Helena-West Helena, Ark. - John D. Crow, 66, of Helena died Saturday, May 23, 2009 at his home after a long battle with cancer.
Crow leaves his brother and sister-in law, Rufus Crow (Judy) of Cameron Park, Calif.; a niece, Leslie (Alan) Hines, their children; Paige and Dana; niece, Lara (Darren) Demaree, their children, Sara, Katherine and Renee; nephew, Rufus (Roxanne) Crow III and their children, R.C. and Ella; his sisters, Libby Crow of Elaine and Mary Virginia Horne of Cordova, Tenn.; niece, Deidre (Steve) Mangin, their children, Samuel, William and Joseph; and nephew, T. J. Horne.
His parents, Rufus Claude and Mary Elizabeth Hickerson Crow, preceded him in death.
Crow was a native of Phillips County and a graduate of the University of Mississippi. He served in the Arkansas National Guard and owned the Edwardian Inn Bed and Breakfast.
He served on many boards including, the Warfield Concerts Board of Directors, the Helena Library Board, The Phillips County Museum Board and KIPP Advisory Board. He was a Rotarian and chairman of the Helena-West Helena Advertising & Promotion Commission. He was selected Phillips County Citizen of the Year in 2008.
The family requests no flowers and ask that memorials be sent to St. John s Episcopal Church, 625 Pecan St., Helena, AR 72342 and the Phillips County Museum Board, 623 Pecan St., Helena, AR 72342.
Memorial services will be held 2 p.m. Friday, May 29, 2009 at St. John s Episcopal Church with Father Travis Frank officiating.
Ernest D. Justice
Helena-West Helena, Ark. - Ernest D. Justice, 79, of Keo went home to the Lord on Tuesday, May 26, 2009.
Mr. Justice was born near Cabot on Dec. 29, 1929, to the late Ernest Brooks and Nora Howard Justice. His sister Lexie Johnson, brother Clarence Arden (Buddy) Justice, sister Natalie Bynum, and brother Doyle Justice, preceded him in death.
He leaves his beloved wife of 51 years, Icie Corbell Justice; his daughter, Nora Justice; his son, David Justice and his wife Teresa; his daughter, Lisa Justice; and two grandchildren, Rachel Ham and Rowan Skye Gillespie.
After graduating from Scott High School in 1947, he served as a medic in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was promoted to corporal before being honorable discharged in 1953. He completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ouachita University in 1956 and a Master's Degree in Education from Henderson State in 1959.
Mr. Justice is a former resident and retired schoolteacher of Helena-West Helena, where he taught for over 30 years. Active for many years as a deacon and Sunday School teacher at 2nd Baptist Church of West Helena and Barton Baptist Church of Barton, he most recently served as deacon and Sunday School teacher at Keo Baptist Church, where he and his wife have been members since moving to Keo in 1997. His friends and church family knew him as a biblical scholar, studying the Bible his entire life.
An amateur poet and writer for many years before and after retirement, Mr. Justice contributed numerous articles and poems to local papers, most recently contributing articles and poems to the England Democrat.
He also was an avid baseball fan and fast-pitch softball player, acknowledged as a formidable pitcher in eastern Arkansas church leagues before retiring at age 44.
Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 29, 2009 at the Roller-England Funeral Home (501) 842-3939, with visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 28. Burial will be in the Keo cemetery following the funeral service on Friday.
The family wishes to express special thanks to the church family at Keo Baptist, Leola Goff, James and Ruth Phillips, Brother Gary McCormick and to all their neighbors and friends for their support during his illness.
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31
Kathy Dean
Helena-West Helena, Ark. - Funeral services for Kathy Dean, 46, of Memphis, will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, May 30, 2009 at the Mt. Calvary M.B. Church in Marianna. Rev. Ronnie Broussard will officiate. Burial will follow in Sheppard Grove cemetery in Brickeys.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at the Mt. Calvary Church.
A sister, Shelia Gaines; two brothers, Earl Brewer and Victor Johnson; and her father, Rev. McKinley preceded her in death.
She leaves to cherish her memory a son, Colby Dean of Sumter, S.C.; a daughter-in-law, Regina Dean of South Carolina; a grandchild, Maklayla Dean; seven sisters, Patricia Brewer of Minnesota, Faye Gaines and Terri Gaines, both of Marianna, Linda Johnson Spicer of Jonesboro, Wendy Johnson of Marianna; a brother, Rev. Ronald Broussard of Marianna; and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, special friends and family whom she loved dearly.
Stephens Funeral Home will direct services.
Bernice Fennell
Helena-West Helena, Ark. - Graveside services for Bernice Fennell, 91, of Helena will be held 10 a.m. today at Sunset Memorial Park with Brother Mark Spencer officiating.
Fennell, born July 2, 1917 in Franklin County, Ala. to the late Jessie James Humphries and the late Belle Barker Humphries, died Tuesday, May 26, 2009 in Helena. She was a member of the Missouri Street Baptist Church.
She leaves a son, Mike Fennell and wife, Joan, of Barton; two daughters, Kayrean Howard and husband, Charles of Leeds, Ala., and Abbie Ross and husband, Jerry of Lubbock, Texas; four grandchildren, Laura and Mark Partain of Mt. Laurel, Ala., and Amanda and Todd McCommon of Wynne; four great-grandchildren, Brandon Keeling, Katie Fennell, Liam Partain and Andrew Keeling; a sister, Charleen Griffin and husband, Richard of Elaine; and a brother-in-law, Vardie Childers.
Her husband, Albert D. Fennell; a grandson, Phillip Fennell; sisters, Emma Jean Genorska, Bertha Childers, Inez Marshall and Gladys Day Roger; and brothers, Curtis Humphries and Reginald Day preceded her in death.
Roller-Citizens Funeral Home will direct services.
Debra D. Kinchen
Helena-West Helena, Ark. - Debra D. Kinchen, 44, of Helena-West Helena died May 22, 2009 in Helena-West Helena. She was born Aug. 16, 1964 to Genie M. Sanders and Samuel L. Kinchen.
Her father, Samuel L. Kinchen; her paternal grandfather, Ezekial Kinchen; her maternal grandmother, Ethel L. Sanders; and an aunt, Dorothy Jackson preceded her in death.
She confessed a hope in Christ and was a member of the Beautiful Zion M.B. Church in Helena.
She leaves her mother, Genie M. Sanders of Doraville, Ga.; her paternal grandmother, Essie Kinchen of Detroit; four brothers, Vincent Kinchen and Gregory Sanders, both of Georgia, Derron Wright of Helena-West Helena and Anthony Hughes of Jonesboro; four sisters, Tonya Hughes of Pine Bluff, Patrena Kinchen-Figures (Greg), Dena Cartwright (Rickey) of Nebraska, Latoya Caldwell of Memphis; her children, Adriana Kinchen of Georgia, Carlos Kinchen, Iesha Kinchen, Shenika Kinchen, Kentia Bobo, Shemone Thomas and Latisha Webster of Helena-West Helena; her grandchildren, Kendarius Speed of Georgia, Tyheed Stanley Jr., Aqeouna Kinchen of Helena West Helena; her stepfather, Keith Simpson of Doraville, Ga.; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends, whom she loved dearly.
Funeral services will be held 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the New Haven M.B. Church in Helena-West Helena. Burial will follow in Jackson Memorial cemetery.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight in the Stephens Funeral Home chapel. Stephens Funeral Home will direct services.
Catherine Valentine Ivy
Helena-West Helena, Ark. - Catherine Valentine Ivy was born on Aug. 29, 1925, in Marvell to the late Annie (Thomas) and Garfield Valentine. She confessed a hope in Christ at an early age, joining Asbury M. B. Church. She would later relocate to the Sandtuck community and placed membership with Mt. Olive M. B. Church, where she remained an active member for as long as her health permitted.
In 1943, Catherine married
Sedell Ivy. To this union 10 children were born. She welcomed each one, and in time, was blessed to spend time with a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Among her favorite pastimes were gardening, quilting and puzzles.
A son, Raymond Ivy, preceded her in death.
Catherine leaves to cherish her loving memory her husband, Sedell Ivy; two sons, Sedell Ivy, Jr. (Janet) of St. Louis and Edgar Ivy of Marvell; seven daughters, Gloria (Trozie) Jordan of Hensley, Marie (Leslie) Dobbins of Little Rock, Doris (Calvin) Jackson of Marvell, Annie Ivy of Jacksonville, Linda Ivy of Helena-West Helena, Vivian (Harold) Black and Michelle (George) Mackey of Conway and a daughter-in-law, Richard Ivy of Jonesboro.
She also leaves her legacy to 30 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 30, 2009 at the Mt. Olive M.B. Church in the Sandtuck Community south of Marvell. Burial will be at Mt. Olive cemetery. Rev. Rickey Hulbert will officiate.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. today at Bob Neal and Sons-Brickell Funeral Home in Marvell.
Walter Ray Lincoln
Helena-West Helena, Ark. - Walter Ray Lincoln, 81, of Jonesboro, died Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at St. Bernard s Medical Center in Jonesboro.
Born in Jonesboro, Walter served 20 years of active duty in the U.S. Navy where he was an AD-1 pilot. He was a veteran of WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Following his military service, Walter worked 20 years for the U.S. Postal Service in Helena, retiring in 1993.
In 1993, Walter moved to Bono where he lived until moving to Jonesboro recently. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Bono and raised Tennessee Walker horses.
His five brothers and two sisters preceded Walter in death.
He leaves his son and daughter-in-law, Dan and Amie Veal Lincoln of Conway; and a sister, Dorothy Feldmann of Heber Springs.
A memorial service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Bono with Rev. Gary Garris officiating. Burial will be private.
Visitation will follow the service at the church.
Fletcher Tye Sr
Helena-West Helena, Ark. - Funeral services for Fletcher Tye Sr., 62, of Elaine will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, May 30, 2009 at the Phillips, Lee, Monroe and Desha District Center at Helena Crossing with the Rev. James Baker officiating. Burial will follow in the Pilgrim Guide cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight in the Robert Lee Brown Memorial Chapel in Helena.
Tye was born Jan. 4, 1947 in Mellwood to Ben Tye Sr., and Annie Mae Tye. He grew up in Modoc and was a farmer until his death.
His father, Ben Tye Sr., two brothers, and a daughter, Estella Tye, preceded him in death.
He leaves to cherish his precious memory, his wife, Forrestine Tye; a loving mother, Annie Mae Tye of Chicago; five daughters, Forrestine (Reggie) Jones of Tyler, Texas, Darletha (Robert) Davis of Little Rock, Shirley (Linell) Lewis of Lake View, Tamara and Sylvia Tye of Tyler, Texas; three sons, Fletcher (Christie) Tye of Little Rock, Melvin Tye of Elaine, and Michael Tye of Lake View; six sisters, Thelma Murray, Christine (J.L.) Evans, Earnestine (George), Deana Tye, all of Chicago, Mary Ann Tye of Elaine and Dorothy Tye of Ft. Wayne, Ind.; 10 brothers, Leon (Helen), Doris, L.C. (Laverne), Ben (Luria) of Chicago, James (Gloria), Bennie Lee and Melvin of Phoenix, Ariz. and Eddie C. of Fort Wayne, Ind., Ben Edward (Mary) and James (Gloria) of Helena-West Helena; an aunt, Susie White and two uncles; five sisters-in-law; 10 brothers-in-law; 13 grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Brown s Home for Funerals will direct services.
Theodore Sawyer
HARDY, ARK. - Funeral services for Theodore Sawyer, 86, of Williford will be held at 2 p.m. today, June 2, 2009 at the Higginbotham Funeral Service Chapel in Hardy with Brother Floyd Rickard officiating. Burial will follow in the Bradford cemetery in Ravenden.
Sawyer, born April 29, 1923 in Light, the son of Frederick Lee and Minnie (Walker) Sawyer, died Saturday, May 30, 2009 at his home.
He was united in marriage to Emma Powell on Dec. 6, 1945 in Hardy. He was a carpenter, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and has pastored the Bradford Chapel in Ravenden since 1975.
He leaves his wife, Emma Sawyer; a son, Teddy Allen Sawyer of Ozark Acres; four daughters, Joanie Wilkerson of Williford, Pamie Sawyer of Ozark Acres, Regina Ross and Karen Pickett, both of Ravenden; a sister, Louise Hill of Helena; five grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and many other friends and relatives to mourn his passing.
Besides his parents, eight brothers preceded him in death.
Pallbearers will be Tony Lowe, Butch Dail, Rudy Lowell, Gerald Powell, James Davis and Kevin Morris.
Higginbotham Funeral Services in Hardy will direct services.
Bobbie Jean Hardy
HELENA-WEST HELENA - On Oct. 11, 1933 the world was enriched by the birth of Bobbie Jean Hardy, the eldest child of Virginia Griffin and Sam Mills Sr. Her mother, Virginia, left this world when Bobbie Jean was yet a young toddler. Her father, Sam, later remarried
Louisa Beals Mills.
She accepted Christ at a young age and was a member of the Union Baptist Church in Clarendon and later joined Baptist Grove M.B. Church in Clarendon where she served as a Sunday School teacher and many other capacities over the years.
Later, she rejoined Union Baptist Church where she remained a member until her death.
She married
Lee Hardy Sr. on Jan. 9, 1955 and together they raised seven beautiful children. She worked in the Clarendon schools for 27 years.
Bobbie Jean Hardy, 76, left this world to be with her Heavenly Father in the morning hours of May 28, 2009.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Virginia Griffin, Sam Mills Sr., her stepmother, Louisa Mills; a daughter, Betty Jean Gaither; and a brother, Eugene Mills.
She leaves to cherish her memory, her spouse of 54 years, Lee Chester Hardy Sr. of Clarendon; her children, Melvin (Valerie) Gaither of Los Angeles, Calif., Larry Dean Armour of Dallas, Texas, Lee Chester (Dorris) Hardy Jr. of Clarendon, Mary Virginia (Carnish) Hopkins of Detroit, Henry Dale Hardy of Dallas and Rona Tonita Hardy of Carrollton, Texas; a stepdaughter, Ella Louise Hall of Illinois; her brother and sisters, Sam Mills II of Little Rock, Versie Rudolph of Gary, Ind., Patricia Cook, Louise Allen, Jackie Chism, Thomas Mills and Larry Mills, all of Clarendon; 21 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at the Union Baptist Church. Funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, June 4 at the Union Baptist Church in Clarendon with Rev. David Wilson officiating. Burial will be in Shady Grove cemetery.
Stephens Funeral Home in Helena-West Helena will direct services.
