Obituaries

DEATHS FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2008

By Nicole Brown/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Tuesday, November 11, 2008 2:03 PM CST

Some said they will remember Vernell “Mike” Spiller Jr. as an active father and loving husband, while others recalled him as a role model and good cook.

What his son, Jaylen Spiller, said he will remember most is that, “he was always my best friend.”

Vernell Spiller died Wednesday at his home at the age of 52.

Jerome Purchase said that even though he had only known Spiller for a short period of time, it seemed as if he had known him his whole life.

“He was a good, Christian man, a loving person and great friend. Words can’t really express how good of a man he was. I am really going to miss him,” Purchase said.

“He was always there for me when I needed him to talk and pray with me when things were going on in my life,” he recalled.

Born Aug. 13, 1956, at Eudora, a son of Vernell Spiller Sr. and Lucille Spiller, he graduated from Pine Bluff High School in 1974. After high school, he enlisted in the Air Force and served for a number of years.

After being honorably discharged, Spiller began his career as an instructor of refrigeration and air conditioning repair at Pines Vocational Technical School (now Southeast Arkansas College).

Kaleybra Morehead, associate vice president for College Affairs at SEARK, said Spiller was a dependable person and was highly respected by his students and co-workers.

“He was instrumental in establishing a campus community service organization and advising the Baptist Collegiate Ministry,” Morehead said.

She said he was also always willing to offer his expertise as a cook.

“His demise is an enormous lost to the college and his upbeat, and light-hearted approach to life will be sorely missed,” Morehead said.

Spiller was an active member of Pine Hill Missionary Baptist Church, having served as president of the usher board, Sunday school teacher and member of the kitchen committee.

His pastor, the Rev. Glenn Barnes Sr., said Spiller was a great asset to the church.

“He would do anything that you asked him to do,” Barnes said.

Barnes said Spiller also loved young people and was an active participant in the Brotherhood Ministry, helping with fishing outings with the young men in the church.

“He made many sacrifices. He would come early and leave late, even to the point when he was ill,” Barnes recalled.

“We’re really going to remember him as a great witness for God, worker for God and worshipper of God.”

Funeral services for Spiller will be at 11 a.m. today at Greater Fellowship Ministries.

Maurice Hairston

Mr. Maurice Hairstson, 72, of Pine Bluff died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008.

He was born in Columbus, Miss., to the late Alson O’Neal and Annie Wallace.

His survivors include wife, Rubie J. Hairston of Pine Bluff; son, Marques Hairston of Memphis; daughters, Latriana Robertson of Little Rock and Lazendra Hairston of Pine Bluff; brother, Charlie O’Neal of Dayton, Ohio; sister, Leola Richardson of Memphis; and three grandchildren.

His services will be Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008, at Brown Funeral Home Chapel by Sister Pamela Perkins at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Cedar Grove section of Graceland.

Visitation will be today from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.

The family will be at 2300 Avondale Drive, Pine Bluff, Ark.

Brenda McCurry

DECATUR — Brenda Sue McCurry, 54, of Decatur died Saturday at her home.

She was born Feb. 4, 1954, at Pine Bluff, a daughter of Billy Denzel Kesterson and Emma Sue Fielding Kesterson, both of Pine Bluff.

Other survivors include her husband, Darrell McCurry; two sons, John Mike Layson and Shawn Dewayne McCurry, both of Huntsville; one daughter, Jaime Diane McCurry of Decatur; one brother, John Kesterson of West Virginia; two sisters, Vickie Kesterson of West Virginia and Bobby Scott of Pine Bluff; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Cremation arrangements are by Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home at Siloam Springs.

Gen Nell Taylor

GRAPEVINE — Gen Nell Lunsford Taylor of Grapevine, Ark., was born Sept. 8, 1934, in Rison, Ark., the daughter of the late Dude and Emma Tucker Lunsford.

She attended Double Wells Assembly of God Church and was a Pastor’s wife for 56 years.

Mrs. Taylor died Monday, Nov. 10, 2008, at St. Vincent’s Infirmary Medical Center at the age of 74.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a grandson, Dilan Taylor; three sisters and two brothers.

Survivors: husband, Rev. Carroll Taylor of the home; son, Brent and wife Mandy Taylor of Grapevine; daughter, Shonda and husband Harold Cotton of Grapevine; brother, Homer and wife Neda Lunsford of Pine Bluff; sister-in-law, Dolly Lunsford of Texas; grandchildren, Brandon, Matt, Emily, Nathan, Alana, and Sydney; great-grandchild, Alissah Grace.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov.12, 2008, at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home Chapel in Sheridan. Burial will follow at Hedden Chapel Cemetery in Grapevine.

Visitation: 6-8 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

J.D. Crook

RISON — J. D. Crook, age 81 of Rison, died Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff.

He was born Jan. 21, 1927 in Rison, a son of the late Earnest Crook and Lydia Mae Edwards Crook Rauls.

Mr. Crook retired from the Forestry Department of the International Paper Company and was a member of Prosperity Baptist Church. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Laverne Hurst Crook and step dad, Bo Rauls.

Mr. Crook is survived by a host of family and friends.

Graveside services are 2 p.m. today, Nov. 11, 2008, at Prosperity Cemetery with Brother Wade Totty officiating. Visitation is 1 to 2 p.m. prior to service.

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

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

Retha Mercer

RYE — Retha McKinney Mercer, 84, of Rye died Sunday at Bradley County Medical Center.

She was born Nov. 24, 1923, in Bradley County, a daughter of the late William Walter McKinney and Forrest McBride McKinney.

Survivors include five sons, Allen Mercer, Kenneth Mercer, James Mercer, Bobby Mercer and Billy Mercer; three daughters, Opal Noble, Katherine Garrison and Linda Russell; one brother, Preston McKinney; 19 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services: 10 a.m. today at Frazer’s Funeral Home at Warren. Burial: Union Cemetery at Rye.

Violet Jones

WABBASEKA — Violet Earl “Tobe” Rockwell Jones, 87, of Wabbaseka died Sunday at Stuttgart Regional Medical Center.

She was born Dec. 10, 1920, at Oppello, a daughter of the late Jess and Jessie Rockwell.

Survivors: sons, Robert Earl Jones, Willie Charles Jones, Teddy Clark Jones, and Nathaniel Earl Jones; daughters, Rita Mae Jones and Hazel Kathleen “Kathy” Martin; brother, Garland Ray-Bocus Rockwell; sisters, Rosie Carter and Betty Underwood, Louise “Puddin” Oneal, and Elaine Kimsey; 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Funeral services: 2 p.m. today at Turpin Funeral Home at Stuttgart Ralph Ruffin. Burial: Flynn Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Berniece McClain

WARREN — Berniece Wright McClain, 81, of Warren died Friday at Spring, Texas.

She was born May 21, 1927, at Warren, a daughter of the late Bert Wright and Eunice B. Kelly Wright.

Survivors include one son, Ronald Gary McClain of Spring, Texas; one daughter, Linda Gail Montgomery of Russellville; three sisters, Mae Castleberry of Baton Rouge, La., Mildred Smith of Shreveport, La., Shirley Norris of Camden; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services: 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Frazer’s Funeral Home at Warren. Burial: Union Cemetery at Rye.

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

Lynn Encardes, 49, of Pine Bluff died Saturday at her home. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.

Lucille Martin, 84, of Pine Bluff died Sunday at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.

Print this story   |   Email this story