DEATHS FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2008

Alvin Scates

Alvin Scates, Sr., 95, of Pine Bluff died Dec. 9 at his home.

He was born March 13, 1913, at Oakridge, La., a son of the late Frank Scates and Christeen Scates.

Survivors: wife, Delois W. Scates of Pine Bluff; son, Alvin Scates, Jr. of Pine Bluff; two daughters, Rhonda Lee Taylor and Jacqueline Nives, both of Long Beach, Calif.; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services: 1 p.m. Monday at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Burial: Henson Memorial Garden.

Visitation: 3-5 p.m. Sunday at Henson Mortuary.

Joseph Fly

EL DORADO — Joseph Paul “Jay” Fly, Jr., 63, died Thursday, December 18, 2008, at his residence following a lengthy illness.

Born December 21, 1944, in Cleveland, Miss., he was the son of Joseph Paul Fly Sr. and Lorene Henderson Fly. Jay was the former co-owner of Babcock Auto Store in El Dorado from 1975 to 2003 when he retired. He was also an active member of Murmil Baptist Church.

During his 31 years of membership of Civitan International, Jay has held multiple offices on the local and district levels. In 1980 he received the Civitan of the Year Award and in 1993, the Ozark District Civitan of the Decade Award. He was an Honor Key recipient from the El Dorado Civitan Club and the Ozark District Civitan. He was also a two-time recipient of the Civitan International Fellow Award for various services including his work with the local 'Civitan Ramp Builders'.

Preceding him in death along with his parents was one sister, Irene Dixon.

Survivors include his wife, Kay Fly of El Dorado, daughters, Debbie Kelley (Bill) of El Dorado, Karan McElroy (Ricky) of North Richland Hills, Texas, Faline Welch (Jeff) of El Dorado and Fonda Soliz of Cleveland, Miss., and a special friend Norma King (Jimmy) of El Dorado. Also surviving is one sister, Marie Gibson (Jimmy) of Pine Bluff, a brother in law Doug Ligon (Peggy) of Birmingham, Ala., and grandchildren, Sarabeth Fly, Hannah Hardin, Mykalah Soliz, Roddy Johns, Colton Johns, Ryan Brown, Tyler Brown and Joy Kelley, a great-grandchild, Connor Kelley, and three nephews and a niece.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, December 22, 2008, at Murmil Baptist Church with Rev. Billy Smith officiating. Interment will follow at 2 p.m. at the Leek/Drake Cemetery at Star City, Ark., under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home. The 'Civitan Ramp Builders' will serve as pallbearers Bill Case, Gailon Hall, Winston Lovett, Paul McLaughlin, Jim Miears, Jim Warnock, and all Civitan members are honorary pallbearers.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Memorials may be made to the Civitan International, P.O. Box 1065, El Dorado, Arkansas 71730.

An online registry is available at www.baileyfuneralhome.net

Edythe Asbell

MCGEHEE—Edythe Louise Asbell, 89, of McGehee died Friday at McGehee-Desha County Hospital.

She was born Nov. 14, 1919, at Bradley County, a daughter of the late Grover Cleveland Ferguson and Ola Esther Steadman Ferguson.

Survivor: brother, Cleve Furguson of Little Rock.

Funeral services: 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Frazer’s Chapel at Warren. Burial: Saline Cemetery near Warren.

Visitation: 12:30 p.m. until time of service at the funeral home.

Alton Hollingsworth

MCGEHEE—Alton Ray Hollingsworth, 64, of McGehee died Friday.

Funeral services: 2 p.m. Monday at McGehee First Baptist Church. Burial: Dermott Cemetery by Griffin Funeral Service at McGehee.

Visitation: 4-8 p.m. Sunday at Griffin Funeral Service.

Frances Bradsher

LITTLE ROCK — Mary Frances Bradsher, 82, of Little Rock, formerly of Pine Bluff, died Friday, December 19, 2008 at home.

She was born March 3, 1926 in Pine Bluff, daughter of the late Carl A. and Lilly Belle Royse. Mrs. Bradsher was reared and received her early education in the Hardin Community, graduating from Hardin High School.

After attending business school, Frances worked for the Cotton Belt Railroad, where she met Bob Bradsher. They were married December 6, 1944, and lived in Pine Bluff. Mr. Bradsher passed away March 10, 1983.

After raising her children, Frances worked in real estate and at Simmons First National Bank where she served as an officer until she retired in 1991.

She was a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Little Rock. In retirement, Frances enjoyed her years attending Bible Study Fellowship, time spent at her Lake Hamilton cabin, making beautiful needlepoint Christmas stockings, collecting cookbooks from her travels and volunteering at UAMS. She dearly loved being with her grandchildren, family and friends.

Survivors include her son, Dr. Robert W. Bradsher, Jr. and his wife, Virginia, of Little Rock; daughter, Judith Bradsher Reed and husband, Gary of Aurora, Illinois; grandchildren, Dr. Virginia Reed of Indianapolis, Indiana; Abigail Bailey and husband, Hunter of Atlanta, Georgia; Debra Niehaus and husband Paul of Madison, Wisconsin; Mary Helen Schmidt and husband, Hannes, of Masasi, Tanzania; Robert W. Bradsher, III and his wife, Allison of Little Rock; and Andrew Joseph Bradsher of Little Rock; four great-grandchildren, three brothers and five sisters.

A memorial worship celebration will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, December 22 at Covenant Presbyterian Church, One Covenant Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 72211, with The Reverend Tim Reed and The Reverend Dr. Hunter Bailey officiating. The family will greet friends prior to and following the service.

Arrangements were handled by Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Directors of Pine Bluff (online register: ralphrobinsonandson.com).

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Chenal Adult Day Services, 805 Kirby Road, Little Rock, 72211 (Phone: 501-716-9180) where Frances recently spent many happy days with friends.

Raymond Leopard

RISON — Raymond J. Leopard, age 82 of Rison, died Saturday, December 20, 2008, at his home. He was born July 4, 1926, in Cleveland County, a son of the late Julius J. Leopard and Lucy M. Lunsford Leopard. Mr. Leopard served in the Army during World War II. He was employed as a security guard for the Pine Bluff Arsenal before his retirement and was a member of Zion Missionary Baptist Church where he served as a deacon. He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Rachel Leopard; one daughter, Judy Carol Leopard; one brother, James (Syber) Leopard; one granddaughter, Patty Theresa Lucas.

Mr. Leopard is survived by his wife, Kathleen Howey Leopard of Rison; five sons and daughters-in-law, Mack and Brenda Leopard, David and Wanda Leopard all of Rison, DeWayne and Tammy Leopard of Sheridan, Tony and Barbara Howey of Star City, Rusty and Cheryl Howey of Enola; three daughters and son-in-law, Juanita and Jackie Via of Alexander, Janet West Hefley and fianc/ Greg Gibson of West Fork, Arkansas, Deborah and Dan Steffy of Flower Mound, Texas; three brothers, Almus Leopard, Herman Leopard both of Rison, Jesse Leopard of Little Rock; one sister, Ola Mae Bowlin of Rison; twenty two grandchildren; thirty one great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday, December 22, 2008, at Buie Funeral Chapel in Rison with Brother Calvin N. Terry and Brother C. E. Van Ness officiating. Burial will follow in New Hope Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, December 21, 2008 at the funeral home. Pallbearers are Roy Phillips, Paul Wright, Butch Lunsford, Leon Green, Clif Billings, Otis Waters, Monte Woody, H. R. Morgan and Jerry Phillips. Honorary pallbearers are Jackie Bowlin and Benny Warren. Memorials may be made to Zion Missionary Baptist Church, P.O. Box 521, Rison, Arkansas 71665. Arrangements are under the directions of Buie Funeral Home of Rison. Please sign the online guestbook at www.buiefuneralhome.com.

Clyde Ray

SHERIDAN — Clyde Quinton Ray of Sheridan, Arkansas and Ennis, Texas, passed away December 20, 2008. He was born December 13, 1937 at Prattsville, the son of the late Thurman and Sarah Ray. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Reisel, Texas.

Survivors include his wife, Tommie Jean Ray of Ennis, Texas; sons, Travis Ray of Hot Springs, Randy Ray of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and Kevin Ray of Glenwood; brother, George M. "Mac" Ray of Murfreesboro, Arkansas; sister, Kay F. Beatty of Sheridan; brother-in-law, Jerry Ivy and wife Sally of Ennis, Texas; also a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Visitation will be Tuesday, December 23, 2008, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home of Sheridan. Funeral services will begin following the visitation at 11 a.m. Tuesday, in the funeral home chapel, with Bro. Doney Blackerby officiating. Burial will be in Philadelphia Cemetery at Prattsville. Arrangements by Memorial Gardens Funeral Home of Sheridan (870) 942-1306. To sign the online guestbook: www.memorialgardenssheridan.com

Harry Smith

HARVEY, La. — Harry Anthony (Tony) Smith, Beloved and only son of David and Joan Failla Smith was a victim of a homicide in Harvey, La, on Thursday, December 18, 2008, in the evening hours while on a lunch break from his job as a certified technician for Lucky Coin. Mr. Smith was born in New Orleans and attended University of Arkansas.

Tony is survived by his parents, his uncle James Robert Failla of Pine Bluff, Ark., his aunt, Gloria Failla Kambur of Metairie, La., cousins Katrina Ann Failla of Jemez Springs, N.M., Richard Failla of Shreveport, La., Laura Kambur Parsons of Metairie, La. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Laura Ferrara Failla and Harry Failla of Pine Bluff, Ark., and Clyde Smith and Dorothy Stephens Smith McNeese, of Bogalusa, La. Tony was very thankful for the generosity and friendship of his “Uncle Jim” (James G. Kambur), of Metairie, La., Roy Nastasi of Fayetteville, Ark., and Dustin Alfortish, of New Orleans, La.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated in the Chapel of Jacob Schoen and Son Funeral Home in New Orleans, on Tuesday, December 23, 2008, at 1 p.m. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Interment will be private.

An online memorial and guest registry is available at www.MeM.com

Johnny Charles Green, 64, of Pine Bluff, died Saturday. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Fuller Hale-South Funeral Services.