Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Mary Leaner Cole
Mrs. Mary Leaner Cole, age 84, of Forrest City, died Sunday, Dec. 23, 2001, at Baptist Memorial Hospital -- Forrest City.
Mrs. Cole was born June 15, 1917, in Haynes, and was the daughter of Bluford Williams and Emer Williams. She lived in St. Francis County most of her life, and was a housewife and a Baptist.
Mrs. Cole married Rosco Cole in 1940, and he preceded her in death in 1979.
She is survived by two sons, Harvey Cole and James Cole, both of Forrest City; a daughter, Barbara Booker of Forrest City; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Graveside funeral services were held for Mrs. Cole today, Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2001, at 10 a.m., at Hughes Cemetery under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.
Cleodis Ingram
Mr. Cleodis Ingram, age 72, of Palestine, died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2001, at his home.
Mr. Ingram was born Feb. 28, 1929, in Palestine, and was a veteran of the U.S. Army.
He is survived by his wife, Bessie Ingram of Palestine; four sons, Cleodis Ingram Jr., Tony Henderson, Lorenzo Walker and Tyrone Walker, all of Chicago, Ill.; seven daughters, Dorothy Norwood, Stephanie Jones, Debra McCloud, Shawana Jones, Anglea Walker and Kimberly Walker, all of Chicago, Ill., and Tish Jackson of St. Louis, Mo.; three brothers, Theodis Ingram and Elmer Ingram, both of Palestine, and Alphonso Ingram of Chicago, Ill.; four sisters, Mae Hollins and Truvillyn Curls, both of Palestine, Blendyne Vaden of Chicago, Ill., and Queen McKinney of Detroit, Mich. and 12 grandchildren.
Visitation for Mr. Ingram will be held Friday, Dec. 28, 2001, from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Clay Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2001, at 1 p.m., at the Pine Tree Church of God in Christ, with Elder Verlee Lucas officiating the service. Burial will follow in Stanley Grove Cemetery in Caldwell under the direction of Clay Funeral Home.
Freddie Lee Starks Jones
Mr. Freddie Lee Starks Jones, age 62, of Hughes, died Monday, Dec. 24, 2001, at his home.
Mr. Jones is survived by his wife, Ruby Jean Jones of Hughes; a daughter, Denise Jones of Hughes; a son, Bubba Jones of Hughes; two sisters, Emma Jean Presley of Memphis and Adleaner Starks of Caldwell; three brothers, Johnny Sims of St. Louis, Mo., Timothy Starks Jr. of Hughes and Will Starks of Caldwell and four grandchildren.
Visitation for Mr. Jones will be held Friday, Dec. 28, 2001, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Anthony Funeral Home Chapel South. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2001, at noon, at the south chapel with burial following in Locust Grove Church Cemetery in Hughes, under the direction of Anthony Funeral Home.
Richard W. Davis
Mr. Richard W. Davis, age 83, of Forrest City, died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2001, at the Crittenden County Memorial Hospital in West Memphis.
Mr. Davis was born June 23, 1918, in Forrest City, and was the son of Winfield Davis and Kate Fields Davis. He lived in Forrest City most of his life, was retired from the Forrest City Post Office and had been a farmer. Mr. Davis was also a member of the First United Methodist Church.
He is survived by one sister, Bettye Davis of Memphis, and several friends.
Graveside funeral services will be held for Mr. Davis on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2001, at 10 a.m., at Forrest Park Cemetery, under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.
Edward "Sonny Man" Gates Sr.
Mr. Edward "Sonny Man" Gates Sr., age 84, of Haynes, died Monday, Dec. 24, 2001, at Baptist Memorial Hospital - Forrest City.
Mr. Gates was born Oct. 17, 1917, in Haynes, and was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a retired janitor.
He is survived by wife, Maxine Gates of Haynes; five sons, Edward Gates Jr. of Camden, Herbert Gates of Peoria, Ill., Ronnie Gates of Garland, Texas, Christopher Gates of Dallas, Texas, and Tony Gates of Janesville, Wis.; eight daughters, Wilma Gates of Chicago, Ill., Maxine Hayes of Jefferson, Connie Cochran of Forrest City, Susie Gates and Betty Gates, both of Haynes, Vickey Gates of Garland, Texas, Greta Sanders of Detroit, Mich., and Minnie Gates of Dallas, Texas; 34 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Visitation for Mr. Gates will be held Saturday, Dec. 29, 2001, from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., at Clay Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2001, at 1:30 p.m., at Spring Grove Baptist Church, with Rev. Cedric Coleman officiating the service. Burial will follow in Casteel Cemetery under the direction of Clay Funeral Home.
Marlene Hearn Ross
Mrs. Marlene Hearn Ross, age 68, of Widener, died Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2001, at Baptist Memorial Hospital - Forrest City.
Mrs. Ross was born Oct. 17, 1933, in Grenada, Miss., and was a retired nurses aid.
She is survived by her husband, John Dallas Ross of Widener; six sons, Norris Hardimon of Manchester, Ky., Victor Lee Hardimon and John E. Ross, both of Widener, James H. Hardimon of Alton, Ill., Luke Hardimon of Beloit, Wis. and Dwayne H. Hardimon of Las Vegas, Nev.; four daughters, Charlene McShan, Elaine Hardimon, both of Widener, Margaret Ann Hardimon of Forrest City, and Marlene Denise Ross of San Antonio, Texas; four sisters, Mattie Willis of Grenada, Miss., Belle Carter of Steele, Mo., Willie Mae Shack and Katie Tedford, both of Gore Springs, Miss.; 28 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service for Mrs. Ross will be held on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2001, at 2 p.m., at Widener Grove Missionary Baptist Church, with Rev. Ronald A. Williams officiating, under the direction of Clay Funeral Home.
Maggie Higgs Griffith
Mrs. Maggie Higgs Griffith, age 94, of Conway, died Saturday, Dec. 1, 2001, at St. Andrews Place Nursing Center in Conway.
Mrs. Griffith, born Nov. 24, 1907, in Conway, was the daughter of J.C. Fremont Higgs and Sophronia Nelms Higgs. She was a retired teacher with the Conway Public School District where the Maggie Griffith Math and Science Building was named after her. She also served as a Sunday School teacher at Robinson and Center Church of Christ for 50 years.
Mrs. Griffith was preceded in death by her husband, Byron L. Griffith; a son, Wayne Griffith; a grandson, Byron T. Griffith; a brother, Garland Higgs and a sister, Mamie Roberts. She is survived by a son, Royce Griffith of Forrest City; three grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.
A graveside funeral service for Mrs. Griffith will be held, Monday, Dec. 3, 2001, at 2 p.m. at Oak Grove Cemetery in Conway with Fred Strasser officiating. Roller-McNutt Funeral Home of Conway will be in charge of arrangements.
Monette Green Jarrett
Mrs. Monette Green Jarrett, age 70, of Palestine, died Friday, Dec. 28, 2001.
Mrs. Jarrett, born March 28,1931, in Palestine, was the daughter of Eli Green and Lillie Gregg Green. She made her home in Palestine all of her life and was a homemaker.
In 1948, Mrs. Jarrett married J. T. Jarrett and he preceded her in death earlier this year. She is survived by three sons, Jerry Jarrett and Donnie Jarrett, both of Palestine and Ronnie Jarrett of Caldwell; three daughters, Patricia Jumper of Palestine, Brenda Blankenship of Mt. Vernon, Texas and Cheryle Laws of Forrest City; a sister, Eva Hall of Palestine; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services fro Mrs. Jarrett were held Monday, Dec. 31, 2001, at the Twin Assembly of God Church in Palestine with Rev. David Stegal and Rev. A.T. Blankenship officiating. Burial followed at Bell Cemetery under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.
Emma Viola McGarah
Mrs. Emma Viola McGarah, age 78, of West Memphis, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2001, at her home.
Mrs. McGarah was a restaurant hostess and cashier, and was a member of the First Baptist Church of West Memphis, and a member of the Robert E. Spillman Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star 550.
She is survived by one son Lannie L. Lancaster Sr. of West Memphis; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation for Mrs. McGarah will be held Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002, at Roller-Citizens Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2002, at 10 a.m., in the Chapel of Roller-Citizens Funeral Home, with burial following in Forrest Park Cemetery in Forrest City, under the direction of Roller-Citizens Funeral Home in West Memphis.
The family requests memorials be sent to the American Cancer Society or the First Baptist Church in West Memphis.
Melba Jo Smith
Mrs. Melba Jo Smith, age 71, of Jonesboro, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2001.
Mrs. Smith, formerly of Forrest City, was born July 15, 1930, in St. Francis County. She was the daughter of "Booker" Gore and Lucy Jayroe Gore. She was a homemaker and a Baptist.
In 1960 Mrs. Smith married Orval "Smitty" Smith and he preceded her in death in 1995. She is survived by two sons, David Dearman of Jonesboro and Orval Smith Jr. of Ft. Smith; two brothers, Earl and Donald Gore, both of Palestine; four sisters, Ruth Howton of Palestine, Christine James and Pat Wilkie, both of Forrest City and Sue Tiner of Jonesboro; and four grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mrs. Smith were held Monday, Dec. 31, 2001, at Stevens Funeral Home with Rev. Wayne Gore officiating the service. Burial followed at Forrest Park Cemetery under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.
The family requests that memorials be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
