Shelby Perry
Mr. Shelby Perry, age 39, of Forrest City, died Monday, May 27, 2002, in Forrest City.
Mr. Perry, born April 5, 1963, in Tunica, Miss., the son of J.B. Perry and Lois Burns Perry. He had lived in Forrest City for the past 13 years after moving from Hughes. He was an employee of West Tree Service and a member of First Baptist Church.
In 1982, Mr. Perry married Clara Cooper and she survives him along with a son, Gilbert Burgess Jr. of Forrest City; three daughters, Jamie Cheney and Angela Drummond, both of Forrest City and Dolores Mears of Wynne; a sister, Maudy Laird of Mississippi and nine grandchildren.
Visitation services for Mr. Perry will be held Wednesday, May 29, 2002, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Chapel of Stevens Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 30, 2002, at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel of Stevens Funeral Home with burial following in Hughes Cemetery under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.
Wilma Anna Gertrude Ball
Mrs. Wilma Anna Gertrude Nixon Ball, age 80, of Wynne, died Saturday, May 25, 2002, at Wynwood Nursing Center in Wynne.
Mrs. Ball, a retired employee of Addison Shoe Company, was born April 25, 1922, in Cherry Valley and was the daughter of Marvin V. Nixon and Ethel Walls Nixon. She was a life long resident of Cross County and was a member of the Church of God in Cherry Valley.
In 1941, Mrs. Ball married Johnnie Ball of Cherry Valley and he survives her, along with, four sons, Lawrence "Sonny" Ball of Wynne, Dale Ball of Colt, Doyle Ball of Forrest City and Jay Ball of Cherry Valley; a daughter, Shirley Johnston of Arlington, Tenn.; two sisters, Elouise Everhart of Trumann and Marvella Nixon of Halls, Tenn.; 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Ball was preceded in death by a daughter, Judy Ball and two brothers Milton Nixon and Gene Nixon.
Visitation for Mrs. Ball will be held Monday, May 27, 2002 at the chapel of Thomson-Wilson Funeral Home from 6 until 8 p.m. Funeral services for Mrs. Ball will be held Tuesday, May 28, 2002, at Thompson-Wilson Funeral Home Chapel in Wynne with Bro. Sam Willis of Wynne officiating, assisted by Rev. J.T. Baskins. Burial will follow in the Vanndale Cemetery in Vanndale under the direction of Thompson-Wilson Funeral Home of Wynne. The family requests that memorials be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.
Gertrude Ethel Rhymer Woods
Mrs. Gertrude Ethel "Gerty" Rhymer Woods age, 84, of Forrest City, died Thursday, May 24, 2002, at her home.
Mrs. Woods, the daughter of Thomas Rhymer and Cora Smithie Rymer, was born Dec. 27, 1917, in Caruth, Mo.. She was a homemaker and was of the Church of God faith. Prior to moving to Forrest City in 1985, Mrs. Woods had been a resident of the Tyronza and Twist area as well as the Wilson and Osceola area.
Mrs. Woods is survived by three sons, Alfred Wright of Black Oak, Robert Wright of Forrest City and Thomas Wright of Harrisburg; seven daughters, Ethel Day of Memphis, Thelma Pate of Colt, Bernice Wright and Mary Holland, both of Forrest City, Stella Darling of Coldwater, Miss., Earline Halfacre of Gravette and Betty Mary of Illinois; 34 grandchildren and several great and great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two husbands, Roy Wright and Buford Woods, as well as two sons, William Wright and Roy Wright Jr.
Funeral services for Mrs. Woods were held Saturday, May 25, 2002, at 2 p.m. at Thompson-Wilson Funeral Home in Wynne with Rev. Roger Smith, pastor of Cross Roads Original Church of God in Colt, officiating. Burial followed in Hughes Cemetery in Forrest City under the direction of Thompson-Wilson Funeral Home of Wynne.
Louis Cleburne Taylor
Mr. Louis Cleburne Taylor, age 75, of Forrest City, died Wednesday, May 22, 2002, at Cross County Hospital in Wynne.
Mr. Taylor born Dec. 10, 1926, in St. Francis County, was the son of Homer Taylor and Doris Neille Taylor Gardner. He lived in the Forrest City area for all of his life and was retired from Arkansas Power and Light. He was a past member of the Arkansas Activities Association and was a member of First Baptist Church.
In 1949, Mr. Taylor married Betty McCammon and she survives him along with two sons, Jerry Taylor of Marianna and Barry Taylor of Cabot; a daughter, Nancy Cooper of Newport; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation services for Mr. Taylor will be held Thursday, May 23, 2002, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Chapel of Stevens Funeral Home. Funeral services for Mr. Taylor will be held Friday, May 24, 2002, at 10 a.m. in the Chapel of Stevens Funeral Home with Rev. Alan Smith officiating. Burial following in Forrest Park Cemetery under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.
Elizabeth D. Burns
Mrs. Elizabeth D. Burns, age 84, of Palestine died Tuesday, May 22, 2002 at her home. Mrs. Burns was born June 14, 1917, in Mississippi, the daughter of Cyrus E. Dodson and Annie Thomas Dodson. She had made her home in Palestine for the past 54 years, was a housewife and a Baptist. Mrs. Burns also served on the St. Francis County Fair Board, was a member of the Home Demonstration Club, was active in the 4-H and arts and crafts. Mrs. Burns was in addition the first licensed airplane pilot in the county.
Mrs. Burns was married to Abe M. Burns in 1947 and he preceded her in death in 1990. She is survived by a son, Jerald N. Burns of Palestine and a brother Thomas Dodson of Forrest City; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A son, David K. Burns also preceded her in death in 1981.
Visitation for Mrs. Burns will be held Wednesday, May 22, 2002, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel. Services will be held graveside at Bell Cemetery at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 23, 2002, with Rev. Steve Turner and Rev. David Stegall officiating. The family requests memorials be made to Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Stevens Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Willie Cumming
Mr. Willie Cumming, age 40, of Chicago, Ill., died Thursday, May 16, 2002, at West Suburlan Hospital in Chicago. Mr. Cumming was born Dec. 13, 1961, in Chicago and was the son of Walter Cumming and Delious Cumming of Forrest City. He is survived by his wife Paula Owens Cumming; a daughter, Jennifer Owens of Chicago, Ill.; two sons David Owens and Maurice Owens, both of Chicago; his mother of Forrest City; four brothers Eddie Wooden, Michael Wooden and Walter Cumming all of Chicago and Robert Wooden of Davenport, Iowa, and his grandmother Susie Wooden of Forrest City.
Visitation for Mr. Cummings will be held Thursday, May 23, 2002, from 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Woodhouse Mortuary. Services will be held Friday, May 24, 2002, at 11 a.m. at Woodhouse Mortuary Chapel with Rev. S. W. Baker officiating. Burial will follow in Shady Grove Cemetery under the direction of Woodhouse Mortuary.
Zir Lee Ramsey
Mrs. Zir Lee Ramsey, age 74, of Forrest City, died Monday, May 20, 2002, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City.
Mrs. Ramsey, a retired farmer, and member of the Church of God in Christ in Palestine, is survived by three daughters, Virse Lee Watts of Fullerton, Calif., Betty Dorsey of Palestine and Hazel Ramsey Scroggins of Little Rock; two brothers, Nathanial Oliphant of Montongrone, Tenn. and James Oliphant of Chicago, Ill; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation services for Mrs. Ramsey will be held Saturday, May 25, 2002, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Morgan Chapel with funeral services following at 10 a.m. The services will be officiated by Elder Nathanial Pendleton with burial following in Shady Grove Cemetery in Tchual Miss. under the direction of J.E. Kennedy Funeral Home.
Kendrick Kentrell Rogers
Mr. Kendrick Kentrell Rogers, age 21, of Forrest City, died Saturday, May 18, 2002, in Hot Springs.
Mr. Rogers, born Oct. 30, 1980, in Forrest City, was the son of Winston Brown and Eunice Nell Rogers, both of Forrest City. He is survived by his parents; seven brothers, Larry Rogers, Derrick Akins, Xavier Akins, D'angelo Akins, Winston Brown Jr., Odis Brown and Eric Davenport, all of Forrest City and three sisters, Jasmine Sada Rogers of Forrest City and Leslie and Rebecca; and his grandmother, Janella Rogers of Forrest City.
Funeral services for Mr. Rogers will be held Saturday, May 25, 2002, at 3 p.m. at Taylor's Chapel CME Church in Forrest City with Rev. Jesse Brown officating. Burial will follow in Casteel Cemetery under the direction of Clay Funeral Home.
Marvin Edward Wright
Mr. Marvin Edward Wright, age 43, of Forrest City, died Wednesday, May 22, 2002, in Forrest City.
Mr. Wright, born March 8, 1959, in Forrest City, was a plumber with the Forrest City School District. He is survived by his wife, Gwinda Wright of Forrest City; a son, Avian Wright of Forrest City; a daughter, Crenisha Wright of Forrest City; 10 brothers, John Wright, Willie Wright, Albert Wright, Fenner Wright, Earnest Wright, Rolfe Wright, Paul Wright and Randolph Wright, all of Forrest City and Robert Wright and Guy Wright, both of Chicago, Ill. and four sisters, Mary Taggart, Etter Willis, Estella Taggart and Betty Fleming, all of Forrest City.
Visitation services for Mr. Wright will be held Saturday, May 25, 2002, at 11 a.m. at Prosperity M.B. Church with funeral services following at 11 a.m. Rev. Uzziah Duncan will officiate the services with burial following in Casteel Cemetery under the direction of Clay Funeral Home.
Essie Bell Pipkin
Mrs. Essie Bell Pipkin, age 82, of Colt died Thursday, May 16, 2002, at Cross Ridge Community Hospital in Wynne.
Mrs. Pipkin was born June 15, 1919, in Alabama and was the daughter of James Edward and Roxie Hall. She lived in St. Francis County for most of her life and was a housewife and Baptist.
Mrs. Pipkin was married in 1939 to Mack Eldis Pipkin. He preceded her in death in 1989. She is survived by her two sons Harold Junior Pipkin of Colt and Eldis Carnell Pipkin of Caldwell; 15 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren and 21 great-great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death are two sons Clinton Williams and Ray Doyle Pipkin and one daughter Virgina Pipkin.
Visitation was held Sunday, May 19, 2002, from 6 to 9 p.m. and funeral services for Mrs. Pipkin were held at the Stevens Funeral Home Chapel at 2 p.m. Monday, May 20, 2002. Burial followed in Hughes Cemetery under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.
Luke McCoy Jr.
Mr. Luke McCoy Jr., age 92, of Forrest City, died Saturday, May 11, 2002, at Baptist Memorial Hospital.
Mr. McCoy, born Feb. 20, 1910 in Alamba, was the son of Luke McCoy Sr. and Harriet Baymun McCoy. He was a retired farmer and a retiree of Woodruff Electric Co.
He is survived by eight daughters, Ceola McCoy, Corean McCoy and Brenda McCoy Grubbs, all of Forrest City, Joyce A. McCoy and Rose Lee McCoy Chism, both of Chicago, Ill., Rose McCoy Stanton of Calumet Park, Ill., and Debra Ross of Jonesboro; six sons, M.C. McCoy of Forrest City, S.T. McCoy of Madison, Ill., Robert McCoy of Ohio, Joe McCoy of San Francisco, Calif., and James McCoy and Andrew McCoy, both of Antioch, Calif.; a sister, Tennie Turner of Forrest City; 46 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great grandchildren. Visitation services for Mr. McCoy will be held Friday, May 16, 2002, from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Woodhouse Mortuary. Funeral services for Mr. McCoy will be held Saturday, May 18, 2002, at 1 p.m. at Summerfield M.B. Church with Rev. Willie C. Moore officiating. Burial will follow in Casteel Cemetery under the direction of Woodhouse Mortuary.
Genia Lofton Moore
Mrs. Genia Lofton Moore, age 89, of Forrest City, died Monday, May 13, 2002, at Crestpark Skilled Care Nursing Home.
Mrs. Moore, born July 2, 1914 in Westpoint, Miss., was the daughter of Bruce Loft and Mattie Gaston Lofton. She was preceded in death by her husband James Moore, two sons Theodist Woodard and Floyd Moore. Mrs. Moore is survived by two sons, Willie Moore and Ezzo Moore, both of Palestine; two sisters, Gladys Moore of West Memphis and Arletha Gunn of Cleveland, Ohio; three brothers, Floyd Lofton and Lonnell Lofton, both of Heth and Simon Lofton of Cleveland, Ohio; 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Visitation services for Mrs. Moore will be held Friday, May 17, 2002, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Woodhouse Mortuary. A second visitation service will be held Saturday, May 18, 2002, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Taylor's Chapel Church. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 18, 2002, at 10 a.m. at Taylor's Chapel Church with Rev. Jessie Brown officiating. Burial will follow in Casteel Cemetery under the direction of Woodhouse Mortuary.
