Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Billy Gene DeVasier
Mr. Billy Gene DeVasier, age 69, of Forrest City, died Thursday, March 2, 2000, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Forrest City. He had been in poor health for the past year.
He was born Aug. 26, 1930, in Palestine, the son of William Greene DeVasier and Georgia Kirk Melvin DeVasier. He lived in Palestine until moving to Forrest City in 1956. He was a retired owner of Devasier Auto and Tractor Supply, was a veteran of the National Guard with 17 years of service, was a member of the Forrest City Water Commission, and was a member of First Baptist Church.
In 1950, he married Billie Sue Clifton, who survives him. He is also survived by a son, Andy DeVasier of Forrest City; a daughter, Brenda McCollum of Forrest City; two sisters, Glendle Winslow of Forrest City and Bobbie Zerklebach of Dallas, Texas and six grandchildren.
Services for Mr. Devasier were held at First Baptist Church at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 4, 2000, with burial in Bell Cemetery in Palestine. Visitation was held Friday, March 3, 2000, from 6 to 8 p.m. Stevens Funeral Home is in charge.
The family requests that memorials be made to the First Baptist Church in Forrest City.
Delinda Jan "LuLu" Loveless
Ms. Delinda Jan "LuLu" Loveless of Harrison, died Friday, March 3, 2000, at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Mo.
LuLu was born July 10, 1983, in Wynne, the daughter of Scott and Freda Loveless and had been a resident of Boone County for seven years. She was sixteen years old and a junior at Harrison High School.
She is survived by her parents, of Harrison; one sister, Rachael, of Harrison; one brother, Scott Joe, of Harrison; her grandparents, Jerry and Jimmie Loveless, of Forrest City, Duane and Dolores Hagen of Elgin, Ill., Danny and Linda Lenahan of Byhalia, Miss., and Fred and Nita Neal, of Mt. Pleasant, Miss.
Visitation was Monday, March 6, 2000, from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Christeson Funeral Home of Harrison. Funeral services were held today, Tuesday, March 7, 2000, at 2 p.m. at Christeson Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Gregory Hart officiating. Burial followed at Bellefonte Cemetery under the direction of Christeson Funeral Home.
W.F. "Freddie" Christian
Mr. W.F. Freddie Christian, age 74, of Forrest City, died Tuesday, March 7, 2000, at the Baptist East Hospital in Memphis.
Mr. Christian was born Sept. 22, 1925, in Round Pond, and was the son of Dennis Christian and Lela Mai Puckett Christian. He lived in Forrest City most of his life, was a retired employee of Woodruff Electric after 38 years of service, was a veteran of World War II and was a member of the Landmark Missionary Baptist Church.
He married Kay McDonough in 1946, and she preceded him in death in 1993 along with his son Gary Christian in 1986, and a brother Boyce Christian in 1990.
He is survived by a daughter, Judy Waymire, of Irvin, Texas; his mother, of Forrest City; three sisters, Francis Frost, of Forrest City, Barbara Royal, of Arizona, Jo Ellen Arnold, of Illinois; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Friday, March 10, 2000, at 10 a.m. at Stevens Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Loughridge Cemetery under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.
Curtis Lee Watlington
Mr. Curtis Lee Watlington, age 78, of Wynne, died Monday, March 6, 2000, at the Wynwood Nursing Facility in Wynne.
Mr. Watlington was born July 16, 1921, the son of Robert Lee and Ethel Mae Luker Watlington. He was married on December 12, 1941 to Ola Pauline Duncan Watlington who survives. Mr. Watlington was a member of the Smith Chapel Baptist Church, a retired cotton farmer and employee of Addison Shoe Company in Wynne.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Watlington is survived by three sons; Jerry Watlington of Ashflat, Ricky Watlington and Greg Watlington, both of Wynne; two daughters, Barbara Brown of Colt and June Andrews of Wynne; five brothers, Claude and Dallas Watlington, of Wynne, Herbert and Thomas Joe Watlington, of Forrest City, and Herman Watlington, of West Memphis; six sisters, Lori Walker, of Vanndale, Ruth Evans and Buleah Smith, of Wenatchee, Wash., Mattie Bell Baskins, of West Memphis, Annette Bowman, of Balk Knob, and Helen Collins of Wynne; 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Thursday evening, March 9, 2000, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Thompson-Wilson Wynne Chapel. Funeral Services will be Friday, March 10, 2000, at 10 a.m. at the Candlelight Baptist Church with Rev. Howard Calvert officiating. Burial will be at the Smith Chapel Cemetery in Wynne. Thompson-Wilson Funeral Home of Wynne and McCrory will be in charge of arrangement.
Joseph Franklin Simpson
Mr. Joseph Franklin Simpson, age 96, of Bassett, died Tuesday, March 7, 2000 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Forrest City.
Mr. Simpson was a retired supervisor for Nat Buring Packing Co. in Memphis and a member of Bassett Church of God.
He is survived by his wife, Florence Simpson of Bassett; two daughters Betty Butler of Forrest City and Martha Davidson of Bartlett, Ark.; one sister, Clara Hoskins of Illinois; five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.
Visitation will be Thursday, March 9, 2000 beginning at 6 p.m. at Roller Citizens Funeral Home in West Memphis. Funeral services will be held Friday, March 10, 2000 at 10 a.m. in the chapel of Roller Citizens Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Bassett Cemetery in Bassett, Arkansas.
Alfred Henry Wiley
Mr. Alfred Henry Wiley, age 95, of Forrest City, died Saturday, March 4, 2000, at Crestpark Retirement Inn.
He was born May 2, 1904, and was an elevator operator.
He is survived by a brother, Thurman Wiley, of Forrest City; and a sister, Ethel Chapman, of St. Louis, Mo.
Visitation will be Friday, March 10, 2000, from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Clay Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Saturday, March 11, 2000, at 12 p.m. at Shady Grove M. B. Church with Rev. Ulysses Colthrane officiating. Burial will be in Shady Grove Cemetery under the direction of Clay Funeral Home.
Richard Clegg
Richard Clegg, age 83, of Colt, died Monday, May 8, 2000, in Colt.
Mr. Clegg was born April 10, 1917, in Wynne, to Jim Clegg and Sally Lamscus Clegg, in Wynne. He lived all his life in St. Francis and Cross Counties and was of the Baptist faith.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Houston Clegg and a sister, Mabel Hamilton.
He is survived by his wife, Lucille Christian Clegg, of Colt; two sons, Wayne Clegg and George Clegg, both of Colt; two daughters, Maxine Griffin, of Wynne, Iann Cary, of Hollow Rock, Tenn.; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were today, Wednesday, May 10, 2000, at Kernodle Funeral Home Chapel in Wynne with Rev. Gary Malone and Rev. Preston Clegg officiating. Burial was in Lindsey Cemetery under the direction of Kernodle Funeral Home.
Rena Sain
Rena Sain, age 82, of Forrest City died Sunday, May 7, 2000, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Forrest City.
She was born June 2, 1917, in Widener. She was a retired Arkansas State Licensed Midwife and a retired housekeeper.
She is survived by two daughters, Dorothy Lipscomb, of Forrest City and Ethel Lipscomb, of Albion N.Y.; a brother, Waverly Barnes, of Forrest City; a sister Essie Williams, Forrest City; nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Friday, May 12, 2000, from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Clay Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Saturday, May 13, 2000, at 12 p.m. at United Christian M. B. Church with Rev. Oscar Jones officiating. Burial will be in Casteel Cemetery under the direction of Clay Funeral Home.
McGarland Walker
McGarland Walker, age 66, of Rondo, died Friday, May 5, 2000, in the Health Rehabilitation Center in West Memphis.
Walker, formerly of Forrest City, had been a truck driver for close to 50 years. He was a member of Salem M.B. Church in Forrest City.
He is survived by his wife, Mildred Walker; seven daughters, Diane Crawford, Teressa Griffin, Elonda Jones, Aleshia Hennings, Evette Coleman, Nashira Hicks and Eugenia Walker; one step-daughter, Kerryeanne Davis; three sons, McGarland Walker Jr., Kevin Walker and James R. Walker; two step-sons, Jimason Thomas and Langston Robins; one sister, Will Ella Lockhart, of St. Louis, Mo.; 28 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for McGarland Walker will be Saturday, May 13, 2000, at 2 p.m. at Salem M.B. Church with Rev. Felix Duckworth officiating. Burial will follow in Casteel Cemetery under the direction of Marianna Funeral Home.
Leon Williams Jr.
Leon Williams Jr., age 80, of Colt, died Monday, May 8, 2000, at the Helena Regional Medical Center.
Williams was born May 9, 1919, in Lake City, to Leon Williams Sr. and Easter Williams.
Visitation will be held Friday, May 12, 2000, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Woodhouse Mortuary. Services for Williams will be Saturday, May 13, 2000, at 1 p.m. at Stanley Grove Baptist Church with Elder Verlee Lucas officiating. Burial will follow in Stanley Grove Cemetery under the direction of Woodhouse Mortuary.
