HAYWARD MEEKS
Funeral services for Hayward Lee Meeks of Helena will be held at noon Friday at the New Hope Baptist Church, 1608 Holly St., Helena.
Meeks died Thursday, Nov. 21, 2002, at his home in Helena.
He leaves his wife, Sandra Meeks of Helena, five daughters and their families Angela and Sherman Crandol, Sandra F. and Gary Pitts, Rhonda Meeks, Cynthia Meeks and Miracle Meeks four sons, Kelvin M. Meeks, Christopher Meeks, Tony Hunter and Michael Meeks; five stepchildren, Vivian, Marina, Kenji, Omar, and Andre.
His father Hayward Meeks his mother Pearlie Mae Perry, a daughter, Regina K. Meeks all preceded him in death.
Stephens Funeral Home will direct services.
VERA WHITSON
Funeral services for Vera Lizzie Merritt Whitson, 94, of Marvell, were held at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, 2002, at the chapel of Bob Neal and Sons-Brickell Funeral Home in Marvell. Bro. Larry Rice officiated. Burial was at the Marvell Cemetery in Marvell.
She was born Oct. 20, 1908, in Mangan, Okla., the daughter of John and Mary Edna Dill Merritt. She was a homemaker and a member of the County Line Baptist Church.
She leaves two daughters, Callie Michael of Grantsville, Md., and Tollice Wilson of Marvell; three sons, Wilburn Whitson and Woodard Whitson, both of Marvell, and Allen Whitson of Nashville, Ark.; and 29 grandchildren, 56 great-grandchildren and 32 great-great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Steve Guest, Rob Schaffhauser, Tommy Reeves, Dennis Cavette, Bert Davidson and Ronnie George. Honorary pallbearers were, Gene Shackelford, Ruff Guest and Lewis Harpole.
Bob Neal and Sons-Brickell Funeral Home in Marvell directed services.
LEODIS CARRUTH
Funeral services for Leodis Carruth, 54, of Poplar Grove, will be held at noon Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2002, at the Star of Bethlehem Church in Poplar Grove. Burial will be at Poplar Grove Community Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 1 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, 2002 at the chapel of Jackson and Highley Funeral Home in West Helena.
Carruth, who was born July 14, 1948, to Mike Carruth and Earlene Patrick, died Nov. 27, 2002, at Helena Regional Medical Center. He was a U.S. Army veteran.
He accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of the Star of Bethlehem Church, where he was a faithful member until his death. He was united in marriage to BeEthel Harper and to their union one son was born.
He leaves a son, Stanley Carruth; and daughter, Ravian Carruth Hawkins; five brothers, Carl, William, James, Mike and Wilborn; three stepbrothers, Jerry, Roy and J.C.; six sisters, Tina, Elsie, Arlene, Betty, Gwendolyn, and Linda; four grandchildren, Dominique, Jamesha, Leona and Jarsity; two aunts, Rosie Lee Butler, Naomi Patrick, Ora Carruth, Cora Womack and Daisy Hamilton; two uncles, Tommy Patrick and Ed Carruth; a great uncle, John Henry Carruth; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friend.
JAMES W. SUMNER
Memorial services for James W. "Bo" Sumner, 54, of Long Beach, Calif., will be held a 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2002, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Helena. Father Ed Graves will officiate.
Sumner, born Aug. 10, 1948 at Helena, died Nov. 30, 2002, in Long Beach.
He leaves his mother, Ouida Sumner of West Helena, a sister, Jamie Hensley of Conway, two daughters and two grandchildren.
His father, James W. Sumner Sr. preceded him in death.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church Building Fund.
Roller-Citizens Funeral Home will direct services.
ZAILMAN ROBINSON
Funeral services for Zailmon A. Robinson, 72, of Oneida will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the chapel of Jackson and Highley Funeral Home. Burial will be at Salem Cemetery near Lake View.
Robinson, born Dec. 16, 1928 in Lee County, died Nov. 26, 2002. He married Willie Mae Robinson in February 1957 and to their union seven children were born.
He leaves five sons and two daughters, Yvonne M. Robinson, Jameel Dewan Robinson, Hannibal Robinson, Willie J. Robinson, Stephainie A. Robinson, Elijah Robinson, and David Robinson, 18 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and many brothers and sisters, relatives and friends.
Jackson and Highley Funeral Home will direct services.
BETTYE HAMILTON LYNN
Funeral services for Bettye Hamilton Lynn, 69, of West Helena will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the chapel of Roller-Citizens Funeral Home in West Helena. Additional services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the chapel of Roller-Citizens Funeral Home in Marianna. The Rev. Mark Beam will officiate. Burial will be at Marianna Memorial Park in Marianna.
Lynn, born Oct. 17, 1933, at LaGrange, died Dec. 3, 2002, at her home in West Helena.
She was a former bookkeeper for the Forrest City Public Schools, was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, a member of the West Helena Baptist Church and of the church camping group.
She leaves her husband, Alvin H. Lynn of West Helena; three daughters, Sharon Harris of Helena, Barbara Sanders and Deborah Rheaume both of West Helena; a sister-in-law, Tolice Long Heimsoth of Jonesboro; five grandchildren, Charlie Harris, Jimmy L. Sanders and Jonathan Sanders of West Helena, Kimberly Rheaume of Little Rock and Lindsey Harris of Helena. Her parents, Charles F. and Mattie Mae Hamilton and a sister preceded her in death.
Roller-Citizens Funeral Home will direct services.
RUTH PHIFER
Funeral services for Ruth Jackson Phifer, 76, of Wynne and formerly of West Helena, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, 2002, at the First Assembly of God Church in West Helena. The Rev. Steve Burton will officiate. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Park in Barton.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the Roller-Citizens Funeral Home in West Helena.
Phifer, born Dec. 31, 1926, at Avalon, Miss., died Dec. 2, 2002, in Wynne. She was retired from food service director for Helena Regional Medical Center and she was a member of the Assembly of God Church in West Helena.
She leaves two sons, Dr. James Phifer and wife Elaine of Sand Springs, Okla., and the Rev. Steve Phifer and wife Freeda of Springfield, Va.; two sisters, Barbara Abbot of Springdale, and Alma Benson of Galveston, Texas; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the American Bible Society.
Roller-Citizens Funeral Home will direct services.
MARVIN SMITH
Funeral services for (Coach) Marvin Lewis Smith, 51, of Poplar Grove, will be held at noon Saturday Dec. 7, 2002 at the Central High School gymnasium. The Rev. Tommy Stevenson will officiate. Burial will be at the Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Marvell.
Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday at the chapel of Brown's Home for Funerals in West Helena. An additional visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the service Saturday at the gymnasium.
Smith, born Aug. 19, 1951, to Isaac and LaVonzelle Smith, died Nov. 30, 2002, at his home in Poplar Grove. He was a member of the Star of Bethlehem Church, where he accepted Christ a young age.
He employed by the Helena-West Helena School District, where he was a teacher and coached girl's basketball and volleyball. For a semester and a half he fulfilled his life-long dream of coaching college basketball, when he coached at Philander Smith College in Little Rock.
He leaves his wife of 28 years, Janice Smith; two sons, Maurice Smith of Little Rock and Marcus Smith of Houston, Texas; two grandchildren, Magenta and Shaheid Smith of Fayetteville; two sisters, Martha Craig of Harvey, Ill., and Lavern Glaspie of Poplar Grove; seven brothers and their families, John and Arlene Hamilton of Moro, Isaac and Mildred Smith of Poplar Grove, Maceo and Brenda Smith of Fort Worth, Texas, James and Vernita Smith of Oklahoma City, Okla., Charlie Smith of Poplar Grove, Dexter and Allison Smith of Siekston, Mo., and Russell and Ann Smith of Helena; and a host of uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.
Brown's Home for Funerals will direct the services.
LARRY DAVIS
Funeral services for Larry Donell Davis, 43, of West Helena will be held at noon Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002, at the Phillips, Lee, Monroe and Desha District Center at Helena Crossing. The Rev. Walter Smooths will officiate. Burial will be at Oak Grove Cemetery in West Helena.
Davis, born June 19, 1959, died Nov. 29, 2002.
He leaves to cherish his memories, his mother, Rosie Davis of West Helena; a daughter, Brandy Davis of Chicago, Ill; a son, Shun Gordan of Lambrook; a brother, Watson Davis of Chicago, Ill.; seven sisters, Ada Fields of Omaha, Neb., Mattie Kendrix of Phoenix, Ariz., Doris Davis, Vera Davis Collins, Rose David Shears of Chicago, Ill., Earnestine Davis Otis of West Helena and Shirley Edmond Gilbert of Little Rock; three aunts, friends and relatives.
Stephens Funeral Home will direct services.
R.J. YOUNG
Funeral services for R.J. (John Rudolph) Young of Poplar Grove are incomplete and will be announced later by Roller-Citizens Funeral Home.
Young died Dec. 5, 2002, in Flagstaff, Ariz.
RACHEL PRUITT
Funeral services for Rachel Pruitt of Southland are incomplete and will be announced later by Jackson and Highley Funeral Home in West Helena.
SIMUEL THOMAS JR.
Funeral services for Simuel (Buddy)Thomas, of West Helena, will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, 2002, at First Baptist Church, 125 Caranza St., West Helena. The Rev. Nathaniel Hull will officiate. Burial will be at Jackson Memorial Cemetery in Southland.
Thomas, born Sept. 20, 1929, died Nov. 12, 2002.
He was a retired employee of Riceland Foods.
Stephens Funeral Home will direct services.
VERNA B. WARREN
Funeral services for Verna B. Warren, 91, of LaGrange and West Helena will be held at noon Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, at the Springlake Baptist Church in the Southland Community. The Rev. J.W. Frierson will officiate. Burial will be at the Springlake Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, at the chapel of Jackson and Highley Funeral Home.
Warren was born Oct. 30, 1911, in Carthage, Miss., and died Monday, Jan. 27, 2003.
She leaves a son, Willie B. Warren of West Helena; two sisters, Mary Lynn Cook and Geraldine Crenshaw of Detroit, Mich.; and six grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and missionaries.
Her husband, Okus Warren, and her mother, father, six sisters and three brothers all preceded her in death.
Jackson and Highley Funeral Home will direct services.
CARL TABB
Graveside services for Carl Edward Tabb, 48, of Gary, Indiana will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, at the Postelle Cemetery.
Visitation will be from noon until 1:30 p.m. at the chapel of Bob Neal and Sons-Brickell Funeral Home in Marvell.
Tabb, born Dec. 27, 1954, in Holly Grove, the son of B.A. and Roxie Tabb, died Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2003, in Gary, Indiana.
He was a teacher at the Gary Community School System in Gary.
Bob Neal and Sons-Brickell Funeral Home will direct services.
BRADY DUNBAR
Funeral services for Brady Dunbar, 59, will be held Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, at the Fountain Head M.B. Church on Willis Drive in Marvell. Rev. Larry Johnson of the Fellowship Baptist Church of Little Rock will officiate.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, 2003, at the Chapel of Progressive Funeral Parlor in Marvell
Dunbar, the son of Thelma Hopkins and Charles Dunbar, was born March 16, 1943, in Enid, Okla.
He sought the Lord at an early age and confessed his hope in an eternal wise God at the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church of Santuck.
He leaves to cherish his memory a daughter, Angela and Kenneth Davie of Breamerton, WA; a son, Korey Jackson of Little Rock; three grandchildren, Ariel, Kendra and Angela Davie of Breamerton; one cousin, Velma Jean Tate of West Helena; and an uncle, Heslie Foster of Kansas City, Mo.
Progressive funeral parlor of Marvell will direct services.
LEWIS BOBO
Funeral services for Lewis Bobo, 57, of Lake View will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003, at the Phillips, Lee, Monroe and Desha District Center at Helena Crossing in Helena. The Rev. Andrew Gibson will officiate. Burial will be at the Morning Star Baptist Church Cemetery in Elaine.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, at the chapel of Brown's Home for Funerals in West Helena.
Bobo was born May 23, 1945, in Marks, Miss., to the late Willie and Lillie Mae Bobo.
He graduated from the Lake Village High School and attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He received a degree in Vocational Agriculture and did his student teaching in Lake Village. He taught school in both the Dumas and North Little Rock School Systems. In 1989, he moved to the Lake View community, where he became a member of the C.V. White School staff.
He confessed a hope in Christ at an early age and was a member of the St. Paul AME Church, where he served as a trustee and a steward. He was a member of the NEA and AEA, Lake View City Council and many other organizations.
He died January 28, 2003, at the St. Vincent's Hospital North in Sherwood.
He leaves to cherish his memory, two daughters, Tresa Bobo and Lisa Bobo; a brother, Edward Warren; two aunts, Alazatha Thomas and Gerldine McCree; a life mate, Dorothy Love, and her children, Eddie, Bruce, Walter, Perry, Terry, Undra, Dorothy and Debra; and a host of cousins and friends.
Three sisters, Maggie, Alberta, and Beatrice, preceded him in death.
Brown's Home for Funerals will direct services.
BERTHA COOKE
Funeral services for Bertha Lee Cooke, 61, of Davenport, Iowa, formerly of Helena will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, at the Phillips, Lee, Monroe and Desha District Center at Helena Crossing. The Rev. Roger Kirk Jr., will officiate. Burial will be in the First Baptist Church Cemetery in Barton.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the chapel of Brown's Home For Funerals.
She was born April 15, 1941, in Barton, the daughter of the late Sidney and Carrie Norvell.
She confessed a hope in Christ at an early age under the leadership of the Rev. T.R. Redmond at First Baptist Church in Barton. She later moved to Helena, where she joined the Galilee Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. P.L. Perkins and for over 30 years was instrumental in the music worship of the church. She served as president of the choir, served as church treasurer and was a member of the Eastern Star.
She formed the Cooke Family, a renowned gospel group, and she also sang with the Gospel Two and with Georgia B. Williams. She was an activist in the community, fighting for school rights.
Later in life she moved to Davenport, Iowa, where she united with Third Missionary Baptist Church. She served as prayer meeting coordinator and sang in the choir. Bertha married Louis Charles Newman and to their union five children were born, Hazel Carter, Mary Smith, Joe Newman, Linda and Willie Bailey, Lorant and Joseph Tucker.
Her second marriage to James Cooke produced 11 children, two of whom preceded her in death. Her other survivors include Freddie James Cooke and wife Tavisha, Adolph Cooke, Theodore Cooke, Michael Cooke and wife Juanita, Ula and Roosevelt Miller, James Cooke, Latisha Cooke, Dwight Cooke, and Kevin and Olympia Cooke of Davenport, Iowa; three sisters, Julia McNeal, Dorothy James of Davenport, Catherine and Byron Poole of St. Paul, Minn.; two brothers, Forrest and Lois Norvell of Chicago, Ill., and Raymond Norvell of Barton; 50 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Donald Ray Cooke and Thomas Lee Cooke preceded her in death.
Brown's Home or Funerals will direct services.
MICHEAL HOWARD
Funeral services for Micheal Howard, 45, of Elaine will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, at the Morning Star Baptist Church. The Rev. S.L. George will officiate. Burial will be at the Morning Star Church Cemetery in Elaine.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the chapel of Brown's Home for Funerals in West Helena.
Howard was born April 19, 1957, to Willie and Serether Howard, who preceded him in death.
He confessed a hope in Christ in the spring of 2002 at the Morning Star Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. George. He remained a member of Morning Star Church until his death.
He died Jan. 27, 2003, at the home of his sister, Oberrie Saife, in Elaine.
He leaves to cherish his memory two daughters, Shawanda Howard and Deidra Howard of Elaine; two sons, Michael Howard Jr. and wife Sabrina of Elaine, and Darrell Howard of Jacksonville; two step- children, Catrecia Scaife and Andre Campbell of West Helena; two sisters, Bernice Howard and Oberrie Scaife of Elaine; five brothers and their families, Aaron and Jessie Howard of Chicago, Ill., Johnnie Howard of Tunica, Miss., Willie and Carolyn Howard, Theaurty Howard and Billy Howard of Elaine; 14 grandchildren and a special friend, Pearl of Tunica, Miss., and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
Brown's Home for Funerals will direct services.
EMMA WILLIS
Funeral arrangements for Emma Willis, 102, of Poplar Grove are incomplete and will be announced later by Brown's Home for Funerals in West Helena.
Willis died January 30, 2003, at her home.
WILLIE RUSH SR.
Funeral services for Willie Rogers Rush Sr., 70, of Southland will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, 2003, at the Jackson Chapel Church of God in Christ in the Southland Community. The Rev. Eugene Wright will officiate. Burial will be in the Jackson Memorial Cemetery in Southland.
Rush, born Dec. 18, 1932, died Jan. 29, 2003.
He leaves to cherish his memory his wife Mary Rush of Southland; three daughters, Marilyn Burrell of West Helena, Belinda Coleman of Lawton, Okla., and Elizabeth Rush of Lexa; three sons, Tony Rush and Joe Nathan Rush of Carson City, Calif., and Milton Rush of Toledo, Ohio.
A son, Willie Rogers Rush Jr., preceded him in death
Stephens Funeral Home will direct services.
REV. DR. PERCELL PERKINS
Funeral services for Rev. Dr. Percell Perkins, 85, of Helena will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003, at the Phillips, Lee, Monroe and Desha District Center at Helena Crossing in Helena. Elder James Hicks will officiate. Burial will be at Jackson Memorial Cemetery in the Southland Community.
Rev. Perkins was born February 6, 1917, in Duncan, Miss. He was the oldest of three siblings, all of whom preceded him in death. He was born to the union of Ellis and Lucille Perkins. He departed this life on Friday, Jan. 31, 2003, at his home in Helena.
An old stranger that happened by his home taught Perkins the scales and how to read music at a young age. With much practice, young Percell kept on until he was able to write the music that he had been singing most of his life, creating a harmony and a sound that was all his own.
Even while stationed in Arizona, where he completed more than two years in the United States Army, he continued to sing. Returning to Clarksdale, Miss., in 1941, Perkins performed as a lead singer for the Glorybound Singers of Helena, then the Fairfield Four of Alabama, and the Soprocco Singers of New Orleans. In the mid 1940s, Percell became one of the original members of one of the greatest singing groups in popular music history, the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi. The only sighted member, Perkins served as the group's manager while also composing and arranging materials for the group.
In June 1950, Perkins arranged "Our Father." This single recorded on Peacock Records in September 1950 was listed on the top 10 R&B hits list and pushed the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi to superstardom and earned them a gold record. During his lifetime, Perkins recorded over 200 songs, many of which he composed and arranged, such as "Save A Seat for Me", "Soldiers", " Born Again", "All Abroad", and "My Soul Will be Alright." He performed with groups such as the Five Blind Boys of Alabama, the Fairfield Four, the Swan Silvertones, the Pilgrim Jubilee, the Glorybound Singers, the Soprocco Singers, and Judge L.T. Simes and the Jury.
Upon being called to the ministry, Perkins left life on the road to return home to Helena where he was ordained as a Baptist Minister by the Rev. B.A. McPike. He later went on to pastor two Helena churches, Galilee Baptist Church, where he served more than 40 years, King Solomon Baptist Church, where he pastored for more than 36 years. He also pastored Gumwood Baptist Church at Ratio for more than 35 years.
Although, giving his life to the ministry, Perkins did not lose his passion for music and spreading the gospel through music. He continued to record and perform with records such as "The Lord's Prayer" and "God Will Provide" in the 1980s.
In 1970, Rev. Perkins started the Goodwill Gospel Hour, which was broadcast from KFFA Radio Station in Helena. In 1983, he gave the opening prayer for the inauguration of Governor William (Bill) Jefferson Clinton in Little Rock.
On October 2000, Perkins was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame along with the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, as one of he oldest and longest-lasting gospel quartets in gospel music history.
On Jan. 21, 2002, Perkins performed at the regular Arkansas Baptist State Convention held in Little Rock before former President Bill Clinton, who was the honored speaker for the occasion.
On Feb. 6, 2002, Rev. Perkins celebrated his 85th birthday and recorded his fifth solo album since leaving the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, during a live recording held at the Galilee Baptist Church in Helena.
Perkins served the P.L.M. & D. District Association as an officer for many years, with his final years serving as vice moderator of Philips and Desha counties. He also served as president of the State and Home Mission Board of the Regular Arkansas Baptist Convention and was a strong advocate for Christian education.
He leaves to celebrate his homecoming, his wife, Thelma Perkins of Helena; an adopted son, Kaman Perkins; two stepdaughters, Thomason Sanders and Holly Walker; three stepsons, Robert Hawkins, John Hawkins, and Clifton Hawkins; his mother-in-law, Verda Bradley; his sister-in-law Unita Blackwell of Mayersville, Miss., and four other sisters-in-law; and 17 grandchildren, 54 great-grandchildren, 15 great-great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, cousins, his church family and a host of friends whom he loved dearly.
A daughter, Queen Ester Payne, preceded him in death.
Jackson and Highley Funeral Home in West Helena will direct services.
