Marjorie Laverne Kight
(May 25, 1930 - August 28, 2012)
Marjorie Laverne Kight, age 82 of Manning, passed from this life on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at Baptist Medical Center in Arkadelphia. She was born on May 25, 1930 in Batiste, OK, the daughter of the late William Charles and Delphia Elizabeth Cornish Tedder. Laverne was a homemaker and a retired florist. She was a member of Manning Baptist Church, Manning EH Club and Manning Baptist Church Ladies Prayer Group. Laverne was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Lee Kight, and her son, Clarence Wayne Kight.
She is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Bev and Gilbert Hawthorn of Manning and Jan and James Matthews of Sparkman, eight grandchildren, Tim, Jennifer, Tina, Jared, Justin, JoAnn, Jodie and Cristi Lee, twenty great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, September 1, 2012 at Welch Funeral Home with Bro. Jerry George officiating. Interment will be in Delamar cemetery.
Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Friday at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Justin, Jared, Tim & Jonathan Hawthorn, Kord DeWello and Ethan Sutton.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jeremy Vann, Mike Daniell, Jay Gibbs, David Murphy, Terry Rowton, Jeff Speer and Dale Kight.
Memorials may be made to Manning Baptist Church, 11 Dallas 336, Sparkman, AR 71763.
Services are entrusted to the Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia.
Martha Nell Phelps
(March 2, 1924 - June 16, 2012)
Martha Nell Phelps age 88 of Okolona, AR died Saturday, June 16, 2012' She was born in Clark County March 2, 1924 the daughter of Bernard and Floss Covington Phelps. She was Postmaster in Okolona for many years.
Survivors include one brother, Kenneth Phelps and his wife Ina of Arkadelphia and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services will be 10 AM Wednesday in the Okolona cemetery with Will Thompson officiating. She will lie in state at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home in Arkadelphia from 9 to 5 PM Tuesday.
Memorials may be made to the Okolona cemetery Fund c/o Charles Golden, Okolona, AR.
Evelyn M. Wilson
(February 2, 1926 - February 28, 2015)
Evelyn M. Wilson age 89, of North Little Rock, passed away Saturday, February 28, 2015 at her home. She was born February 2, 1926 in Clark County Arkansas to the late Eddie Brine and Lucy McAnally Whitworth. Evelyn worked for Three Bears Daycare Center in North Little Rock for many years. She was of the Baptist faith.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John F. Wilson in 1979. She was the last survivor of eight children and was preceded in death by seven siblings, Jack Whitworth, Lorene Malcom, (infant) Winfred Whitworth, Corinne Stiffler, Raymond Whitworth, Annie B. Purifoy and Eddie Junior Whitworth.
Survivors are one son, Johnny Wilson of North Little Rock; one daughter, Patsy Smithpeters and husband, Jimmy of Gurdon; two grandchildren, Cindy Loe and husband, Tim of Prescott, Johnny Wilson Jr. of North Little Rock; two great-grandsons, Jonathan Wilson and Rocco Loe; eleven nieces and ten nephews ( two which are preceded in death) a host of great nieces, nephews and great-great nieces and nephews; and her trusted dog companion, Buster.
Visitation will be 1:00 PM Tuesday, March 3rd at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home in Arkadelphia. Services will follow at 2:00 PM Tuesday at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home. Burial will be in Richwoods cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Richwoods cemetery Fund @ Nicky Todd 170 Mt. Zion Rd. Arkadelphia, AR. 71923.
Adell Bridges
(February 25, 1921 - March 18, 2012)
Adell Allen Duke Bridges, 91, of Arkadelphia died Sunday, March 18, 2012. She was born February 25, 1921 in Clark County to William Allen and Alice Magby Allen. She was a member of Second Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, 14 brothers and sisters, husbands, James Franklin Duke and Jerome Alfred Bridges and a daughter, Vicki Lynn Rudolph. She is survived by a grandson, Eric Davis and his wife Stephanie, great-grandchildren Logan and Addison Davis, son-in-law Dick Rudolph and special nieces Cheryl Carhart, Martha Ann Robertson, and Beverly Cross.
Graveside services will be held at 2 PM Tuesday in the Caddo Valley cemetery. There will be no formal visitation.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Second Baptist Church's Building Future Generations fund.
Billy Henry Wilson
(January 26, 1927 - June 3, 2012)
U.S. Veteran
Billy H. Wilson, 85, of Arkadelphia died Sunday, June 3, 2012.
Billy was born January 26, 1927 in Cushing, Texas, to William Henry and Allie George Wilson. He retired from Reynolds Metals Company and was a member of St. Andrew United Methodist Church. Billy was preceded in death by his wife Frankie Jean Burton Wilson and one daughter, Debbie Wilson.
He is survived by two sisters: Peggy (Travis) Green, Bobbie Bovey; five daughters: Sharon Crawford, Connie (Mike) Cox, Kyla (Mike) Chambless, Rhonda (Gary) Parker, Glynda Reynolds (Bill Phillips); two granddaughters and five great-granddaughters.
Visitation will be at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 6, 2012, at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home followed by a 10:00 a.m. graveside service at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Andrew United Methodist Church or the Clark County Library.
Claudia Riley
(October 20, 1927 - September 15, 2015)
Claudia Riley of Arkadelphia-Hope passed from an exciting and adventurous life on Monday. She was the widow of the former Governor and Lt. Governor Bob C. Riley and the mother of Megen Riley of Arkadelphia.
As wife of Bob she was the host to the many students of Bob's classes at Ouachita Baptist University where Bob taught political science. Since Bob had lost his sight from wounds received in the Pacific Theater during WWII, she became his eyes and reader. She provided names of faces of the many supporters and friends that they encountered while campaigning for public office. Claudia was Bob's guide and support throughout his life.
Claudia had the personality, determination and grit to continue life to the full after the death of Bob. She met Bill Watson and swept him off his feet. Together they enjoyed a happy and wonderful 14 years as sole mates and constant companions. They traveled the country in Bill's RV and enjoyed the sights and people of America.
Claudia's house was always open to friends and neighbors who delighted in Claudia's famous tacos and chili around the pool.
In lieu of flowers donations may be may to a scholarship fund in honor of Bob Riley at Ouachita Baptist University. There will be no services for public.
Blanche Sossamon Martin
(August 9, 1943 - May 23, 2013)
Blanche Sossamon Martin age 69 of Texarkana, AR, formerly of Arkadelphia, died Thursday, May 23, 2013. She was born August 9, 1943 in Arkadelphia the daughter of Grover and Ida Mae Hopper Sossamon. She was a retired ultra sound Tech and a Baptist. She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, Paul, Clarence, and James Sosssamon.
Survivors include one daughter Stephanie (James) Syler of Texarkana, AR and one sister, Frances (Gilbert) Bear of Benton, AR.
Funeral services will be 2 PM Saturday in Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Chapel in Arkadelphia with Brother Will Thompson officiating. Burial will be in the Easley cemetery near Gurdon. Visitation will be 6-8 PM Friday at the funeral home.
Ermia Lyvone Crossley
(December 21, 1943 - August 9, 2012)
Lyvone Jester Crossley, age 68, of Arkadelphia, passed from this life on Thursday, August 9, 2012 at Arkansas Hospice Center in Hot Springs. She was born on December 21, 1943 in Clark County, the daughter of the late Finis and Ermia Story Jester. Lyvone was a homemaker and a member of First Assembly of God Church in Curtis. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Retha Wells and Bennie Batchelder and two brothers, Wilburn Jester and Clinton Jester.
Lyvone is survived by her husband, Stanley Crossley, her daughter, Ann (Michael) Werner of Bismarck, her son, Stanley Dean Crossley of Arkadelphia, two grandchildren, Brett Werner and Stanley Dean Crossley, Jr., three sisters, Lucille Purifoy of Arkadelphia, Geraldine Francis of Malvern and Freda Van Landingham of Hot Springs and three brothers, James Jester of Pearcy, Clarence Jester of Arkadelphia and Allmon Jester of Curtis.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at Sparkman cemetery with Bro Charles Jackson officiating.
Visitation will be from 9:00 to 10:30 AM on Saturday at Welch Funeral Home in Arkadelphia.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 901 North University, Little Rock, AR 72207.
Services are entrusted to Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia.
Edith Faye McMaster
(November 27, 1931 - August 29, 2011)
Edith Faye Pinkston McMaster age 79 of Caddo Valley died Monday, August 29, 2011. She was born November 27, 1931 the daughter of Claude and Myrtle Romack Pinkston. She was a retired waitress and caregiver. She was the widow of Harold P. McMaster. She was preceded in death by two sons, James Jay Sutton, Billy Ray Sutton and one grandson.
Survivors include one daughter, Ann Massey and her husband Joey of Arkadelphia, one sister, Barbara Minter of Nash, TX, one brother, Charles Pinkston of Shreveport, LA, a sister-in-law, Marjorie McElhannon of Arkadelphia, one step-son, Mike McMaster and his wife Sandra of Mena, step-daughters, Jackie Cox of Mt Ida and Sherry Zumbrunn and her husband Kristopher of Brandon, MS, a step daughter-in law, Brenda McMaster of Ranger, TX, grandsons, Jason Gill and his wife Kim of Mansfield, Jeff Gill and his wife Siria of Fordyce, and Clint Sutton and his wife Jill of Suffolk, VA, step granddaughters daughters, Lisa (Brandi) Massey. six great grandchildren, six step great grandchildren and one step great-great grandchild.
Graveside funeral services will be 2:30 PM Wednesday in the Lakeside cemetery in Stamps, AR with John Force officiating. Visitation will be 10 AM till Noon Wednesday at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home.
Alma Jean Moore
(July 11, 1934 - November 26, 2011)
Alma Jean Moore age 77 of Arkadelphia joined our Heavenly Father on Saturday, November 26, 2011 while at Twin Rivers Health and Rehabilitation Center. Alma was born July 11, 1934 in Corning, AR the daughter of Luther "Doc" and Ethel Kirby. Alma and Aubrey operated Moore's Produce Stand in the Joan Community and Gurdon area for a number of years following their retirement. It was through the operation of that roadside stand that Alma's love and compassion for helping others became apparent as she exemplified a cheerful giver who consistently and unconditionally provided produce at no charge to those who simply could not pay. To a select few she was also known as a hero after she once happened upon a house fire and alerted the sleeping family who, subsequently, were able to find safety. Alma Moore was an everyday woman who lived an everyday life; a woman who always had a kind word and a smile for others; a woman who left a lasting impression with all those whom she met. She will be endearingly missed.
She was preceded in death by her parents, son, Billy Allen Moore, Sr., grandson, Jamie Allen Sharp; brother, Don Kirby; and son-in-law Mike Dempster. She is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Aubrey Allen Moore; daughter, Diane Melton (Phillip) of Donaldson; daughter Maryetta Dempster (Evin) of Camden; daughter-in-law Sharon Moore of St. Paul, VA; brother Jim Kirby (Pat) of Union City, TN; eight grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, a host of friends and a special "son", Alton Lynn Campbell of Tampa, FL and her pet "Baby Hannah". To her great grandchildren she was affectionately known as "Grandma Darlin". She was of the Christian faith and possessed a love for Gospel music.
Funeral services will be 2 PM Wednesday November 30th in the Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Chapel in Arkadelphia with Pastor Ellis Jones officiating. Burial will be in Rest Haven Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 6-8 Tuesday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.
