DEATHS FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2008
Billy Cook
Billy Joe Cook, age 71, of Pine Bluff, passed away Monday, Nov. 24, 2008.
Born June 15, 1937, at Pine Bluff, he was a son of the late Leo Henry Cook Sr. and Clara Mae Haynes Cook.
Billy Joe enjoyed living on Atkins Lake for many years with his beloved dog, Trixie. He had owned and operated several businesses in the Pine Bluff area, including the lunch room at NCTR.
Survivors include his brother, Leo Cook Jr. and wife Patsy of White Hall; nephew, Greg Cook of Maumelle; nieces, Cindy Cook Walters and husband Jerry of San Antonio, Texas, and Stefanie Cook Glasscock and husband John of Pine Bluff; and two great-nieces, Crystal Tanner and Hailee Glasscock.
Graveside services will be Wednesday, 11 a.m. in Graceland Cemetery by Fuller Hale-South Funeral Services.
Online condolences: www.FullerHaleSouth.com
Florence Cummins
Florence Toney Cummins, age 101, died Nov. 23, 2008.
She was the youngest of eight children born to Waddie Morgan and Ida Johnson Toney in Pine Bluff.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Reid Sloan Cummins, who passed away Sept. 2, 1975; by one son, Reid Sloan Cummins Jr., May 25, 1983; and by a grandson, Gordon D. Theis, Feb. 23, 1984. She was also preceded in death by brothers, John Morgan, Frank and Hartell Toney; sisters, Mabel Griffith, Willie Mae Chapman, and Mary Gaunt.
She grew up in Pine Bluff and attended local schools. She also attended Prep School at the University of Arkansas. She was an all-state basketball guard for Pine Bluff’s girl’s basketball team.
She married Mr. Cummins on June 14, 1928, and they had two children, Reid Jr. and Carolyn (Mrs. Kenneth Theis).
Her heart strings were around her home, her church, and her community.
She served as P.T.A. president of Lakeside School, Woodrow Wilson Jr. High, Pine Bluff High School, and the Central Council of the P.T.A. under her leadership. The Lakeside P.T.A. established and furnished Pine Bluff’s first teachers’ lounge. This was subsequently done at Woodrow Wilson and Pine Bluff High School. At PBHS, the P.T.A. purchased a new curtain and provided scenery and a dressing room for the auditorium. While president of the Central Council she organized a Home and Family Workshop for both black and white schools featuring a nationally prominent speaker, Dr. Jo Robins. She was awarded a lifetime membership to the P.T.A. and was made an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Gamma.
She was the first woman to serve as chair of the annual Red Cross campaign, and was a member of the Community Chest (now United Way) Council.
She served on the County Equalization Board which investigated property valuation.
She was president of the Woman’s Society of Christian Service of First United Methodist Church, and was awarded a Life Membership. She was provided weekly flower arrangements for the altar of the Men’s Bible Class for 21 years. She baked cookies for them and gave devotionals based on the liturgical year. She was president of the Roy Custer Bible Class, served on the Board of Stewards, was a Circle Chairperson, and arranged flowers for many church activities. Many people came to look at her beautiful yard every spring, and she loved to take a vase full of lilies to Billy Steed’s Grocery Store to share with others.
In 1947, she helped to organize “Teen Town” for students at Pine Bluff High School, and served as one of the trustees.
She was famous for her delicious candy and her recipes are in a number of cook books. She once made candy for President Roosevelt’s visit to Arkansas, and he told her it was “the best he ever tasted.” Governor Jimmie Noe of Louisiana had her to come to Shreveport to demonstrate candy making on his TV Station KNOE. He also ordered candy for many political friends (including President Roosevelt and General Claire Chenault in China).
In 1950, she was named Pine Bluff’s “Mother of the Year.” She was a member of the John McAlmont Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Junior Sesame Club, and a former member of the Pine Bluff Junior League.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and Ken Theis of Pine Bluff; and four grandchildren, Ellen and husband Mike Nelson of Rogers, Ark., Kelly and wife Ruth Cummins of Clinton, Miss., Toney and wife Colleen Cummins of Vicksburg, Miss., and Kim and husband Jon Noble of Vicksburg.
She is also survived by four great-grandchildren, Katherine and Reid Nelson of Rogers, Ark., and Leigh and Meg Cummins of Clinton, Miss. Also, beloved nieces and nephews, and cousin Frances (Mrs. Hamp) Hall of Pine Bluff. The birds and cats at Trinity Village will miss her as well.
The family wishes to thank Brenda Gaddy for her loving care.
A memorial service will be Friday, Nov. 28, 2008, at 1:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church Chapel with Rev. David Moseley officiating. Burial will be prior to the memorial service at 12:30 p.m. at Graceland Cemetery by Ralph Robinson and Son Funeral Directors. A visitation will follow the service at the church.
The family suggests that memorials may be sent to First United Methodist Church, 200 W. Sixth St., Pine Bluff, Ark., 71601; or Trinity Village Inc., 6400 Trinity Drive, Pine Bluff, Ark., 71603.
LaNell Tillman
LaNell Tillman, 82, of Pine Bluff died Sunday at the Arkansas Convalescent Center.
She was born Aug. 18, 1926, at Scranton, a daughter of the late Clarence Francis Tillman and Mary Lucille Martindale Tillman.
There are no immediate survivors.
She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas Tillman and Royce Tillman.
Cremation arrangements are by Buie Funeral Home of Rison.
Virginia Scoggins
HOT SPRINGS — After a long and courageous battle with cancer, Virginia “Gini” Scoggins, age 80, formerly of Pine Bluff, died in her Hot Springs home on Nov. 23, 2008.
She was born to Gertrude Stegall Willoughby and the late Clinton Joseph Willoughby in El Dorado on Feb. 12, 1928.
She was a graduate of El Dorado High School and earned her BSE and MSE degrees from Henderson State University. She was a teacher and high school counselor in the Pine Bluff School District, joining the faculty in 1950. During her time at Pine Bluff High School, she started the Quiz Bowl program and supervised it for several years prior to her retirement.
In addition to her mother, age 100 of El Dorado, she is survived by Dr. Roy Scoggins, her husband of 59 years; two sons, Al and his wife, Monica, of Ennis, Texas and Bryan and his wife, Dori, of Little Rock; and her sister, Melba Templeton of Hot Springs.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Doyne Willoughby; and her daughter, Margaret Ann Scoggins, who died Nov. 27, 1981. Exactly 10 years later to the day, on Nov. 27, 1991, God called Gini to become “MeeMee” to the first of her three beloved grandchildren, Annie of Ennis, Texas, who was quickly followed by Parker and later by Patrick, both of Little Rock.
A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church of Hot Springs at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008, with Dr. John McCallum officiating followed by a graveside service at Graceland Cemetery in Pine Bluff at 3:30 p.m. with Rev. Matt Norton officiating. The family will receive visitors before the graveside service Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Ralph Robinson and Son Funeral Home in Pine Bluff.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the building fund at First Baptist Church, 2350 Central Ave., Hot Springs, Ark., 71901; or the building fund at First Baptist Church, 6501 S. Hazel St., Pine Bluff, Ark., 71603.
Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com
Monica Savage
WARREN — Monica Forrest Savage, 39, of Warren died Sunday at Bradley County Medical Center.
She was born April 17, 1969, at Warren, a daughter of Beverly Wherry Forrest of Warren and the late Harold “Butch” Forrest.
Other survivors include one son, Joshua K. Savage of Warren; one daughter, Laci Savage Henwood of Warren; one brother, Rob Forrest of Warren; and three grandchildren.
Funeral services: 10 a.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Frazer’s Funeral Home at Warren. Burial will be held at a later date in Oakland Cemetery.
Visitation: 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
James Scanlon
MEMPHIS — James B. “Jerry” Scanlon, 90, of Memphis died Sunday.
He was the founder and longtime owner of KCAT radio station at Pine Bluff.
He was a World War II double Purple Heart recipient.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy “Dot” Scanlon; and one daughter, Cindy Fisher of Nashville, Tenn.
Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the National Humane Society.
Ernestine Armour, 60, of Pine Bluff died Sunday. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Christian Way Funeral Home.
Rosie Lee Gaynor of Pine Bluff died Thursday at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Hardy Funeral Home of Little Rock.
Joe Louis Sonny Jr., 35, of Pine Bluff died Friday at home. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.
HUMPHREY — Gloria McNealy, 37, of Humphrey died Saturday at Baptist Health Medical Center at Little Rock. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.
RISON — Jean Jones, 76, of Rison died Sunday. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Christian Way Funeral Home at Pine Bluff.
STAR CITY — Linda D. Jackson, 57, of Star City died Monday at Baptist Health Medical Center at Little Rock. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.