DEATHS FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2006
Jirel Akines
July 9, 1947-April 16, 2006
Jirel Olen “Big O” Akines, 58, of Pine Bluff, died Sunday.
He was born July 9, 1947, at Rison, a son of the late Jirel Alvin Akines and Maxcine Bowlin Akines.
He was reared and educated at Pine Bluff and graduated from Watson Chapel High School in 1965.
He served in the Army.
He was employed by Central Moloney as a welder for 40 years.
He was a member of Pinecrest Missionary Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. He was also a member of the Razorback Foundation.
He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1658, and had served as financial secretary for 27 years. He was a member of the American Legion and was also a past president of the Labor Temple.
Survivors include his wife, Jennifer Funderburg Akines, whom he married on Feb. 4, 1968, at Pine Bluff; two sons, Lee Akines and Bryan Akines, both of Pine Bluff; four brothers, Bobby Roberts, Troy Roberts and Arlie Akines, all of White Hall, and John Roberts of Sheridan; and two grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today at Pinecrest Missionary Baptist Church with Matt Grantham officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Fuller Hale-South Funeral Services.
Memorials may be made to Pinecrest Missionary Baptist Church, 5910 Carbon St., Pine Bluff, Ark., 71602.
James Paxton
April 1, 1934-April 16, 2006
James R. Paxton, 72, of Pine Bluff, died Sunday at Arkansas Hospice at Little Rock.
He was born April 1, 1934, at Prattsville, a son of the late Rayburn Paxton and Gladys Morton Paxton.
He was a 1953 graduate of Prattsville High School. He attended Missionary Baptist Seminary at Little Rock. He also attended the University of Arkansas and graduated from Ouachita Baptist University with a degree in secondary education.
He pastored Baptist churches in Arkansas and Oklahoma for 54 years.
He was a 33rd degree Mason and served as knight commander of the Court of Honor.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce Paxton; three sons, Ray Paxton of Arkadelphia, Joey Paxton of Charleston, S.C., and Tim Paxton of LaGrange, Ga.; one daughter, Becky Skarda of Benton; five sisters, Martha Oswalt of Tulsa, Jane Stubblefield and Fran Montooth, both of Little Rock, Ann Victory of Benton and Marilyn Whitmire of Sheridan; and eight grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Harmony Missionary Baptist Church at Prattsville with Howard Loetscher, John Williams, Jeff Temple, LaRon Braswell and Thomas Crank officiating. Arrangements are by Buie Funeral Home at Sheridan.
Visitation will be held after the service in the fellowship hall of the church.
Memorials may be made to the Philadelphia Cemetery Association or to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Victor Rice
February 14, 1920-April 12, 2006
Victor Charles Rice, 86, of Pine Bluff, died Thursday at Davis Life Care Center.
He was born Feb. 14, 1920, in Jefferson County, a son of the late George Rice and Sarah Rice.
He was a graduate of J.C. Corbin Laboratory High School.
He received instruction in theory and practical experience in heavy automotive overhauling from Quartermaster Technical School in Wyoming and general automotive and amphibious training from General Motors in Michigan. He later completed the automobile mechanic program at AM&N College (now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff).
He entered the Army in 1942 and served as a motor transportation officer and was responsible for motor maintenance during World War II. He received a Silver Medal and three Bronze Medals for his military service.
In 1958 he opened the Victor Rice Service Center and operated it until 2003.
He was a member of Pine Hill Baptist Church. He was also a member of the William Townsend Lodge 1149.
He was also preceded in death by his wife, Eula L. Dawson Rice, whom he married on Sept. 21, 1945.
Survivors include one son, Charles Rice of Pine Bluff; four daughters, Barbara Rials, Rae Evelyn Rice, Eunita Rice Seals and Vicki L. McGhee, all of Pine Bluff; two brothers, Tommy Rice and Lorenzo Rice, both of Wabbaseka; four sisters, Ada Bell Walker of Madison, Ill., Mary Washington of Chicago, and Viola Eckwood and Jewell Smith, both of Wabbaseka; and seven grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Pine Hill Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Glenn Barnes Sr. officiating. Burial will be in the Veterans section of Graceland Cemetery by Perry Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home with family hour from 7 to 8 p.m.
The body will be at the church from 10 a.m. until time of service on Wednesday.
The family will be at the home, 908 N. Maple St.
Chad Courson
June 29, 1972-April 16, 2006
BENTON — Chad Jeremy Courson, 33, of Benton, died Sunday at Saline Memorial Hospital.
He was born June 29, 1972, at West Monroe, La., a son of Jerry H. Courson Sr. and Ouida Pettis Beck, both of Pine Bluff.
He was reared and received his education at Pine Bluff.
He was employed at several different places throughout his life, including Baskin Robbins, Taco Bell, Jefferson Regional Medical Center, Saline Memorial Hospital and American Leak Detection.
He was a Baptist.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Horace Courson, Evelyn Courson, Homer Pettis and Geneva Pettis.
Other survivors include one brother, Jerry Courson Jr. of Star City; one sister, Tammy Johnson of Redfield; his stepmother, Sharon Courson of Pine Bluff; and his caregiver, Derick Mills of Benton.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Cypress Memorial Gardens with P. Hope Coleman officiating. Arrangements are by Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Directors at Pine Bluff.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Harry Taylor
December 16, 1923-April 14, 2006
RISON — Harry Taylor, 82, of the Herbine community near Rison, died Friday at Jefferson Regional Medical Center at Pine Bluff.
He was born Dec. 16, 1923, in the Herbine community, a son of the late John Taylor and Ivor McClain Taylor.
He was a retired chicken farmer.
He was a member of Bethel No. 2 Missionary Baptist Church.
He was also preceded in death by two brothers, four sisters and one grandchild.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Gertie Powers Taylor, whom he married on June 19, 1943, in Herbine community; one daughter, Wanda Miller of the Herbine community; one brother, James Taylor of Dallas; three sisters, Charlene Wright and Dorothy Davis, both of Warren, and Peggy Boston of Rye; one grandchild; and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Sunday at Bethel No. 2 Missionary Baptist Church. Burial was in Prosperity Cemetery by Buie Funeral Home at Rison.
Linda Adams
August 23, 1943-April 15, 2006
WHITE HALL — Linda Mae Adams, 62, of White Hall, died Saturday at her home.
She was born Aug. 23, 1943, at Camden, a daughter of the late Woodrow Wilson Adams and Ruth Inez Anders Adams.
She was a 1961 graduate of Camden High School. She attended the University of Arkansas.
She worked in banking for about 30 years at Meridian, Miss., and Chattanooga, Tenn., before moving back to Arkansas in 1990.
She was a member of the Church of Christ in Camden.
Survivors include one daughter, Jennifer Leigh Gray McCarty of White Hall; and one sister, Jeanette Alsobrook of Benton.
A private ceremony will be held at a later date at Meridian.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Cranford Funeral Home of White Hall.
Memorials may be made to the Church of Christ in Camden, 1695 Washington SW, Camden, Ark., 71701.
Carl Ward
November 7, 1940-February 20, 2006
WEST PALM SPRINGS, Fla. — Carl David Ward, 65, of West Palm Springs Fla., formerly of Tillar, Ark., and Dumas, Ark., died Feb. 20.
He was born Nov. 7, 1940, at Dumas, a son of the late Larkin Ward and Annie Mae Austin Ward.
He was a track hand.
He was a Baptist.
Survivors include three brothers, Verlon Ward of Dumas, Royce Ward of North Little Rock and John Ward of White Hall; and two sisters, Helen Morgan of Dumas and Phobe Easton of Lake Havesue City, Ariz.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. today at Griffin Funeral Home at Dumas with the Rev. Julius Carter officiating. Burial will be in Hopedale Cemetery.
Ethel Jenkins, 78, of Pine Bluff, died Sunday at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Brown Funeral Home at Pine Bluff.
ALTHEIMER — Ezzard Charles Reed Jr., 26, of Altheimer, died Sunday at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Christian Way Funeral Home at Pine Bluff.
LITTLE ROCK — James Manuel Brooks, 59, of Little Rock, died Friday at Baptist Medical Center. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Christian Way Funeral Home at Pine Bluff.
CLEVELAND — James Lawrence Crain, 63, of Cleveland, died Sunday at Manor Care Nursing Home. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Brown-Williams Funeral Home at Fordyce, Ark.