DEATHS FOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2008
Audis Barringer
Audis Waymon Barringer, 91, of Pine Bluff, Ark., died Nov. 5, 2008, at Trinity Village Medical Center.
He was born Aug. 19, 1917, in Quitman, Ark., a son of Ethan A. and Lena Phillips Barringer.
He was reared in New Edinburg, graduating from New Edinburg High School in 1937. He also graduated from the A&M College at Monticello, where he was a member of the Bollweevil football team.
He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. He especially enjoyed sports and the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Mr. Barringer served as a bomber pilot in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II.
He had worked for the Federal Aviation Agency in Little Rock for 29 years, before retiring as an air traffic controller in 1974.
He was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church, where he had served as a deacon and past member of the Pine Bluff Watson Chapel Lion’s Club and the Cleveland County Cattlemen Association.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret Word Barringer, who died on Nov. 29, 1987, and his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Gerry Hamaker Barringer, whom he married on Feb. 4, 1989, in Pine Bluff; a son, Gary Barringer (Sissy) of New Edinburg; a daughter, Donna Mazzanti (David) of Pine Bluff; stepson, Dr. Patrick Moseley (Jill) of Hot Springs; two brothers, A.J. Barringer of Bartlesville, Okla., Bobby Barringer of White Hall; a sister, Eunice Rankin of Pine Bluff; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends today, 6 to 8 p.m. at Robinson’s.
Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son with Rev. Don Taylor officiating. Burial will follow in McCoy Cemetery near Fordyce, Ark.
Memorials may be made to Trinity Village Medial Center, 6400 Trinity Drive, Pine Bluff, Ark., 71603; or McCoy Cemetery, 1380 Banks Road, New Edinburg, Ark., 71660.
www.ralphrobinsonandson.com
G. Buckingham
Gwendolyn Thomas Lee Buckingham of 2501 W. Oliver Road, age 72, died Friday, Oct. 31, 2008, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center.
Gwen was born on Sept. 6, 1936, to Leroy and Imogene Thomas.
She was a member of Mount Pleasant AME Church and she served as associate pastor under Revs. Frederick T. Gooden, Reginald Cleaver Sr. and Kent J. Broughton. Until the time of her death she spent numerous volunteer hours at Family Community Development Center Inc. (FCDC) as a federal grant writer and director of adult education.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Leroy and Imogene Thomas; her husband, Archie B. Lee; a son, A. DeCarlo Thomas; and a sister, Marian Crowel.
She leaves to cherish and celebrate her life and love one son, Shahn Lee of Pine Bluff; one daughter, Kanika Calvin of Kansas City, Mo.; two sisters, Lottie McClendon of Lanham, Md., and Lazellee Buggie of Landover, Md.; two grandchildren, Paula Price (Frederick) and Denver Hall; three great-grandchildren, Krystal, Maya and Frederick Jr.; and many relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 7, 2008, at Mount Pleasant AME Church by Rev. Kent J. Broughton. Burial will be in Bellwood Cemetery.
Visitation was Thursday from 4-7:30 p.m. with a family hour from 6-7 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.
Bennie Coats
Bennie R. Coats, 93, a longtime resident of Pine Bluff, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, at Davis Life Care Center in Pine Bluff.
Born March 3, 1915, in Cleveland County, he was the son of the late Frank and Ida Terry Coats.
He was reared and received his early education in the Woodlawn community, graduating from Woodlawn High School.
In 1942 he joined the United States Army, serving during World War II. He was stationed in the Western Pacific until 1945, where he received a Bronze Star and a Good Conduct Medal.
Bennie moved to the Pine Bluff area in 1945, and on April 4, 1946, he married Mary Parsley in Pine Bluff.
He worked for the United States Postal Service as a rural route carrier for over 30 years, until he retired in 1974.
Bennie was a charter member of Watson Chapel Baptist Church, where he served as teacher of the Men’s Sunday School Class for several years and was the first teacher of the Men’s Class. He was also a member of Jacob Brump Masonic Lodge No. 160.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Porter, Claude and Miles Coats; and a son-in-law, Jon Stewart Wade.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Parsley Coats; his daughters, Margaret Coats Hart and husband, James Blair Hart of Austin, Texas and Susan Coats Wade of Little Rock.
A graveside service will be held 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, at Graceland Cemetery with Rev. Nathan Bolden officiating by Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Directors. Friends may sign the online register at www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.
Memorials may be made to Watson Chapel Baptist Church, 5514 Pinnacle Lane, Pine Bluff, Ark., 71603.
John Hardnett
Mr. John “J.T.” Thomas Hardnett, 70, of Pine Bluff, died Friday, Oct. 31, 2008.
He was born in Prescott to the late Dee and Eula Hardnett.
His survivors include godsons, Lee Harper and John Smith; goddaughter, Delma Hampton; brothers, Robert Hardnett, all of Pine Bluff, and Eugene Hardnett; sisters, U.T. Urquhart, Geneva Simpson and Eula Procter, all of Fort Worth, Texas, Queen Tisdale and Cubie Davis of Pine Bluff, Wanda Miles of Arlington, Texas, and Stella Williams of Olive Branch, Miss.; two grandchildren.
His services will be Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, at Rose Hill Baptist Church by Rev. G.L. Ford at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Visitation will be today from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.
His body will lie in state at the church from 9:15 a.m. until time of service.
The family will be at 1705 W. 32nd Ave., Pine Bluff, Ark.
Joseph Santo Sr.
Joseph Baker Santo Sr., 49, of Pine Bluff was found dead Monday, Oct. 6, 2008.
Survivors: wife, Janie Deem “Demps” Quattlebaum Santo of Pine Bluff; son, Joseph Baker Santo Jr. of Pine Bluff; parents, Joseph Ernest Santo Jr. and Lucille DeRouen Santo of Fairfield Bay; and sister, Sue Ellen Rankin of Benton.
A daughter, Andrea Lynn Santo, preceded him in death.
Services: Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, at 1:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son with Rev. William Lee Kinney officiating. Interment: Bellwood Annex Cemetery.
Memorials: Jefferson County Humane Society, P.O. Box 2233, Pine Bluff, Ark., 71613.
Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com
Ja’Kel Shelton
Graveside services for baby Ja’Kel Lamar Shelton, born Nov. 3 and died Nov. 4 at Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, will be Saturday at 4 p.m. in Forest Lawn Cemetery with Rev. Michael Love officiating by Perry Funeral Home.
Survivors include father, Dwight Shelton Sr.; mother, Tamika McDuffey, Pine Bluff; four brothers, Jaylen Wilson, Dwight Shelton Jr., Jamarion Shelton, Jakevis Shelton, all of Pine Bluff; five sisters, Jasmine Wilson, Jamiya Wilson, Jakyra Shelton, Jakerris Shelton, JaKiyla Shelton, all of Pine Bluff; grandparents, Janice McDuffey, Eddie Lever, Randy Withers, all of Pine Bluff, Rose Callaway of Tarry, Arthur Shelton of Pine Bluff; great-grandparents, Gloria Evans and Maylean Lever of Pine Bluff, Earnestine Dancy of Tarry, Henry Maxwell Sr., of Pine Bluff; two aunts, Randi Withers and Brandy Withers of Pine Bluff; two uncles, Quincy McDuffey and Marcus Shelton, both of Pine Bluff.
Carl Tanner
Carl George Tanner, 88, of Pine Bluff, died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, in Rison.
He was born Feb. 23, 1920, in Cookville, Texas, son of N.S. and Ruby McWhorter Tanner.
Mr. Tanner was reared and received his early education in Texas.
After serving in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, Mr. Tanner worked as a clerk for the Cotton Belt Railroad for 35 years.
He attended Family Church.
Mr. Tanner was preceded in death by his wife, Polly Carolyn Smith Tanner, whom he married July 28, 1941; his parents; and two brothers, Oran Ray Tanner and Wendell.
Survivors include two daughters, Kay Brodnax of Rison and Lisa Taliaferro of Benton; son, Dr. Ronald D. Tanner of Fort Worth, Texas; sister, Ella Jo Abernathy of Pine Bluff; brother, Lloyd “Bo” Tanner of Hot Springs Village; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, at Cypress Memorial Gardens with Mr. James Pierce officiating.
Visitation will be Friday evening at Robinson’s from 5-7 p.m.
Online register: ralphrobinsonandson.com
Beatrice Thermon
Mrs. Beatrice Lee Thermon, 79, of Pine Bluff, died Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008.
She was born in Pine Bluff to the late Vernis McCraney Sr. and Rosie Fuller.
Her survivors include brothers Larry Jones, Vernis McCraney Jr., and Charles McCraney, all of Pine Bluff, and Elvester McCraney of Little Rock; sisters, Allean Williams, Betty Gainer, both of Milwaukee, and Ruby McCraney of Santa Ana, Calif.
Her services will be Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, at Solomon Hill Baptist Church by Rev. Everett McKnight at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Visitation will be today from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.
The family will be at 9416 Highway 63 South, Pine Bluff, Ark.
Felton Thornton Sr.
Funeral services for Felton (Candy Boy) Thornton Sr., 82, of Pine Bluff, who died Nov. 2 at the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital at Little Rock, will be at noon Saturday at Daniel Chapel MBC in Moscow, the Rev. G.L. Ford officiating.
He was born June 12, 1926, at Moscow, son of the late Joe and Fedosia Thornton.
He was a member of Daniel Chapel, serving as a deacon and trustee.
He attended school at Belmont.
He was a Mason and veteran of the Korean War.
Survivors include wife, Mattie L. Thornton of Pine Bluff; one son, Felton Thornton Jr., (Linda); two daughters, Juanita (Jonathan) Lanies, Dorothy (Jimmy) Woodward of Dallas; two sisters, Maxine Smith of Tarry and Mary Thornton of Texas; 10 grandchildren.
Visitations may be made today from 3 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Burial will be in Belmont Cemetery by Perry Funeral Home.
Dave Love Jr.
DUMAS — Mr. Dave Love Jr., 96, of Dumas died Monday, Nov. 3, 2008, at his home.
Born March 9, 1912, at Dumas, he was a son of the late Dave and Ida Wilkerson Love Sr.
He was a member of St. John Baptist at Mitchellville, where he served as a deacon, past assistant Sunday school superintendent, choir and church treasurer.
Survivors include three sons, Scipio Love, Clyde Love of Dumas, Oliver Love of Cleveland, Ohio; five daughters, Theedoris Robinson, Alma Burt, Alyce Love of Dumas, Dr. Barbara Love of Amherst, Mass., Betty Love of Kansas City, Mo; one sister, Ruth Murphy of Chicago; 29 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren.
His funeral will be Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. at the Watson District Headquarters in Mitchellville with Rev. Johnny Smith Jr. officiating. Burial will be in Miles Leach Cemetery by Brown Funeral Home of Dumas.
Visitation will be today from 4-6 p.m. at the funeral home.
The body will lie in state at the church Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until time of service.
Pantha Sykes
DUMAS — Pantha Sykes, 84, of Dumas died Saturday at Murphy’s Health Care Center.
She was born Jan. 30, 1924, a daughter of the late Murten and Mattie Cobb.
Survivors include three sons, Morris Stevenson, William Evans and George Sykes; two daughters, Margaret Burns and Angie Sykes; one sister, Mattie Jones; 26 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church at Dumas. Burial will be in Jerusalem Cemetery at Dumas by Serenity Gardens Funeral Services at Dumas.
Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Willy King
GOULD — Willy Lynn King, 69, of Gould died Wednesday.
He was born Feb. 26, 1939, at Dumas, a son of the late Charlie Opal King and Pauline Margaret King.
He retired from the Arkansas Department of Corrections and was a member of Bethal Baptist Church. He was a Mason.
Survivors include four brothers, Vernie King, Charles King, Jimmy King and Dennis King; and two sisters, Mary Tarlton and Frances Flowers.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today at Bethal Baptist Church. Burial will be in Dark Corner Cemetery by Griffin Funeral Home at Dumas.
Kathleen Luckett
LITTLE ROCK — Mrs. Kathleen Yvonne (Benton) Luckett, 68, of Little Rock died Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008.
She was born in Rison to the late Decoluia and Archie Benton Sr.
She was preceded in death by the late Judge Rudell Luckett.
Her survivors include sons, Kim Luckett of White Hall, Kenneth Luckett of Little Rock and Keith Luckett of San Diego, Calif.; brothers, John Benton of Omaha, Neb., Archie Benton Jr., of Detroit, Mich., and Ricky Benton of Flint, Mich.; sister, Brenda Holden of Long Beach, Calif.; 10 grandchildren.
Her services will be Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, at New St. Hurricane Baptist Church by Rev. Charles Atkins at 2:30 p.m. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.
Her body will lie in state at the church from 1:45 p.m. until time of service.
The family will be at 1013 Boast Road, White Hall, Ark.
Marvin Emberton
SHERIDAN — Marvin Glen Emberton, 84, of Sheridan, Ark., died Wednesday.
He was a member of Little Creek Missionary Baptist Church and had served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He was also preceded in death by a granddaughter, Lisa Cotton; two sisters, two brothers.
Survivors, wife, Thelma Faulkner Emberton; sons, Jerry, Randy, Tommy, Clayton; daughter, Sandra Cotton; brother, Calvin Emberton; sisters, Elizabeth Brown, Olita Allen; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren with one on the way; and one great-great-grandson due in March.
Funeral: 2 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home Chapel.
Burial: New Hope Cemetery near Sheridan.
Visitation: 5-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Arrangements by Memorial Gardens Funeral Home of Sheridan (870) 942-1306.
To sign the online guestbook, www.memorialgardenssheridan.com
Brian Taylor
NEW CHAPEL HILL, Texas — Brian Keith Taylor, 35, of New Chapel Hill, Texas, formerly of Pine Bluff, passed away Monday, Nov. 3, 2008, at his home.
He was born Dec. 14, 1972, in Pine Bluff to Lucy Cotner Mullikin and Randall Taylor.
He is a 1991 graduate of Pine Bluff High School. He received his B.S. in chemistry at University of Central Arkansas in 1995 and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 2000. Brian was an associate professor of chemistry at the University of Texas at Tyler.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents, C.D. Mullikin and Jimmy Taylor.
Brian received numerous awards and honors: awarded the UT Tyler 2004 Chancellor’s Council Teaching Award; nominated for the UT Tyler 2003 Chancellor’s Council Teaching Award and the Minnie Stevens Piper Award; the UT Tyler Presidential Summer Research Award 2002, University of Tennessee Department of Chemistry Research Merit Award, April 1999; University of Tennessee Department of Chemistry Outstanding Teaching Award, April 1998. He chaired and was a member of several departmental committees.
Brian was a member of American Physical Society, American Chemical Society, Physical Chemistry Division of the American Chemical Society, a reviewer for the Journal of Chemical Education and a reviewer for the American Chemical Society’s Petroleum Research Fund. Brian was very much dedicated to research in his field and community service.
Brian is survived by two sons, Nathan and Aaron Taylor of Tyler, Texas; his parents, Lucy and Dee Mullikin of White Hall and Randall and Susan Taylor of Pine Bluff; brother, Matthew Mullikin of Hot Springs; sister, Rebecca (Ben) Brantley of Pine Bluff; grandparents, Yvonne and C.D. Cotner, Ethel Mullikin and Charlotte Taylor, all of Pine Bluff.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, in the chapel of Cranford Funeral Home with Brother Tim Law officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Cranford Funeral Home of White Hall.
Visitation will be from 12 to 2 p.m. Saturday before the service at the funeral home.
The family will be at 12220 Highway 270, White Hall, Ark.
Pallbearers will be Christopher Taylor, Dustin Taylor, Allen Shipman, Chris Rogers, Stan Taylor, Scott Brown and Matthew Mullikin.
Maurice Hairston, 72, of Pine Bluff died Thursday at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.
Earline Henderson, 73, of Pine Bluff died Thursday at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.
Lee H. Marshall of Pine Bluff died Wednesday at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Henson Mortuary.
Vernell Mike Spiller of Pine Bluff died Wednesday at his home. Funeral arrangements will be announced by P.K. Miller Mortuary.