DEATHS FOR SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2008

By Nicole Brown/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

Gwendolyn Thomas Lee Buckingham was a woman who worked “tirelessly” to help others through her love for the community, those who knew her said.

She died Oct. 31 at the age of 72.

Buckingham spent numerous volunteer hours at the Family Community Development Corp., having served as a federal grant writer and director of adult education at the agency’s community center.

Steven Mays, president of FCDC, said Buckingham loved helping people in the community.

“She was a hard-working, patient woman. All she wanted was to see that the students got their education so they could better their lives,” he said.

Mays said she also taught the GED program and helped with the tutorial program.

Ken Johnson, manager of Pine Bluff Wastewater Utility, said Buckingham had been a member of the Black Pilots of America for at least 10 years.

“One thing that I admired about her was when she served on the Aviation Commission, she was instrumental in helping the Black Pilots of America get headquarters in Pine Bluff,” Johnson said.

He said it was her hospitality that helped to bring more black pilots to Pine Bluff during the organization’s annual fly-in at Grider Field airport.

“She wanted to see more blacks involved in aviation and our local airport and bring more diversity to the aviation community here in Pine Bluff,” Johnson said.

“She was very genuine. She was a gem, just very supportive of the organization.”

Doug Hale, airport manager, says he always looked forward to seeing Buckingham at the fly-in every year.

“She was a wonderful person. She was a dear lady and certainly will be missed,” he said.

Funeral services for Buckingham were held Friday.

Travis Edwards

DUMAS — Travis Edwards, 73, of Dumas, Ark., passed away Nov. 6, 2008.

He was a retired building contractor and Baptist, born Nov. 15, 1934, in Lincoln County, Ark.

He was the son of the late Ed T. and Bertha Edwards.

Survivors are wife, Joyce Edwards; son, Keith Edwards, New Orleans, La.; and daughter, Tammy Robinson, Dumas, Ark.; brothers, Jerry and Junior Edwards, both of Dumas, Ark.; sister, Hazel Powell, McGehee, Ark.; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.

Visitation: 5-7 p.m. today, Griffin Funeral Home Chapel. Services 2 p.m., Griffin Funeral Home Chapel, Nov. 9 with burial in Holly Springs Cemetery.

Arrangements by Griffin Funeral Home, 870-382-4352.

Retha Wilmoth

MONTICELLO — Retha Pauline Connard Wilmoth, 67, of Monticello, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, at JRMC in Pine Bluff.

She was born Jan. 12, 1941.

She was the widow of John Clyde Wilmoth Sr., a retired CNA, having worked many years at Leisure Lodge Nursing Home and a member of Cominto Baptist Church. She was the daughter of the late Mitchell Connard and Nettie Groves Connard and was preceded in death by two brothers, C.L. Connard and Thomas Connard.

After retirement, Pauline’s favorite job was caring for her grandchildren.

Survivors include two sons, Winfred Clark Wilmoth and wife, Leigh Anne and John Wilmoth Jr., all of Monticello; one daughter, Johna Suzanne Webb and husband, Greg of Mayflower; one brother, Donny Connard of Plantersville; one sister, Reba Stark of Warren; one half sister, Connie Blakenship of Dermott; two grandsons, Billy John Wilmoth and Thomas Clark Wilmoth of Monticello; one granddaughter, Ashleigh Suzanne Webb of Mayflower.

Funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Stephenson-Dearman Chapel. Burial in Oakland Cemetery by Stephenson-Dearman.

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Billy Free

WARREN — Billy Ray Free, 69, of Warren died Friday at Bradley County Medical Center.

He was born July 13, 1939, at Wilmar, a son of the late Everette Glen Free and Willie Jean Boyd Free.

Survivors: wife, Margie Weeks Free, whom he married on Sept. 18, 1959; one son, Michael Free of Kilgore, Texas; one daughter, Sandra Lynn Lonsberry of Longview, Texas; two sisters, Lila Drake of Star City and Shelda Hargrave of Longview; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services: 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Frazer’s Funeral Home at Warren. Burial: Kingsland Cemetery.

Visitation: 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

KINGSLAND — Ollie Belle Smith, 90, of Kingsland died Friday. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Buie Funeral Home of Rison.