Obituaries

DEATHS FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2008

Tuesday, November 4, 2008 9:28 AM CST

Genevieve Roberts

Genevieve Cook Roberts, 90, of Pine Bluff, died at home Monday, Nov. 3, 2008.

Born in Pocatello, Idaho, on Oct. 12, 1918, a daughter of the late William Webster and Stella Armour Cook, her parents moved to Pine Bluff in 1920 and she has been a resident here since then.

She was a Pine Bluff High School graduate and attended Arkansas State Teachers College (now UCA) in Conway for two years.

She married Clarence Anderson Roberts Jr. in Pine Bluff on Sept. 15, 1938.

Mr. Roberts died Jan. 31, 1998.

A homemaker and avid bridge player, she was a member of First Baptist Church.

Survivors include three sons, Clarence A. “Buzz” Roberts III, William A. “Billy” Roberts, and Richard J. Roberts, all of Pine Bluff; her daughter, Suzanne Roberts Stringer of Rogers, Ark.; grandchildren, Bart Roberts, Chris Roberts, Stephen Roberts, Sara Beth Brennan, Jonathan Stringer, Kortni Beene, Lauren Roberts, Julie Young; Kyle Stone; and 13 great-grandchildren. A sister, Norma Donahoo, also preceded her in death.

Services are Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church with Revs. Matt Norton and Gordon Topping officiating, directed by Ralph Robinson & Son.

The family will receive friends after the service at the church and from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William A. Roberts at 16 Elm Woods in Pine Bluff.

Memorials are requested to First Baptist Church, 6501 S. Hazel Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71603.

The family wishes to thank Ruth McBride, Twana Moore, Gearldine Wade, Cleo Sims, Daisy Evans and the caring staff of Hospice Home Care.

(Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com)

Odell Clary

MONTICELLO — Mr. Odell Clary, 63, of Monticello died Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008.

Born in New Edinburg to the late Sampson and Mary Clary.

Survivors include: wife, Irene Clary of Pine Bluff; sons, Doyle Clary and Aundra Clary of Pine Bluff; daughter, Odessa Clary of Pine Bluff; sisters, Arnell Smith of Kansas City, Kan., and Beatrice Smart of Dallas, Texas; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

His services will be Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, at St. Frances United Methodist Church in New Edinburg by Rev. James Wayne at 11 a.m. Burial will be in St. John Cemetery.

Visitation is today from 6-7 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.

The family will be at 8410 Highway 63 South, Pine Bluff, Ark.

Bobby Parker

RISON — Bobby D. Parker, age 69, of the Macedonia community near Rison, died Monday, Nov. 3, 2008 at his home.

He was born June 24, 1939, in Cleveland County, a son of the late Paul Parker and Althea Marie Turner Parker.

Mr. Parker graduated from Rison High School in 1957. He married Ruth Ann Boehn on Dec. 16, 1960. Mr. Parker retired from International Paper Company, where he was a member of the Quarter Century Club. He was also member of the Macedonia Hunting Club and a member of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church.

Mr. Parker was also preceded in death by one daughter, Bobbie Ann Parker on Dec. 27, 1997.

Mr. Parker is survived by his wife, Ruth Ann Boehn Parker of the Macedonia community; one son and daughter-in-law, Robert E. and Lisa Parker of Pine Bluff; two daughters and sons-in-law, Paula and Charles Puckett, Susan and Dale Cash, all of the Macedonia community; one brother, Wayne Parker of Rison; three grandchildren, Morgan Anne Puckett, Jake Edmund Cash and Bobbie LeighAnne Parker, all of the Macedonia Community.

Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, at Macedonia Cemetery with Brother Larry Frye and Brother Jackie Richardson officiating.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today, Nov. 4, 2008, at Buie Funeral Home in Rison.

Pallbearers are Guy McGriff, Mike Haynes, Jessie Jones, James “Sam” Jones, Jimmy Davis, Bubba Reed, Johnny Want, John Reed and Gerald Haynes.

Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 901 N. University, Little Rock, Ark., 72205; or Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, c/o Ginny Chambliss, 420 Goggans Road, Rison, Ark., 71665.

Arrangements are under the direction of Buie Funeral Home of Rison (870) 325-6216.

Please sign the online guestbook at www.buiefuneralhome.com.

Alberteen Walker

STAR CITY — Alberteen Walker, 71, of Star City died Thursday.

She was born June 7, 1937, at Grady, a daughter of the late Essie Lee Radolph and Jack Payne.

She was a homemaker and a member of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church at Varner.

Survivors include three daughters, Diane Butler of Oaklawn, Calif., Jackie Walker and Patricia White, both of Memphis; and three grandchildren.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Randolph Cemetery at Grady with the Rev. Ernest Jenkins officiating. Arrangements are by Griffin Funeral Service at Star City.

Visitation will be from 8-10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Will Hopkins

FLINT, Mich. — Will Hopkins, 65, of Flint, Mich., died Wednesday at his home.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in the chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home at Flint. Burial will be in Crestwood Memorial Cemetery.

Visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Douglas Watkins

RUSTON, La. — Services for Douglas Watkins, 85, of Ruston will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston. Dr. Rick Byargeon and Rev. Dale Oden will officiate the service. Interment will follow at Pines Memorial Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Ruston.

Douglas, known as Doug, was born Sept. 23, 1923, in Glenwood, Pike County, Ark., to descendants of pioneers who arrived in Arkansas before the Civil War. He went to be with his Lord on Nov. 1, 2008, in Ruston.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas LeRoy Watkins and Elizabeth Moss Dooley Watkins; and a brother, Maury Patillo Watkins of Warren, Ark.

Doug’s college years were interrupted in June 1943 by his service in World War II. He served as a navigator with the United States Army Air Forces, attaining the rank of lieutenant.

His service included flying supplies to General Patton’s Army and dropping paratroopers in Europe with the 315th Troop Carrier Group. He returned to pursue his education, attending Ouachita Baptist College, Arkadelphia, Ark.; East Texas State Teachers College, Commerce, Texas; and the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark.

He spent 44 years in the education field — seven years in Pine Bluff, Ark., at Watson Chapel High School, and 37 years in Louisiana — coaching football, teaching math, supervising math and science teachers in Concordia Parish, and serving as a textbook representative for Houghton-Mifflin Publishing Company. Doug loved teaching and possessed great love and respect for the athletes he coached and the students he taught.

Doug was a member of Temple Baptist Church and Kiros Prison Ministries. He was also a member and past president of the Louisiana Bookmen’s Association and a member of the Kiwanis Clubs in Ferriday and Ruston.

Doug is survived by his wife of 61 years, Dorothy “Dot” Wright Watkins; sister, Evangeline Watkins Spillar and husband Tommy of Irving, Texas; daughter, Gayle Wright Watkins Barnard and husband Ben of Smithfield, Va.; sons, Alan Douglas Watkins and wife Libbey of Minden, La., Mark Stuart Watkins and wife Beverly of Little Rock, Ark., and Jim Roy Watkins of Ruston, La. Nine grandchildren survive, Jason Benjamin Barnard of Ashland, Ore., Adam Wright Barnard and Leah Susan Barnard Leitch of Raleigh, N.C., Alan Case Watkins of Brazil, Louis Douglas Watkins of Lindale, Texas, Maggie Elizabeth Watkins and Jacob Charles Watkins of Shreveport, La., Lauren Carol Watkins of Little Rock, Ark., and Anna Elizabeth Watkins of Fayetteville, Ark.; and seven great-grandchildren, Ad‡n, Celeste, and Daisy Barnard, Jackson and Connor Leitch, and Ellie and Emma Watkins.

Pallbearers will be members of the 1953 undefeated Watson Chapel High School football team.

Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Rev. Lynn Hawkins Sunday school class, Irvin Ryland, Dave Myers, Robert L. Bryant, Pat Moyers, Henry Grant and John Colvin.

Memorials may be made to your charity of choice.

Visitation will be today, Nov. 4, 2008, from 5-7 p.m. at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com

Beatrice Thurman, 79, of Pine Bluff died Sunday at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.

LITTLE ROCK — Kathleen Luckett of Little Rock died Sunday at home. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.

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