John E. Bibb
John Edward Bibb, 55, of San Jose, Costa Rica, died July 10, 2004.
Survivors include two sons, Richard Lyerly, Richmond, Va., and Lt. Clay Bibb, West Point, N.Y.; a daughter, Johna Bibb Yeary, Maumelle; his mother, Jessie Gardner Bibb, Fayetteville, N.C.; two brothers, Lewis Bradley Bibb, Icard, N.C., and David Porter Bibb, Lawrenceville, Ga.; and a grandchild, Gabriel Lyerly.
Graveside service was Monday, July 19, at the Bethesda Presbyterian Church in Aberdeen, N.C., with Rev. A. Edward Beddingfield officiating.
Cleney Faye Corbett
Cleney Faye Waddell Corbett, 84, of Alicia, died July 27, 2004, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
Born Oct. 28, 1919, near Walnut Ridge, she was the daughter of Henry Boyd and Edna Gates Waddell. A lifetime resident of Lawrence County, she was a farm wife and a homemaker.
She moved from Old Walnut Ridge to Alicia in 1940. A Christian, she was a former member of the Old Walnut Ridge Baptist Church and had been a member of the Alicia Baptist Church for more than 50 years, serving in various church positions.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert Corbett, on Feb. 15, 1989, whom she married Jan. 28, 1938; two granddaughters, Teresa Kay Corbett in November 1968; and Monetta Lyn Corbett in November 1982; four brothers; and five sisters.
Survivors include two sons, Larry Corbett and his wife, Loretta, and Stanley Corbett and his wife, Sherry, all of Alicia; a grandson, Larry David Corbett, Marion; two granddaughters, Deborah Teague and husband, Bill, Alicia, and Karla Wadley and husband, Craig, Blytheville; two great-grandchildren, Michelle Teague and Christopher Wadley; a brother-in-law, Glenn Corbett and wife, Snoda, Walnut Ridge; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral is Thursday at 10 a.m. in Bryan Chapel with Rev. Marvin Reynolds and Bro. Monroe Baldwin officiating. Burial will be in Lawrence Memorial Park under the direction of Bryan Funeral Home.
Nephews will serve as active and honorary pallbearers.
Visitation is tonight from 5:30 to 8.
Emma Lea Dawson
Emma Lea Dawson, 57, of Fort Smith, died July 18, 2004, at Sparks Hospital in Fort Smith.
She was born in Thayer, Mo.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Orvil Lee Gee; her father, Marvin Dawson; and a brother.
Survivors include four sons, Charles Dawson, Fort Smith, Anthony Abbott, Hoxie, Doug Abbott, Walnut Ridge, and Michael Abbott, Ozark; a daughter, Michelle Forehand, Hoxie; her mother, Goldie Davenport, Thayer; two sisters, Sue Todd, Mammoth Spring, and Delories Dianne Dodd, Fulton, Miss.; two brothers, Floyd Dawson, Muldrow, Okla., and Larry Dawson, Thayer; and 16 grandchildren.
Funeral was Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Clary Funeral Home chapel in Mammoth Spring with Grover Pingleton officiating. Burial was in Thayer Cemetery.
Phil Durham
Phil Durham, 52, of Light, died July 21, 2004, at St. Bernards in Jonesboro, following a lengthy illness.
Born Jan. 30, 1952, in Moline, Ill., he was a self-employed carpenter and was affiliated with the Walnut Corner General Baptist Church near Light.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Erma McAllister Durham.
Survivors include a son, Rick Durham, Garland, Texas; his father, Phillip C. Durham, Heber Springs; a sister, Peggy Simpson, Light; and two grandchildren, Austin Durham and Allison Durham.
Graveside service was Friday at 3 p.m. at Mt. Zion Cemetery near Walcott with Bro. Bobby Wade officiating. Bryan Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.
Pallbearers were Richard Simpson, Grayson Simpson, Chris Simpson, Allen Simpson, Jason Wade and Marty Williams.
Steve Forkum
Steve Forkum, 34, of Walnut Ridge, died July 23, 2004, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
Born at Paragould, he was a lifelong resident of Walnut Ridge. He was a student at Arkansas State University and a member of First Free Will Baptist Church. He had served in the U.S. Air Force for four years at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Mountain Home, Idaho.
He was preceded in death by his father, Buffard H. Forkum.
Survivors include his mother, Maydeen Forkum, Walnut Ridge, and a brother, Jason Ray Forkum, Walnut Ridge.
Funeral was Monday at 2 p.m. in the House-Gregg Chapel with Rev. Steve Trail officiating. Burial was in Mount Zion Cemetery, near Walcott, under the direction of House-Gregg Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Byron Simmons II, Clyde Hill, Curtis Fain, Phill Forkum, Michael Simmons and Rickey Forkum. Honorary pallbearers were Terry Price, Dub Forkum, Byron Simmons, Carl Baird, Gene Wheeless, Bob Forkum and Tommy Waddell.
Debbie J. Johnson
Debbie J. Johnson, 44, of Walnut Ridge, died July 23, 2004, at St. Bernards in Jonesboro.
Born at Three Oaks, Mich., she had moved to Arkansas in early life. She was a homemaker and lived in Bay before moving to Walnut Ridge.
Survivors include her husband, James Johnson; a daughter, Ora Mae Reeves, Bay; three sons, John Emerick, Terry Moody and Sherman Keyes, all of Walnut Ridge; her mother, Ora Mae Ward, Texarkana; three brothers, Steve Emerick, Bay, Donald Emerick, Texarkana, and Jeff Emerick, Texas; two sisters, Betty Jones, Texarkana, and Karen Cutright, Byhalia, Miss.; and four grandchildren.
Funeral was Tuesday at 11 a.m. in the House-Gregg Chapel with Rick Anglin officiating. Burial was in Homestead Cemetery, near Pocahontas, under the direction of House-Gregg Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Jeff Olson, Nick Troutman, Monte Caldwell, Robert Beard, Benji Rice and Chris Troutman.
Blake Anthony Jones
Blake Anthony Jones, 22, of Clover Bend died July 24, 2004, at St. Bernard's in Jonesboro, following a sudden illness.
Born Oct. 9, 1981, in Jonesboro, he was a 2001 graduate of Walnut Ridge High School and was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Walnut Ridge.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Kathy Jones, and his grandfathers, Wendal Jones and Merle Davis.
Survivors include his father, Stan Jones, Clover Bend; a brother, Britt Jones, Clover Bend; a sister, Lindsey Jones, Walnut Ridge; his grandmothers, Delois Jones, Clover Bend; and Leota Davis, Wichita, Kan.
Funeral was Monday at 10 a.m. at the First Assembly of God Church in Walnut Ridge with Dale Hughart officiating. Burial was in Clover Bend Cemetery under the direction of Bryan Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Leonard Kaye, David Smith, Paul Bennett, John Connor, David Blakeney and Joel Kaye.
Jeanne McCall
Jeanne McCall, 80, of Memphis, formerly of Lawrence County, died July 23, 2004, at Heartland Nursing Home.
She was retired from Dealers Transport Company after 37 years.
Graveside service was Tuesday at 1 p.m. in Lawrence Memorial Park under the direction of Family Funeral Care of Memphis.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Bonnie Lou Sifford
Bonnie Lou Sifford, 66, of Pocahontas died July 24, 2004, at St. Bernards in Jonesboro.
Born at O'Kean, she had worked for Cinch.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Todd Gates; her stepson, Tony Sifford; and a brother.
Survivors include her husband, Eldon Sifford; a son, Rick Gates, Pocahontas; a daughter, Robin Stayton, Pocahontas; a stepson, Terry Sifford, Sullivan, Mo.; a stepdaughter, Sharon Hoelsher, Bourbon, Mo.; a brother, John Like of Rockford, Ill.; four sisters, Verna Clements, St. Louis, LaVaughn Moore, Arnold, Mo., Laveta Bell, Coldwater, Mich., and Ann Rooker, Delaplaine; and eight grandchildren.
Funeral was Monday at 10 a.m. at McNabb Funeral Home in Pocahontas, with Gerald Fears officiating. Burial was in Greene County Memorial Gardens at Paragould.
Pallbearers were Joel Carver, Theodore Parten, Warren Matthews, Charlie Cox, Dean Turner and Joe DeClerk. Honorary pallbearers were Wayne Broadway and Dall Murray.
Anna Elizabeth Skimahorn
Anna Elizabeth Skimahorn, 56, of Paragould, died July 24, 2004, at her home.
Born March 19, 1948, in Walnut Ridge, she was employed as a respiratory therapist with White River Medical Center in Batesville and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Walnut Ridge.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Louie Skimahorn Jr., in 1993, whom she married June 3, 1967, in Walnut Ridge; her parents, Charley and Virginia Martin; a son, Louie Tom Skimahorn; two brothers; and three sisters.
Survivors include two daughters, Sonya Sparks, Paragould, and Amanda Martin, Marmaduke; three sisters, Mary Million, Oklahoma, and Betty Fielden and Lisa Looney, both of Pocahontas; two brothers, Larry Martin, Paragould, and Mark Martin, Benton; and three grandchildren, Emilee Martin, Rachel Martin and Gracie Sparks.
Funeral is Thursday at 2 p.m. at Higginbotham Chapel with Charles Stoddard and Melvin Shelton officiating. Burial will be in Lawrence Memorial Park under the direction of Higginbotham Funeral Service.
Pallbearers will be Bobby Watson, Cody Looney, Seth Looney, Bruce Million, Rick Milburn and Jamie Martin.
Visitation is tonight from from 6-8 at the funeral home.
Robert L. Smith
Robert L. (Bud) Smith, 84, of Clover Bend, died July 20, 2004, at the Harris Hospital in Newport, following a lengthy illness.
Born March 19, 1920, at Swifton, he was the son of Arthur and Sarah Abigail (Sallie) Watts Smith. He was a World War II Army veteran, a farmer and a member of the Hoxie Methodist Church.
He was preceded in death by four sisters, Mildred Owens, Muriel Fowler, Raye Hendrix and Ruth Schmidt; and a brother, Noel D. Smith.
Survivors include his wife, Vada Ruth Ballard Smith, whom he married Sept. 1, 1956; a daughter, Laura Denise Smith Graham, Clover Bend; a brother, Neil Smith, Alexander City, Ala.; and two grandchildren, Beth Graham and Josh Graham.
Funeral was Friday at 10 a.m. in Bryan Chapel with Revs. Donald Lewert and Donnie Hudson officiating. Burial was in Strangers Home Cemetery under the direction of Bryan Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Wilson Alls, Larry Jones, Stan Jones, Clayton Graham, Richard Tinker and Scott Fowler. Honorary pallbearers were Dr. Guilford Dudley, Wilford Taylor, Bobby Watson, Eudoris Fielder and Harris Gilliam.
Jesse Tompkins
Jesse Tompkins, 94, of Hoxie, died July 24, 2004, at St. Bernards in Jonesboro.
Born Aug. 8, 1909, in Post Oak in Jackson County, he was the son of Ruben and Melissa Cagle Tompkins. He was a former employee of Higginbotham Funeral Service and was a member of Hazel Street First Baptist Church in Walnut Ridge.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mabel Dickerson Tompkins, on Jan. 23, 1999, whom he married Oct. 16, 1937, in Jackson County; and a brother, Jim Tompkins.
Survivors include two daughters, Ethel Tompkins, Hoxie, and Viola Russell, Wichita, Kan.; a granddaughter, Melissa Magee; and a great-granddaughter.
Graveside service is today at 11 a.m. at Randolph Memorial Gardens in Pocahontas with Rev. Ray Scales officiating.
Billy Leo Tribble
Billy Leo Tribble, 56, of Pocahontas, died July 16, 2004, in Texas.
Born in Walnut Ridge, he worked as a truck driver for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Ina Tribble.
Survivors include his wife, Dona Tribble; three sons, Terry Tribble and Randy Tribble, both of Pocahontas, and Billy Tribble Jr., Southhaven, Miss.; a daughter, Michelle Bolyard, California; two sisters, Reva Bowers, Pocahontas, and Diane Bullinger, Paragould; and three grandchildren, Matthew Tribble, Kayla Bolyard and Carson Bolyard.
Funeral was Thursday at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Cox-Waymon Funeral Home in Pocahontas. Burial was in Chesser Cemetery at Pocahontas. VFW Post No. 4556 conducted military honors at the gravesite.
Pallbearers were Neal McCracken, Russell West, Chris Corbett, Billy Whitted, Phillip Johnson and Larry Wyrick. Honorary pallbearers were Lyndall Hutsell, Carl Snyder and John Tweedy.
Agnes Evelyn Waller
Agnes Evelyn Waller, 77, of Searcy, formerly of Black Rock, died July 25, 2004.
Born May 23, 1927, she was the daughter of Robert and Margaret Hillard Caseboult.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Amos Waller; a son, Charles Amos Waller; a sister, Lora Mae; a grandson, Michael Waller; and two great-grandsons.
Survivors include six sons, Bobby Waller, Clinton, Ralph Waller and Stan Waller, both of Paragould; Ricky Waller and Mickey Waller, both of Searcy; and Nicky Waller, Texas; five daughters, Pat Travis, Greenbrier, Marie McClusky, Newport, Phyllis Seaton, Jacksonville, Mary Clayton, Heber Springs, and Anne Davidson, Floral; two stepdaughters, Charlsie Chapple, Pocahontas, and Ruby Smith, Imboden; 37 grandchildren; and 42 great-grandchildren.
Funeral is today at 10 a.m. at the Rock of Life Church in Searcy with Jim Dillard, Ross Sturch and Jessie Jones officiating. Burial will be in Powhatan Cemetery under the direction of Thomas Funeral Service of Cabot.
Pallbearers will be Greg Sturch, Robert Redd, Travis Martin, Huey Webb, Charles Allen Waller, Patrick Price, Anthony Price, David McClusky, Daniel Seaton, Clint Davidson, Bubby Waller, Joey Thomas and Jason Thomas.
Dr. Frederick William Westphal
Dr. Frederick William Westphal, 87, of Sacramento, Calif., died Dec. 23, 2003, in Sacramento.
Born April 25, 1916, in Walnut Ridge, he was the son of Frederick Sr. and Anna Mae Westphal Wells.
He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1937 with a B.M. in conducting and arranging and received a B.S. in public school music from the university in 1938. He earned a master's in music education from Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., 1939, and a performer's certificate in clarinet from the school in 1947. He received a PhD. from the university of Rochester in 1948.
He served as Professor of Music and Director of Band at Texas Women's University in Denton, Texas from 1940-46; clarinet teacher and librarian, National Music Camp at Interlochen, Mich., from 1935-45; music department chair at California State University Sacramento, 1948-1963; Professor of Graduate Studies 1964-86; author/editor with William C. Brown Publishers, 1958-1993 and McGraw Hill, 1993.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Hinda Cunningham Westphal; two sons, Frederick William Westphal and Carl Lawrence Westphal; and two grandsons, Andrew and Brandon.
A memorial concert honoring Dr. West-phal was presented by his students on Feb. 20, at 4 p.m. at Fremont Presbyterian Church in Sacramento.
Michelle Holder Wynn
Michelle Holder Wynn, 33, of Walnut Ridge, died July 25, 2004, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, of natural causes.
Born in Little Rock, she lived in Black Rock and Swifton before moving to the Walnut Ridge area. She was of the Pentecostal faith.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Angela Holder.
Survivors include her husband, David Wynn; two daughters, Brittany Gardner and April Holder, both of Walnut Ridge; a son, Tyler Wynn, Walnut Ridge; her mother, Judy Beasley Fleming, Walnut Ridge; her father, George Stanley Holder, Doniphan, Mo.; and a brother, Jimmy Holder, Jonesboro.
Graveside service is Thursday at 2 p.m. at Oak Forest Cemetery in Black Rock with Roger Brand officiating. House-Gregg Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.
Pallbearers will be Carl Henderson, Robbie Mashburn, Cludia Gardner, C.J. Gardner, J.J. Finney and Billy Dean Beasley. Honorary pallbearers will be Ricky Wilson, Donnie Hampton and Frank Martinez.
Visitation is this evening from 5:30 to 8 at the funeral home.
