Bessye Jo Austin
Bessye Jo Austin, 75, of Jonesboro, formerly of Walnut Ridge, died Oct. 2, 2003, at St. Bernards in Jonesboro.
Born Sept. 12, 1928, she worked at General Electric Company in Jonesboro for 10 years and was a member of the Methodist church in Portia.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jewell Willard "Peck" Austin, on May 25, 1982, whom she married in Pocahontas; her parents, Everette Jennings and Vivian Beatrice DeArman; and a brother, James Hamilton DeArman II.
Survivors include a son, Greg Austin, Dyersburg, Tenn.; two daughters, Carolyn Rudder and Georgia Allison, both of Jonesboro; five grandchildren, Tim Allison, Steve Allison, Ashlea Rudder, Bailey Austin and Jacob Austin; and four great-grandchildren.
Graveside service was Monday at 1 p.m. at Lawrence Memorial Park with Tommy Toombs officiating. Higginbotham Funeral Service had charge of arrangements.
Pallbearers were Tim Allison, Gary Rudder, Steven Allison, Greg Austin and Ed Parker.
Ronald Lewis Boydston
Ronald Lewis Boydston Sr., 53, of Gosnell, died Oct. 1, 2003, at his home.
Born in Walnut Ridge, he was a retired welder and machinist at Nibco.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lonnie Lewis and Thelma Francis Loyd Boydston.
Survivors include two sons, Ronald Lewis Boydston Jr., Blytheville, and James Scott Boydston, Bonaire, Ga.; two daughters, Melinda Obermeyer, Colorado, and Stacy Lynn Boydston Rice, Pikeville, N.C.; a stepdaughter, Krista Rush, Gosnell; a sister, Cindy Boydston Connell, Blytheville; and nine grandchildren, Tija Anderson, Matthew Anderson, David Obermeyer, Christopher Obermeyer, Christopher Boydston, Rafe Rice Jr., Leigha Rush, Justin Buxton and Madison Rush.
Graveside service was Saturday at 2 p.m. at Mount Zion Cemetery in Steele, Mo., with Rev. Jerry Flagg officiating. Cobb Funeral Home of Blytheville had charge of arrangements.
Lillian Duckworth
Lillian Duckworth, 87, of Jonesboro, formerly of Black Rock, died Oct. 4, 2003, at her home.
Born at Askov, Minn., she lived in Jonesboro 47 years. She was a retired Licensed Practical Nurse who worked at St. Bernards's Medical Center and was a member of First Presbyterian Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard E. Duckworth.
Survivors include two sons, Bernard M. Duckworth, Germany, and Clarence Duckworth, Heflin, Ala.; two daughters, Sharon Walker, Jonesboro, and Janet Faulkner, Anchorage, Alaska; a brother, Clarence Jorgensen, Chaska, Minn.; and 10 grandchildren, Phillip Duckworth, Sarah Duckworth, Tamara Duckworth, Terri Cleary, Lana Robinson, Dennis Duckworth, Tim Walker, Shane Walker, Nicole Cousins and Heath Faulkner.
Funeral was Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Gregg Funeral Home chapel with Rev. Dwyn Mounger officiating. Burial was in Oak Forest Cemetery at Black Rock.
Pallbearers were Jim Walker, Tim Walker, Shane Walker, Richard Faulkner, Mike Eaton and Marty Eaton.
Memorials may be made to Arkansas Children's Hospital, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis or the Arkansas Sheriff's Boys and Girl's Ranch.
Floyd Ray Henderson
Floyd Ray "Skeeter" Henderson, 77, of Swifton, died Sept. 30, 2003, at Newport.
Born at Lake Cross, he was a member of Abiding Faith Pentecostal Church of God in Swifton, where he served as superintendent for 15 years. He was employed at Associated Wood Products for 30 years and at Magee Frames in Pocahontas for 15 years.
He was preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters.
Survivors include his wife, Mildred Bernice Goza Henderson; two sons, Danny Ray Henderson and Rickey Henderson, both of Swifton; a daughter, Teresa M. Myers, Swifton; three brothers, Larry Henderson, Lonnie Henderson and Bobby Henderson, all of Santa Paula, Calif.; two sisters, Julie Frazier, Santa Paula, and Wanda Sue Johnson, North Carolina; four grandchildren, Chris Smith, Miranda Hulett, Alyssa Smith and Tara Henderson; and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral was Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Abiding Faith Pentecostal Church of God in Swifton with David Decker and Thomas Patterson officiating. Burial was in Swifton Cemetery under the direction of Jackson's Newport Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Tim Goza, Tim Shelton, Jeff Bain, Troy Owens, Ricky Midgett and Blake Dukes. Honorary pallbearers included the men of the church.
Bill Henry
William Andrew "Bill" Henry, 79, of Walnut Ridge, died Oct. 4, 2003, at the Central Arkansas Hospital in Searcy, following a lengthy illness.
Born Dec. 17, 1923, in Walnut Ridge, he was the son of George E. and Bessie Morris Henry. A graduate of Walnut Ridge High School, he was a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II. He owned and operated the Ben Franklin stores in Walnut Ridge, Mountain View and Marshall for many years and was a volunteer member of the Walnut Ridge Fire Department from 1946 to 1969, serving eight years as Fire Chief. He was a member and former deacon of the First Baptist Church of Walnut Ridge and served on numerous church committees.
He was preceded in death by four sisters, Carroll Henry, Elizabeth Cutsinger, Catherine Ray and Martha Johnson; and a brother, George E. Henry Jr.
Survivors include his wife, Freda Wilcoxson Henry, whom he married Oct. 3, 1946; two sons, Stephen Henry, Little Rock, and Harroll Henry, Jackson, Tenn.; a daughter, Debbie Walker Bell, Searcy; and three grandchildren, Jeffrey Henry, Christina Henry and Lindsey Walker.
Funeral was Monday at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Walnut Ridge with Bro. Jim E. Tillman and Dr. Bill Cook officiating. Burial was in Lawrence Memorial Park under the direction of Bryan Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Ben Henry, Tucker Davis, Carey Wilcoxson, Ross Rainwater, Tommy Rainwater and Rick Gwaltney. Honorary pallbearers were Bill Tolson, Bud Tolson, Benson Hart, Ralph Joseph, Paul Doty, Truman Moore, Emit Stone and Bryian Rogers.
Lettie Wait Colwell Langford
Lettie Wait Colwell Langford, 86, of Hot Springs, mother of Jean Edmondson of Walnut Ridge, died Oct. 2, 2003, following a lengthy illness. Funeral was Saturday at Hot Springs Funeral Home. Burial was in Memorial Gardens.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association of Western Arkansas, 320 N. Greenwood Avenue, Fort Smith, AR 72901.
Delbert P. Medlock
Delbert P. Medlock, 67, of Hardy, died Oct. 5, 2003, at Eastern Ozarks Regional Health Systems in Cherokee Village.
Born in Center, he was a carpenter and was of the Church of Christ belief.
He was preceded in death by his father, Lacie Olden Medlock; and two brothers.
Survivors include his wife, Jimmie Fay Medlock; two sons, Nathan Medlock, Jonesboro, and Zane Medlock, Hardy; his mother, Eletta May Medlock, Hardy; three brothers, L.F. Medlock, Hardy, Eddie Medlock, Glencoe, and Larry Medlock, Black Rock; seven sisters, Lois Dowdy, Jonesboro, Bernice Parish, Walnut Ridge, Carlyn Conley, Black Rock, Kay Collins, Ravenden, Judith Rutledge, Imboden, Diane Collins, Hardy, and Joyce Medlock, Cherokee Village; and three grandchildren.
Funeral is today at 10 a.m. at Ash Flat Community Church of Christ with Jack Richardson officiating. Burial will be in Maxwell Cemetery near Evening Shade under the direction of Tri-County's Cherokee Chapel in Highland.
Tammey Jo Pinkston Robb
Funeral services for Tammey Jo Pinkston Robb, 43, were Sunday, Sept. 28, 2003, at 2 p.m. in Bryan Chapel with Rev. Gary Cremeens and Bro. Don Winfrey officiating. Burial was in Oak Forest Cemetery at Black Rock under the direction of Bryan Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Mark McMullen, Blake Jamison, Aaron Fowler, Chris Fowler, Ronnie Hill and Jeremy Booker. Honorary pallbearers were Charlie Perry, Bro. Lowell Graham, Jack Tolbert, Bro. J.W. Russell, Dent White and Terry Brown.
