Funeral services for Dannie Jackson, 52, of Marvell will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, 2003 at the Branch Baptist M.B. Church in Turner. The Rev. L.C. Wright will officiate. Burial will be at Branch Baptist cemetery in Turner.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, 2003 at the chapel of Progressive Funeral Parlor in Marvell.
Jackson was a mechanic and a member of the Branch Baptist Church in Turner. Born Oct. 16, 1950 in Turner, he died Sept. 7, 2003 at Helena Regional Medical Center .
He leaves his wife, Nikita Jackson; his parents Blanche Wilson and Loydell of Marvell; four sons, Gary, Scott, Fernando and Lamar T. Jackson; a daughter Ursula Nicole Jackson; a brother James Jackson of Washington, D.C.; six sisters, Oretha Sims of Dallas, Texas, Dorothy Armstrong and Berneice Lowery of Pine Bluff, Gloria Conyears of Brinkley, Richie Scaife and Laverne Carter of Marvell; nine grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.
Progressive Funeral Parlor in Marvell will direct services.
LEON DAVIS
Funeral services for Leon Davis, 54, of Gary, Indiana (formerly of Marvell) will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, 2003 at the Mt. Zion M.B. Church in Turner. The Rev. W.R. Parks, pastor will officiate. Burial will be in Israel Chapel cemetery in Turner.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12 at the chapel of Progressive Funeral Parlor, 1353 W. Main St., Marvell and 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Mt. Zion Church.
Davis died Sept. 7, 2003 at Methodist Hospital in Gary, Ind. He was a salesman and a Baptist.
He leaves to cherish his memory, a son Louis Davis of Chicago, Ill.; a sister Sadie Thomas of Turner; four brothers, James Brewster of San Francisco, Calif., Larry Davis and James Calhoun, both of Kalamazoo, Mich., and Floyd Davis of Turner; two aunts, Erma Lee Whitfield of Kalamazoo and Laura Mopkins of West Memphis, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Progressive Funeral Parlor in Marvell will direct services.
MILDRED MUSSETT
Mildred Curtis Mussett age 76, died Aug. 28, 2003 of natural causes in Powder Springs, Ga. She was born May 10, 1927 in Helena.
She leaves her mother, Mrs. Tom Curtis; two daughters, Marianna Mussett-Fugere, and Midge Gardner; two sons, Jack Mussett Jr., and Richard Mussett, and three grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Maple Hill cemetery in Helena in October.
LAWRENCE D. SAY
RMCS Lawrence "Chief" Say, 61, of 1342 Chestnut St., Franklin, Pennsylvania, died Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2003 in UPMC Northwest, Franklin.
Born July 30, 1942, in Franklin, he was the son of Ralph "Bus" and Joan Swatzler Say.
RMCS Say served in the U.S. Navy from 1961 to 1991 and retired after 29 years of service. He served as the recruiter in charge at the Helena and Clarksdale, Miss. offices from 1983 to 1985. In 1993 he moved back to Franklin where he earned his B.S. in elementary education. He began working for Venago County Mental Health and Mental Retardation in 1995, retiring in 1999.
Say was a member of the Franklin VFW and the American Legion and was involved with the veterans' coalition. He enjoyed traveling, reading, painting, artwork, gardening and quilting. He also was actively involved in neighborhood affairs.
He was married
Feb. 7, 1987 to Mary Chappell, formerly of West Helena, who survives.
Also surviving are his mother, Joan Manning of China Grove, N.C.; four children, Lesa Say of Lima, Ohio, Donna Gaskill and her husband Kevin, of Spencerville, Ohio, Sgt. Tory Kidder and his wife, Shannon Weeter, of Cherry Point, N.C., and Amy Kidder and her significant other Dan Sporer of Franklin; six grandchildren Jeremy Bogart of Lima, Ohio, Elena Meeks, Keagan Gaskill and Heath Gaskill, all of Spencerville, Ohio, William Kidder of Cherry Point, N.C. and Gavin Kidder of Franklin; two brothers and their wives, Layne and Beverly Say of Franklin, and Bill and Shirley Edwards of Knox; three sisters and their husband, Kathy and Bobby Arnold of St. Joseph, Mo., and Patty and Larry Watson and Linda and Jim McDonald, all of Franklin.
In addition to his father, a brother, Richard D. Say and an infant daughter, Lisa Say, preceded chief Say in death.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Aug. 30, 2003 at the Gardinier Funeral Home in Franklin with the Rev. Ronald C. Bole VNA Hospice minister, officiating. Burial followed at Rockland cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Navy Relief Fund/Military Honor Guard.
ALFRED BILLINGSLEY
Funeral services for retired educator Alfred Lincoln Billingsley Jr., 66, of the Southland-Lexa community will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2003 at the Spring Lake Missionary Baptist Church in the Southland Community. The Rev. Robert Preston Taylor will officiate. Burial will be in Spring Lake Memorial cemetery in the Southland Community.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. today at the Springlake Baptist Church in Southland.
Billingsley, born Oct. 30, 1935 in Southland-Lexa to the late Alfred Lincoln Billingsley Sr., and Ernestine Pruitt Billingsley, was the eldest of three children. He died Aug. 30, 2003 at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock.
Billingsley received his education at the following educational institutions: Southland Rosenwald Elementary School, Eliza Miller High School, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (AM&N;), and Arkansas State University at Jonesboro. Building on a strong education and work ethic instilled by his parents, he developed a sense of community, civic responsibility and service that became his guidepost for success.
Billingsley was an educator for thirty-six years. His educational career began at Marion Anderson High School in Brinkley, where he taught science and biology. Most of his years as an educator were in the Helena-West Helena Public School district, where he served as science teacher and coach at Eliza Miller Junior High School. He was a science teacher, dean of students, and supervising principal at Central High School retiring in 2001-2002. He served in the U.S. Army for three years, and worked as a supervisor at Mohawk Rubber Company and as a customer service manager at Wal-Mart Store, Inc. for 15 years.
He was actively involved in numerous organizations and business affiliations including Xi Rho Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Spring Lake Memorial cemetery Association, KCLT Radio Station, Arkansas Education Association, National Education Association, Arkansas Retired Teachers Association, was a past board member of the Eastern Arkansas Mental Health Board; was a life member of the Eliza Miller High School Alumni Association and a life member of the UAPB-AM&N; Alumni Association.
His memory, character, and influence will live on in the lives of his family, which includes his wife, Maureen Dozier- Billingsley of Southland; a son, Roderick Andr and Emily Billingsley of Fort Smith; three daughters and their families, Valerie Lorraine and Dale Mackey of Cincinnati, Ohio, Karen Lois and Nick Lasker of Carrollton, Texas, and Roslyn Renee and Carl Hayward of Conyears, Ga.; a brother William E. Billingsley Jr. and Marie Billingsley of Sacramento Calif., a sister, Gloria Ann Billingsley of Little Rock; eight grandchildren, Casslyn, Alfred-Lloyd, Mitchell, Carl Jr., Alan, Jeremy, Andrea and Dale Jr., four aunts Alcenia B. Walton, Ernestine B. Whitlow, Audrean Rice Steagall and Ella Billingsley, and a host of nephews, nieces cousins and friends.
His parents, Alfred and Ernestine Billingsley preceded him in death.
Active pallbearers will be Fred Carter, Tommy Fridell, Eddie Hall, Walter Simpson, Earnest Simes, Judge L.T. Simes II, Willie Jackson and Earnest Simpson Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be Spring Lake Deacons and Trustees, Helena-West Helena Public School District teachers, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., members and the staff of KCLT radio station.
Stephens Funeral Home in West Helena will direct services.
JAMES WASHINGTON
Funeral services for James Earl Washington, 49, of Little Rock formerly of Marvell will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2003 at the Sequell Baptist Church at Rondo. The Rev. Valarie Washington-Pettigrew will officiate. Burial will be at the Sequell Church cemetery in Rondo.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the chapel of Brown's Home for Funerals in West Helena.
Washington, born Nov. 29, 1953, in Rondo to Chester and Ruthie Mae Washington, died Aug. 29, 2003, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Little Rock.
He confessed a hope in Christ at the Sequell Baptist Church, under the leadership of the Rev. G.H. Hal.
He leaves, his mother, Ruthie Mae Washington of Minneapolis, Minn., his father and step-mother, Chanice and Kendra Washington of Minneapolis; one granddaughter, Nashaya Washington of Minneapolis; four sisters, Minnie Nelson, Barbara Washington, the Rev. Valarie Washington-Pettigrew and Etherine Washington all of Minneapolis; four brothers, George, Rickey, and Clifford Washington of Minneapolis and Tony Washington of Little Rock; an aunt Ethelrine Bonds of Rondo; two uncles, Willie Tolbert of Minneapolis and Lenard Washington of Marvell; a host of nephews, nieces and cousins.
Brown's Home for Funerals will direct services.
AONIE JONES
Funeral arrangements are incomplete for Aonie Jones, 75, of Lexa, who died Aug. 31, 2003 at St. Vincent's Hospital in Little Rock. Brown's Home for Funerals will announce arrangements later.
WILLIE HICKS
Funeral services for Willie Andrew Hicks, who was known as "Grease Ball" of Helena will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30 at the Galilee MB Church, corner of Ohio and Adams streets in Helena.
Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, 2003 at the chapel of Jackson and Highley Funeral Home in West Helena.
Hicks accepted Christ as his personal Savior at an early age at the St. Peter M.B. Church in Poplar Grove. He sang with the original Dixie Wonders.
Hicks, who was born Jan. 23, 1938, to the late Willie and Teresa Hicks at Poplar Grove, died Aug. 20, 2003, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Little Rock.
He leaves to cherish his memory; a sister Mildred and Jessie Green of West Helena, a brother Rev. Lorenzo and Louise Jones of Earle and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Three sisters Claudie Mae Ezell, Eula Mae Mason and Sephonia Spencer preceded him in death.
Jackson and Highley Funeral Home will direct services.
BEATRICE YETT
Funeral services for Beatrice Yett, 102, of Lexa, a former Elaine resident will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31, 2003 at the Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Elaine. The Rev. S.L. George will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery in Elaine.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at the chapel of Brown's Home for Funerals in West Helena.
Yett, born May 20, 1901, in Rolling Fork, Miss., died Aug. 24, 2003, at her home in Lexa.
She confessed her belief in Christ at an early age and later became a member of the Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, where she remained a member until her death.
Her husband, Howard Yett, two brothers Willie Hill of Lexa, Kairy Long of Elaine, and a cousin Josephine Moore of Rolling Fork, Miss., preceded her in death,
She leaves to cherish her memory, a niece Hattie Moore of Lexa, who was her caretaker; another niece Evelyn Mount of Reno, Nev.; two nephews Willie Hill of Cheyenne, Wyo., and Kairy Hill of Denver, Colo., and a host of great nieces, nephews, cousins and other family members.
Brown's Home for Funerals will direct services.
SHIRLEY HOUSE
Funeral services for Shirley J. House, 57, of Southland will be held at noon Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2003 at the Springlake M.B. Church in the Southland Community. Rev. Malcolm Curne will officiate. Burial will be at Springlake cemetery in the Southland Community.
House, born Feb. 23, 1946, in Southland, died Aug. 13, 2003, in the Southland community. She was a life-long resident of Southland. Family and friends will miss her signature smile.
House was employed for many years by A&T; Factory Outlet until the business closed and by Wal-Mart until her health failed.
She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband of many years, John Q. House Sr.; her mother, Pearl Brantley of Chicago, Ill., two sons, John Q. House Jr., of Southland and Dwight E. and Felita House of West Helena; two daughters, Sherry House-Frierson of Southland and Debra House-Bailey and her husband Dr. Thomas Bailey of Southland; four brothers, Elihue Bone Jr. and Colbert Bone of Gary, Ind., Melvin Bone of Waukegan, Ill., and James Brantley Jr., of Chicago; four sisters, Deloris Funches and Barbara Spears of Chicago, Il., Majoyce Wiggins of Gary, Ind., and Carrie Martin of Lexa; 15 grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.
Stephens Funeral Home will direct services.
MARJORIE RUSSELL
Funeral services for Marjorie (Margie) Ann Wells Russell, 70, of Marvell will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, 2003 at Calvary Baptist Church in Marvell. Brother David Hellwig and Brother Ron Malone will officiate. Burial will be at Turner cemetery in Turner.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Bob Neal and Sons-Brickell Funeral Home in Marvell.
Russell, born Aug. 23, 1932, in Postelle, the daughter of Marion Jackson Wells Sr. and Margaret Meek Wells, died Aug. 21, 2003, at her home.
She leaves a son Todd Russell of Turner; three daughters, Janice Kemmer of Marvell, Nancy Monroe and Melanie Patton of Turner; two brothers, Marion Jack Wells Jr. and William (Will) Wells of West Helena; three sisters, Jessilene Smart of McRae, Bobbie Russell of Marvell and Jane Crawford of Lambert, Miss., and six grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Chris Akers, Brad Crawford, Jamie Crawford, Lee Crawford, Mac Ely, Michael Smart, Jack Wells III, and Kirk Wells. Honorary pallbearers will be Herbert Bartlett, Joe Kemmer, Bill Hill and Bob Richmond.
Bob Neal and Sons-Brickell Funeral Home in Marvell will direct services.
