Obituaries

DEATHSFOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2009

Friday, January 2, 2009 10:16 AM CST

Ricky Akins

Memorial services for Ricky Earl Akins, 49, of Pine Bluff, who died Dec. 23 at his home, will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Perry Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Robert Thompson officiating.

He was born Nov. 4, 1959, at Pine Bluff, son of the late Lois and Rosie Lee Akins Sr.

He received his education in the Dollarway School District.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles Akins and Lois Akins Jr., and a sister, Bettie J. Dunlap Childs.

Survivors include one brother, Leroy Williams of Pine Bluff; one sister, Burnestine McLemore of Pine Bluff; 11 nieces; six nephews; and great nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are by Perry Funeral Home.

The family will be at 1908 W. Bell St., Pine Bluff.

Argerie Baltimore

Mrs. Argerie Clark Baltimore, 83, died peacefully Sunday evening at her home, 601 E. 21st Ave.

She was born Aug. 29, 1925, at Hooker, Ark., the daughter of Hallie B. Morgan and George Clark.

In early childhood, she moved to Pine Bluff with her grandparents, George and Virginia Lee. She graduated with honors from Merrill High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Tuskegee Institute/University and a master’s degree from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

She spent 39 years in the Humphrey school system as a teacher and principal. She sponsored a number of clubs, including 4-H.

She married Fred Richard Baltimore on Feb. 16, 1947, and they celebrated 56 years of marriage prior to his death in 2003. Their three babies, Eva Mae, Fred Richard Jr. and Lu Virginia, died at birth.

She was a member of Indiana Street Baptist Church for more than 60 years. Her activities included being a Sunday School teacher, Easter pageant coordinator, deaconess and Chancel Choir member.

She is survived by a sister, Jonesetta Lassiter; a brother, Leland Lassiter; nieces, Renisha (Anthony) Ward, Yulanda (Arnold) Robertson and Lena Block; nephews, Kentu Lassiter and Kedrick Pugh; grand nieces and nephews; and cousins.

Her services will be at 10 :30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009, at Indiana Street Baptist Church by Rev. Arnold Robertson and Dr. L.K. Solomon, pastor emeritus, delivering the eulogy. Burial will be in Mount Lebanon Cemetery in Hooker. Visitation is today from 4:30-7 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.

The body will lie in state at the church from 9:45 a.m. until time of service.

The family will be at 601 East 21st Ave., Pine Bluff, Ark.

Gladys Massanelli

Gladys “Pud” Massanelli, age 76, of Pine Bluff, died at her home Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008. Mrs. Massanelli was born Nov. 6, 1932, in DeWitt, Ark., a daughter of the late Frank A. and Edna Ramer Phillips.

Mrs. Massanelli was reared and received her education in DeWitt. She was a graduate of DeWitt High School.

She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and several civic organizations.

Mrs. Massanelli had worked as a sales clerk for Eddie’s Grocery and Perdue’s Office Supplies.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Robert, Felix and Hallie Phillips; and three sisters, Lillie Young, Dee Buggar and Cecil Gounchenouer.

Mrs. Massanelli is survived by her husband, Henry, whom she married May 2, 1953; four daughters, Paula Burns of Springdale, Debbie Barrow and husband, Ted, of Willow Park, Texas, Terri Metzler and husband, David, of Fort Worth, Texas and Henri Sabin and husband, Kevin, of Tulsa, Okla.; one son, Chris Massanelli and wife, Jennifer, of Rogers; one sister, Hazel Watson of Booneville; two sisters-in-law, Dolly Bogy and Celesta Gurnsey, both of Pine Bluff; and 11 grandchildren.

A Rosary service will be Friday, Jan. 2, 2009, at 6 p.m. in the Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Directors.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be said Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father L. Warren Harvey officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 412 W. Sixth St., Pine Bluff, Ark., 71601.

Lawrence Thomas

Mr. Lawrence Tom Thomas, 64, of Pine Bluff, died Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008.

He was born in Vicksburg, Miss., to the late Addison Sr. and Mary Thomas.

His survivors include sons, Ryan Thomas of Chicago and Shams Viggs of Atlanta, Ga.; daughters, Ameena Edwards of Bakersfield, Calif., Jermine Thomas of Pine Bluff, Tamara Thomas of Little Rock and Leyah Thomas of Los Angeles, Calif.; a brother, Addison Thomas Jr. of VIdalia, La.; and 11 grandchildren.

His visitation is today from 5:30-7 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.

The family will be at 44 South Western Drive, Pine Bluff, Ark.

Roger Wooten

Roger D. “Stump” Wooten, 60, of Pine Bluff, died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center.

Mr. Wooten was known to many as “Stump,” a nickname he bore proudly, which spoke of his shortness of stature. However, all who knew him knew that there was nothing short about him when it came to his kindness, generosity and the way he loved his family and friends.

He was born Nov. 17, 1948, in Pine Bluff, son of Russell and Jessie Lunsford Wooten. Mr. Wooten was reared and received his early education in Pine Bluff, graduating from Pine Bluff High School in 1967. He attended the University of Arkansas at Monticello on a baseball scholarship.

Mr. Wooten worked as a brakeman for the Cotton Belt Railroad for many years. He co-founded Arkansas Hawg Caller, which produced artificial fishing lures. Mr. Wooten also worked for AcraPrint.

He was an avid sportsman. Mr. Wooten loved to deer hunt and fish. For many years he coached the young men of Pine Bluff through his association with Babe Ruth Baseball and American Legion Baseball.

He was preceded in death by his parents; maternal grandparents, Robert M. Lunsford and Grace Lunsford Dawson; paternal grandparents, James and Alice Wooten; and sister, Rebecca Lynn.

Survivors include his wife, Brenda Hartsfield Wooten, whom he married July 3, 1994, in Pine Bluff; son, Rob Wooten and his wife, Jennifer, of Little Rock; two stepsons, Scott Lent and his wife, Tammy, of Prattsville and Billy Lent; stepdaughter Angie Travelstead and her husband, Michael, of Pine Bluff; brother, Mack Cook and his wife, Joye, of Sheridan; sister, Cindy May and her husband, Charles, of Pine Bluff; two grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; a step-great-grandchild; and two aunts, Wanda Vining and Betty Seymore, both of Pine Bluff.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009, in the Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son with Reverend James Watson officiating. Burial will follow in Varnell Cemetery near Rison. Visitation will be Friday evening at Robinson’s from 6-8 p.m.

Memorials may be sent to the Varnell Cemetery Association, c/o Margaret Rodgers, P.O. Box 203, Rison, Ark., 71665.

The family will be at the home of Wanda Vining and Betty Seymore, 9002 Truckload Bay Road in Sherrill.

Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.

Leadora Huston

DEWITT — Leadora Huston, 61, of DeWitt, died Dec. 21, at DeWitt City Hospital.

Survivors include three daughters, Telia Smith, Latetia Smith and Lateshia Carter, all of DeWitt; and two sons, Gregory Huston of Sacramento, Calif., and Marcus Huston of St. Louis.

Funeral services: 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Greater St. John Missionary Baptist Church at DeWitt. Burial: St. John Cemetery at Ethel by McKinzie/Wilson Funeral Home of Gould.

Visitation: 6-8 p.m. Saturday at the church.

Burvil Valentine

MCGEHEE — Burvil Clifford Valentine, 75, of McGehee, died Wednesday at Golden Living Center at McGehee.

He was born Feb. 20, 1933, at Sevier County, Tenn., a son to the late Homer Valentine and Johnny Widner Valentine.

Survivors include four brothers, Wayne Valentine, Billy Valentine, Eddie Valentine and Clark Valentine, and 14 nieces and nephews.

Graveside services: 10 a.m. Saturday at Tillar Cemetery by Griffin Funeral Service.

Visitation: 5-8 p.m. today at Griffin Funeral Service of McGehee.

Wanda Hyatt

MONTICELLO — Wanda Marie White Hyatt, 92, of Monticello, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008, at Drew Memorial Hospital in Monticello. She was born Sept. 29, 1916, in the Figure Five Community in Crawford County, Ark.

She was the widow of Dr. C. Lewis Hyatt Sr., a retired Registered Nurse and homemaker and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Monticello. She was a graduate of Baptist School of Nursing, an avid Bridge player, a member of United Methodist Women and a Life Member of Monticello Junior Auxiliary. She was the daughter of the late Charlie White and Maude Riddle White and was preceded in death by one sister, Norma E. Hogate.

Survivors include one son, C. Lewis Hyatt Jr. and wife Jeanette of North Little Rock; one daughter, Charlotte Hyatt McGarr of Monticello; two granddaughters, Diantha McGarr and Carole Efird and husband Michael, all of Monticello; and three great-grandchildren, great-granddaughter Kelly Marie Murphy and great-grandsons John Michael Efird and Max Hyatt Efird.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Stephenson-Dearman Chapel with Rev. Bill Eason officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery by Stephenson-Dearman.

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

Tanya Milburn

REDFIELD — Tanya Carolyn Cruce Milburn, 72, of Redfield, died Wednesday at Little Rock.

She was born Feb. 2, 1936, at Warren, a daughter of the late George Mitchell Cruce and Monte Lorene Crawford Cruce.

Survivors include her husband, Shelton Ray Milburn; three daughters, Darrinda Eddins, Desiree Aaron and Amber Milburn, all of Redfield; one brother, Charles Cruce of New Edinburg; one sister, Sandra Smith of Hot Springs; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Graveside services: 11 a.m. Saturday at Shady Grove Cemetery near New Edinburg.

Memorial service: 10 a.m. Monday at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Chetham Street, Pine Bluff.

Sammie Woods

ARLINGTON, Texas — Sammie Lee Woods, 41, of Arlington, Texas, formerly of Dermott, Ark., died Dec. 26 at Mansfield Methodist Hospital at Mansfield, Texas.

She was born Aug. 2, 1965, at Dermott, a daughter of the late Lacy Woods Sr. and Willie Mae Vaughn Woods.

Survivors include two sons, Marchello Woods and Billy Woods, both of Monticello; and two daughters, Charlotte Phillips and Sylvia Woods of Arlington.

Funeral services: noon Saturday at Antioch Baptist Church at Dermott with Lecestor Bell officiating. Burial: Montrose Cemetery at Montrose by McKinzie/Wilson Funeral Home of Gould.

Visitation: 10 a.m. until time of service Saturday.

Robert Curry Jr. of Altheimer died Thursday at Jefferson Regional Medical Center at Pine Bluff. Funeral arrangements will be announced by P.K. Miller Mortuary.

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