bluff, attending St. Joseph Catholic Junior High School and graduating from Pine Bluff High in 2000.
Mr. Pickler owned and operated Grant's Recovery Service, was a member of Lakeside Methodist Church, was a member of Pine Bluff Jaycees and was a board member of the Walnut Hill Deer Club. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, William "Eddie" Pickler and his maternal grandparents, Harry and Edna Bussey.
Mr. Pickler is survived by: his parents, George and Lynda Pickler; a brother, George "Brad" Pickler of Pine Bluff; paternal grandmother, Dorthy Pickler of Taylor, AR; a nephew, William Tyler Pickler; and several uncles, aunts and cousins.
Funeral services were held Monday, June 30, 2003 at 10:00 am at Lakeside United Methodist Church in Pine Bluff with Reverend Ted DeWeese officiating. Burial was a Walnut Hill Cemetery in Bradley, AR at 3:30 pm with the Rev. Spencer Plumley officiating.
Gladys Hearn Black
Gladys Hearn Black, age 92, of Stamps, Arkansas died Wednesday, December 3, 2003 in Kings Manor Methodist Nursing Home in Hereford, Texas. She was born July 24, 1911 in Haynesville, Louisiana.
Mrs. Black was a lifelong resident of Stamps, having taught school for thirty-four years in Arkansas, Louisiana and Florida. She received her BSE and MS from the University of Arkansas as well as an MSE in Guidance Education from Henderson State University. Prior to her retirement in 1976, she was working as the school district's Guidance Counselor and was an owner of the local Ford dealership in Stamps. She was an active community supporter, working tirelessly on many church, school and civic programs throughout her life. Her love for teaching remained, whether it was teaching Sunday School at the local First United Methodist Church or teaching her three grandchildren.
Mrs. Black served on the Methodist Church District Board of Missions, member of the Delta Kappa Gamma, past president of the Beta Kappa Chapter, serving on their state nominating committee, active member of the Lafayette County Fair Association, member of the Stamps BPW Club and was named Woman of the Year in 1970.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Thorold McKinley Black in 1962 and by a sister, Elver Dean Davidson in 2002. She is survived by: one son & daughter-in-law, Henry Titus Black & wife Karen of Vega, TX; three grandchildren, Brandy Ross of Bushland, TX, Amanda Keeney of Texarkana, AR and Karey McKinley Black of Amarillo, TX; two great grandchildren, Robert Ross of Bushland and McKinley Renee Black of Amarillo.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, December 6, 2003 at The Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Stamps with the Rev. Michael Gordon & Rev. Charles Walthall officiating and burial in the Memory Gardens Cemetery at Hope, Arkansas under the direction of Smith Funeral Home of Stamps.
Mary Ora Mitchell
Mary Ora Mitchell, 92, formerly of Waldo, Arkansas died Wednesday, December 3, 2003 at medical Park Hospital in Hope. She was born July 16, 1911 in Waldo to the late James Andrew and Emma Elizabeth Lane Cooper. She was a homemaker and a member of Shiloh Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by: her parents; her husbands, Watson L. Otwell and Freeman Mitchell; daughter, Helen Sutton; and grandsons, David and Jon Sutton.
Survivors include: one daughter, Dorothy Wreyford and husband Lauren of Shreveport, LA; one son, Gerald Otwell and wife Jan of Stamps, AR; three sisters, Eunice Moss of Pittsburg, Tx, Lorraine Murphy of Hope, and Lena Cochrum of Fredricksburg, VA; one brother, James Cooper of Waldo; four grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, December 5, 2003 at Lewis Chapel in Waldo with Bro. Robert Crank officiating, assisted by Bro. Andy Hawkins, and burial in Shiloh Cemetery under direction of Lewis Funeral Home.
Millard Albert Nix
Mr. Millard Albert Nix, age 92, of Benton, Louisiana died Monday, December 1, 2003 at the Saline Memorial Hospital. He was born September 13, 1911 in Stamps, Arkansas to the late Albert and Essie Nix. Mr. Nix was a retired Property Assessment Auditor for the State of Arkansas prior to being in retail sales in Benton, and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Benton. He was preceded in death by his two sons, Larry and Bobby Nix, and brothers, Glen Talmadge and Cleburn Arthur Nix.
Survivors include: wife of 63 years, Faye Wildbur Nix of Benton; sisters, Ernestine Benefield of Hurst, TX, Avanelle McCalman of Texarkana and Faye Skrowonski of Satellite Beach, FL; daughters-in-law, Barbara Nix and Dianne Nix, both of Benton; grandchildren, Kris Curtis, Keelee MacDonald, Heath Nix, Kari Nix, Richard Jacuzzi; great grandchildren, Jacey Curtis, Ethan MacDonald, Hayden MacDonald, Chase Nix, Colton Nix, Isabella Jacuzzi and Grant Jacuzzi.
Services were held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, December 4, 2003 at the First United Methodist Church in Benton with burial at New Rosemont Cemetery. Ministers were Rev. David Steel and Rev. Victor Green.
E.W. Johnson, JR.
E.W. Johnson, JR., age 72, of Stamps, Arkansas died Friday, November 21, 2003 at St. Michaels Hospital in Texarkana, Texas. He was born June 19, 1931 in Stamps, Arkansas.
Mr. Johnson had served as Stamps City Mayor for the past eight years, member of The Lafayette County Quorum Court, member of The First Baptist Church where he was a former Chairman of Deacons, retired from Arkansas power & Light Company, past chairman of several other civics committees and a Veteran of The U.S. Air Force.
He is survived by: his wife, Virginia Johnson of Stamps; sister, Martha Sue Robinson of Stamps; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Mary Nell and Harold Lawrence of North Little Rock, AR; great nieces, Diane Pennington, Laura Hill, Lori Pennington and Taylor Hill; great nephews, Josh Pennington and Conner Hill.
Funeral services were held at 2:30 pm on Sunday, November 23, 2003 at First Baptist Church with Rev. Mike Turner officiating and burial in Lakeside Cemetery under the direction of Smith Funeral Home, Stamps.
Floris Dale Downs Tatom
Floris Dale Downs Tatom, age 80, of Lewisville, Arkansas passed away Wednesday, November 19, 2003 at St. Vincent's Infirmary in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was born December 7, 1922 in the family home in the Shiloh Community of Nevada County, Arkansas to Loyd and Minnie Cassady Downs. She was the seventh sibling of nine children.
Floris married Samuel Wade Tatom in 1945. It was the beginning of a loving and faithful relationship. As a couple, they had a successful career serving the citizens of Lafayette County. Sheriff Tatom retired in 1984 after twenty-six years in public office. Floris worked by his side in the Lafayette County Sheriff and Tax Collector's office during his entire tenure. She was a steading influence behind the longest serving sheriff in Lafayette County history. Floris kept the phones busy as the tax deadline neared each year alerting citizens who had not paid their property taxes. She did not want anyone's taxes go delinquent that would place their property in danger of being lost at sale.
They both retired in 1984 and operated an Antique Shop in Stamps for ten years. Once again working side by side.
She was very active in politics and was especially proud of her cousin, Bill Clinton. She and Sheriff Tatom worked tirelessly on his behalf. She corresponded with him weekly during his two terms as President. They also visited by phone often. She was quick to tell anyone that her relative was President and how proud she was of him. She was so excited to spend time visiting Bill and Hillary at the White House during the Christmas Holidays of their last Christmas there.
She spent thousands of hours working on family history. She was a known authority on the Tatom, Downs and Cassady family history. Her history work kept her busy after Wade's death in January.
Floris is survived by: two loving sons, Robin Tatom of Lewisville and Sam and his wife, Angie of Benton, AR; sister, Irene Fields of Lewisville; five grandchildren, Tracy Tatom Frasier of Magnolia, AR, Thomas Scott Tatom of Shanghai, China, Ronad Jason Selle of Fayetteville, AR and Jeremy Tatom and Joey Tatom, both of Avery, TX; one great grandson, Iain Montgomery Frasier of Magnolia (who, according to Floris, is the "Smartest baby ever born"); numerous loving nieces and nephews. Special thanks to nieces Norma Kay Tatom Farley and Barbara Ann Downs Hovarter for all your efforts and loving care.
Services were held at 1:00 pm Friday, November 21, 2003 at Smith Funeral Home in Stamps, Arkansas with Rev. Russell Bailey and Rev. Jerry Pulliam officiating and longtime family friend Nick Patton of Texarkana, Texas will deliver a Eulogy. Interment will be in Lakeside Cemetery at Stamps under the direction of Smith Funeral Home, Stamps, AR.
The family would like to express heartfelt thanks to Dr. James Hurley of Texarkana and the nurses at St. Michael Hospital. Dr. Fred Meadors and Drew Kumpuris of Little Rock. Special thanks are extended to the wonderful, professional and caring nurses and staff of St. Vincents Infirmary, CVICU Unit. You are the best. Thanks.
Elizabeth Chandler McGee Davis
Elizabeth Chandler McGee Davis, age 86, of Stamps, Arkansas died October 8, 2003 in Pensacola, Florida. She was born August 9, 1917 in Winfield, Louisiana. Mrs. Davis was preceded in death by two husbands, Harold C. McGee and Richard (Dick) Davis and by a son, William H. (Bill) McGee. She was a member of The First Methodist Church in Shreveport, LA.
She is survived by: one daughter & son-in-law, Nancy McGee Ward & Paul Ward of Pensacola; two grandsons, Keith Ward and Ken Ward, both of Pensacola; two great grandsons, Cam Ward and Les Paul Ward, both of Pensacola.
Graveside services were held at 10:30 am on Saturday, November 22, 2003 at The Walnut Hill Cemetery in Bradley, Arkansas with the Rev. John Russ officiating under the direction of Smith Funeral Home of Stamps.
Ola Lee Johnson
Mrs. Ola Lee Johnson, age 94, of Lewisville, Arkansas died Saturday, November 15, 2003 at her residence. She was born July 3, 1909 in Mt. Holly, Arkansas to William and Addie Brown-Utsey. She was a member of the Unity Baptist Church serving as a Mission Sister and choir member.
She is survived by: six sons, Burnell, J.B., Raymond and Howard Johnson, all of Flint, MI, Robert Johnson of Houston, TX, and Roosevelt Johnson of Lewisville, AR; five daughters, Burnice Hunley and Emma J. Johnson, both of Flint, Mattie Gillory and Ola J. Harris, both of Houston, TX, and Juanita Meadows of Denver, CO; two sisters, Ruth Williams of Denver and Gladys Brewster of Muskegon, MI; two brothers, Archie Utsey of Denver and Quinton Utsey of Elyia, OH; thirty-seven grandchildren; thirty-two great grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, November 22, 2003 at Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Stamps with Rev. Howard Johnson officiating assisted by Rev. Imond Washington and burial at Old Town Cemetery in Lewisville under the direction of Smith Funeral Home of Stamps.
