Mabel Blakeley Williams 93, of Jacksonville died July 4, 2006. She was a native of Sparkman. She was born Dec. 28, 1912, to Henry J. and Lucy Avant Blakeley.
She graduated from Sparkman High School in 1930, where she was a member of the nationally known girls basketball team the 'Sparkman Sparklers.'
The team participated in three national tournaments at Witchita, Kan., during high school and two such tournaments in college, placing high in each tournament. The team was recently inducted into the Dallas County Sports Hall of Fame.
She attended Crescent College, a Junior College for Girls, where she earned an Associate of Arts degree. After college, she married
Stuart Williams, had two sons, and settled in Jacksonville. She was an officer of First Arkansas Bank and Trust. She was a member of First United Methodist Church; a Fifty-plus year member and past Matron and Deputy Grand Lecturer of the Order of the Eastern Star; Past President of National Business and Professional Women; Wesleyan Service Guild; Demolay Mother; Cub Scout Den Mother; and Former Member of the National Association of Bank Women. She was also an avid Bridge Player for over 50 years and wrote a weekly column, 'Reveries' for the Jacksonville Daily News for several years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Stuart Williams; a brother, Jim Blakely; a sister, Marguerite Brittan; and her parents. Survivors include her two sons, Lt. Col. (Ret.) James R. (Bob) Williams and wife Ethel of Ocean Springs, MS; and Jack M. Williams and his wife Betty of Roswell, GA; three grandsons, Bret Williams, Kelly Williams, and Tim Mullinax; two granddaughters, Rebecca Smith and Shaney Malloy; four great granddaughters and two great grandsons. She is also survived by a sister, Rachel Heffner of Pine Bluff, AR and her very special best friend of sixty years, Melda Rice.
Funeral Services were held Friday at First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville with Rev. Carol Goddard officiating. Internment followed at Rest Hills Memorial Park in Sherwood. Funeral arrangements by Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home. The Leader published a feature on Williams on June 14.
William Greer
William Harvey 'Bill' Greer, Sr., 64, of Beebe died Nov. 15, 2007.
He was born Jan. 29, 1943, at Mt. Clemens, Mich., to Frederick H. and Norma E. Patterson Greer. He was a wonderful husband, super father, awesome granddaddy and best friend. After serving his country in Vietnam with the Army Airmobile Unit, he worked at Knight's Grocery for 33 years. He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Howell, Fred and Joseph Johnny Greer.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Jane Smoot Greer; two sons, William H. 'Bill' Greer, Jr. of Beebe and John Howell Greer and wife April of Vilonia; a special child, Niki Kinder; grandchildren, Jacob, Josh, Jayce, Bridget, Bailey, Diane and Sommer Greer; brothers, Delbert Greer, Eugene Greer and Walter Greer; sisters, Joyce Mercurio, Nettie Coleman, Sandra Ketchens and Grace McKnight.
Graveside service will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens in Beebe by Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe.
Christopher Mettler
Christopher Lee Mettler, 31, of Cabot passed away Nov. 13, 2007 at his home in Cabot. He was born Feb. 17, 1976 in Minot, North Dakota to Charles J. Mettler and the late Sheila K. Legleiter Mettler.
Survivors include his father, Charles Mettler of Cabot; aunt, Karen Legleiter-Viergever and husband David of Morton, Ill. and their children, Katrina M. Pender and Jessica Pender of Pekin, Ill. and Andrew Viergever of Morton, Ill.; grandparents, Gilbert and Freada Legleiter of Winfield, Kan.; grandmother, Flora Mae Korbe-Harris of Morton, Ill.; grandparents, Herman and Bernadine Mettler of Nicolet, Mn.; uncles, Jim Mettler, Joe Mettler and wife Judy, Denny Mettler and wife LaNae and Rick Mettler, all of Nicollet, Mn., and Doug Mettler and wife Cherri of Converse, Texas; aunts, Kathy and Sandy Mettler, Deb Hulke and husband Randy, Shirley Meurer and husband Wayne, all of Nicollet, Mn. as well as Liz and Larry Kohout of Redwood Falls, Mn., as well as many other cousins and friends.
A memorial service was held Friday in the chapel of Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home with Father Les Farley officiating.
Ima Gridley
Ima Pauline Gridley, 85, of Jacksonville, formerly of Conway, went to be with the Lord Nov. 14, 2007 at Northridge Nursing Home.
She was born Feb. 11, 1922 in Searcy to the late Oscar C. and Stella Emily Davis Lamb. She was preceded in death by her husband Elmer D. Gridley, two brothers, Vernon Lamb and O.C. Lamb and two sisters, Edna Wortham and Bertha Ahrens.
She is survived by nieces, J. Frances Whitsell and husband Ed 'Doc', Nancy K. Wilson and husband Kent, Roxanne House and husband Rick, Dean Owens, Bobby Long, Betty Robinette, Carolyn Izard, Shirley Perry; nephews Larry Lamb and Tommy Lamb and many great-nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. today in the chapel of Moore's Funeral Home. Burial will be at 3 p.m. in Crestlawn cemetery in Conway.
Alva Zimmerman
Alva 'Pops' or 'Mr. Z' Claude Zimmerman, 90, loving father and grandfather of Jacksonville passed away Nov. 13, 2007.
He is survived by his daughters, Lillian A. Dinwiddie, Kathie and husband Sid Brown, Pat J. and husband Raymond Herrington; sons, Leland H. 'Yogi' Zimmerman and wife Marguerite, Alva C. Zimmerman, Jr., Walter L. Zimmerman, Tommy K. Zimmerman and Victor E. 'Buzz' Zimmerman; one sister, Ettalee Lavender; 21 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
A military honors memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Arkansas State Veterans cemetery in North Little Rock.
Funeral arrangements will be by Wood Funeral Home in Jacksonville.
Margurene Jones
Margurene 'Marge' Jones, 89, of Hot Springs died Oct. 27, 2007.
She was born Nov. 26, 1917, at Butlerville to Homer and Lucy Glover Baldwin.
She was preceded in death by her husband Floyd Jones; her parents and brother, Daniel Baldwin.
She is survived by two sons, Robert Jones and wife Marilyn of Mabank, Texas, David Jones and wife Melissa of Cabot; a granddaughter, Kristie Jones of Lubbock, Texas; and a brother, Oris Baldwin of Fort Worth, Texas.
Graveside services were Nov. 5 at Hebron cemetery in Carlisle by Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe.
James Champlin
James Orville Champlin 'Champ', 80, of Cabot passed away Nov. 17, 2007, into the arms of his Heavenly Father.
He was born into this world on April 30, 1927, to James A. Champlin and Blanche Skinner Champlin of Austin.
He served in the Naval Seabees during the Second World War. He was instrumental in the building of a major causeway in Guam and later in the restoration of Pearl Harbor. He was very honored to serve his country so that others could continue to be free. He retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, where he spent many hours making sure everyone had their telephones in working order. He used many of his skills and much knowledge helping victims of Hurricane Katrina in Bay St. Louis, Miss.
He was a member of Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Cabot, and was a member of Gideon's International, and a Southwestern Bell Telephone Pioneer.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, and an infant brother.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mary Ellen Roland Champlin; two daughters, Janice and husband Bill Muse of Sherwood and Brenda and husband Garland Gene Yarbrough of Redfield; a sister and brother, Mildred Dickerson of Conway and Clarence Wilton Champlin of California; two grandchildren, DeNise and husband Bob Enck of Alabama and David and wife Cristin Groce of Rhode Island; two great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Nov. 20 at Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Cabot with burial in 16th Section cemetery. Memorials may be made to Gideon's International or Faith Missionary Baptist Church, 301 Bill Foster Memorial Hwy., Cabot, Ark. 72023.
Perinda Anderson
Perinda 'Penny' Tippit Anderson, 50, of Ward died Nov. 19, 2007. She was born Dec. 29, 1956.
She was a former employee of Riley's Oak Hill Manor North, and was a member of Grace Chapel.
She is survived by her husband, Houston Anderson; two sons, Ronald Caldwell and Justin Anderson, both of Cabot; her parents, Robert and Marcella Tippit of Cabot; grandmother, Vernie Tippit of Greenbrier; brother, Dwight and wife Bonnie Tippit of Orange Park, Fla.; sister, Anita and husband Buddy Hillenburg of Cabot.
Memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24 at Grace Chapel in Lonoke County by Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe.
Anna Melhorn
Anna Marie Melhorn, 74, formerly of Jacksonville for 40 years, and retiree of General Telephone Company, died Nov. 9, 2007 at Medicalodge of Leavenworth, Kan. She was born Oct. 10, 1933, in Loretto, Pa., to Nelson and Zita 'Sherry' Boley.
She married
Vaughn J. Melhorn on June 6, 1953, in Cresson, Pa.
She will be remembered as a loving wife, devoted mother and caring grandmother.
She was preceded in death by her husband on April 15, 2002 as well as her sons, Vaughn J. Melhorn II and Aldah A. 'Buddy' Melhorn and her brothers, James and Robert Boley.
She is survived by her daughter, Barbara A. Haake of Lansing, Kan.; sister, Ella Mae Armstrong; brothers, Joseph Boley and Gene Boley; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Burial will be with her husband at Leavenworth National cemetery in Leavenworth.
Leveda Branscum
Leveda Ann Branscum of Salem died Nov. 16, 2007 in Little Rock. She is survived by her father, Donald Branscum and wife Murlie, and daughter, Crystal Dorton of Garner. Funeral arrangements are by Little Rock Funeral Home.
Margurene Jones
Margurene 'Marge' Jones, 89, of Hot Springs died Oct. 27, 2007.
She was born Nov. 26, 1917 at Butlerville to Homer and Lucy Glover Baldwin.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd Jones; her parents and a brother, Daniel Baldwin. She is survived by two sons, Robert Jones and wife Marilyn of Mabank, Texas, and David Jones and wife Melissa of Cabot; granddaughter, Kristie Jones of Lubbock, Texas, and brother, Oris Baldwin of Fort Worth, Texas. Graveside services were Nov. 5 at Hebron cemetery in Carlisle by Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe.
Floy Winham
Floy Ann Warren-Winham, 63, of Jacksonville passed away July 26, 2006, in Jacksonville.
She was born on Nov. 16, 1942 to Sanford Lee and Floy Loren Kreager Warren in Tulsa, Okla.
She was preceded in death by her father and her daughter-in-law, Erin Winham.
Survivors include her mother, Floy Warren of Cabot; one son, Chet Winham IV; a daughter, Heather Ann Winham-Fulwood and her husband Scott, all of Brentwood, Calif.; a sister, Laura Lee Buehler and her husband, Randy of Ward; as well as seven grandchildren and numerous other friends and family. Private services will be held at a later date. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Brandon Pruitt
Brandon Taylor Pruitt, 9, of Fort Dix, N.J., passed away Friday, July 28, 2006 at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia, Penn.
He was born May 11, 1997, in Little Rock, the son of Michael B. and Jennifer L. Massey Pruitt.
Brandon formerly lived in Jacksonville and was a member of the Assembly of God Church. He played football (Mighty Mights) on the Fort Dix 'Chargers' team.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by brother Derek Pruitt of Fort Dix, N.J.; grandparents, Betty and William Brewer of Jacksonville, Oma and Garland Massey of Greenbrier and Michael and Tammy Pruitt of Austin; aunt, Rebecca Massey of Greenbrier and uncle, Cody Massey of Fayetteville.
Funeral services will be held today at 10 a.m. at Moore's Funeral Home Chapel in Jacksonville with the Rev. Derek Smith officiating.
Special thanks to the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia, Brandon's Oncology Team, the 63rd Ordnance Battalion, the Pelphrey family and Dr. Peter Phillips for their kind care and support.
