Obituaries

DEATHS FOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2009

Friday, February 20, 2009 10:33 AM CST

Richard Earles

Richard David “Dick” Earles, 63, of Pine Bluff, Ark., passed away Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center.

Born Feb. 13, 1946, in Searcy, Ark., he was the son of the late Paul Richard and Gretchen Lucille Moon Earles. Moving to Pine Bluff as a small child, he was reared and received his early education in Pine Bluff, graduating from Pine Bluff High School in 1964.

He joined the United States Navy in 1967, serving three years as an aircraft mechanic during the Vietnam Era.

He was employed by the Cotton Belt Railroad, as a mechanical foreman for 34 years until his retirement in 2005. He loved antique cars, spending his free time camping, fishing and boating. He was a Daylily Hybridizer, and spent much time tending to his flowers.

Mr. Earles was a member of Broadmoor Missionary Baptist Church. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and Past Master of Quapaw Lodge.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one grandchild, Tyler David Tate.

He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Linda Leasure Earles of Pine Bluff; their children, Rachel Cates and husband, Corey, of Mountain View, Paul David Earles and wife, Patricia, of Clarksville, Tenn., Robert Lawyer and wife, Slavea, of Dallas, Texas, and Janessa Moore and husband, Walter, of Collierville, Tenn.; nine grandchildren, McKenzie Paris, Bradley Cates, Kari Earles, Cody Bone, Zoe Lawyer, Michael Moore, Ian Moore, Samuel Moore, and Julia Moore; and his sister, Diana Reynolds and husband R.C., of White Hall.

The service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, in the Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Home with Rev. Johnie Brewster officiating. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m., Friday at Robinson’s.

Friends may sign the online register at www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.

Memorials may be made to the American SIDS Institute, www.sids.org.

Mildred Forte

Mrs. Mildred Belle Forte, 79 of Pine Bluff, died, Monday, Feb.16, 2009.

She was born in Flowood, Miss., to the late David and Dora Bryant.

Her survivors include sons, Randall C. Forte of Pine Bluff and Rodney Forte of N. Richland Hills, Texas; brothers, Taylor Bryant of Flowood, Miss., and Albert Bryant of St. Louis, Mo.; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Her services will be Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, at St. Paul Baptist Church by Rev. Isaiah Easter Jr., at 2:30 p.m. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Visitation will be today from 4:30-7 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.

The body will lie in state at the church from 1:45 p.m. until time of service.

The family will be at 1400 W. Pullen St., Pine Bluff, Ark.

George Hunt Sr.

George Hunt Sr., 69, of Pine Bluff died Feb. 12 in Pine Bluff.

He was born May 9, 1939, to the late Elijah and Hortenise Hunt in Pine Bluff.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Martha Baker-Scott, Mary Jones and Anna Jackson; and two brothers, Joe Hunt and Hubert Hunt.

Survivors include a son, George Hunt Jr.; daughter, Vicky Hunt; grandson, Trever Hunt; three sisters, Malinda McKnight, Betty Aaron, Gloria McClinton; and a close friend, Lonsetta Summerfield, all of Pine Bluff, Ark.

Funeral service will be Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, at First Trinity Church of God in Christ at 11 a.m. with Rev. Freddie Martin officiating. The body will lie in state at the church from 10:15 a.m. until time of service. Burial will be in Cypress Memorial Gardens Cemetery by Christian Way Funeral Home.

Visitation will be today at the funeral home from 5-7 p.m.

Octavia Morrison

Octavia Morrison, 96, of Pine Bluff died Feb. 10 at home.

She was born Oct. 25, 1912, at Altheimer, a daughter of the late Richard Morrison and Roxie Morrison.

Survivors: son, Rev. Samuel Wade of Lincoln, Neb.; daughter, Flossie L. Dandridge of Pine Bluff; 10 grandchildren; 79 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild.

Funeral services: 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Kings Highway Baptist Church, Rev. Joseph Brown officiating. Burial: Henson Memorial Garden by Henson Mortuary.

Visitation: 6-7 p.m. today at the mortuary.

Veoma Parker

Veoma Linzy Parker, 97, of Pine Bluff, died Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009, at White Hall Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

She was born March 5, 1911, in Palmyra, Ark., daughter of William Harvey Linzy and Dora Hopkins Linzy.

Mrs. Parker was reared and received her early education in Palmyra.

Mrs. Parker was a cake decorator for Holsum Bakery for many years.

She was a member of Olive Branch Missionary Baptist Church.

Mrs. Parker was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Travis Lindsey, Roy Linzy and Aubrey Lindsey; sister, Lorene Hoover; son-in-law, Tom Raley; grandson, Dr. Gregory Raley and great-grandson, Aaron Raley.

Survivors include her daughter, Jo Ann Raley of Pine Bluff; granddaughter, Beverly Raley of Little Rock; grandson, Phillip Raley (Karen) of Pine Bluff; granddaughter-in-law, Betty Lou Raley of Little Rock; four great-grandchildren, Brian Raley (Malinda), Clinton Raley, Andrea Raley and Carrie Raley; and one great-great-grandson, Zachary Raley.

Funeral services will be Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, at 10 a.m. in the Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son with Dr. Roger Stewart officiating. Burial will be private.

Memorials may be made to Olive Branch Missionary Baptist Church, 5130 Bobo Road, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71603.

Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com

Jane Ramos

Jane Davidson Ramos, 79, of Pine Bluff died Feb. 18, 2009, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center.

She was born Aug. 6, 1929, in West Point, Ga., a daughter of the late Alphonso and Katie Sue Davidson.

Jane was married in 1954 to the late Joseph A. Ramos, vice president of fiscal affairs at Arkansas AM&N College (now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) and former Tuskegee Airmen instructor, who died in 1972.

A brother, Oliver Dupree Davidson, of Brooklyn, N.Y., preceded her in death.

She graduated from Hampton Institute in Hampton, Va. She was a dietetics instructor for Pines Vocational College (now Southeast Arkansas College), as well as a food management instructor for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. She was an ombudsman for the Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas.

Jane was one of the oldest living civil rights activists. She was a dedicated member of Trinity Episcopal Church, where she served as Lay Reader, Vestry member, Eucharistic Visitor, St. Anne’s Guild member and office volunteer as well as an original member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. She served the Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas as a member of the Bishop’s Search Committee. She was one of the founders of Interested Citizens for Voter Registration and served two years as its president. She was a charter member of the Pine Bluff Chapter of The Links Inc., life member of Delta Omega Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and member of the Quettes of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Jane leaves to cherish her memory one son, Jay Anthony Ramos (Debra), of Atlanta, Ga.; one daughter, Carmen Ross (Aric) of Pine Bluff; a brother, William Davidson, of Brooklyn, N.Y., 12 grandchildren, two of whom she personally raised — Jay Ramos II of Atlanta and Antonette Ramos Marbley, also of Pine Bluff; seven great-grandchildren; and many other loving family members and friends.

The service will be at Trinity Episcopal Church on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Dr. Walter Van Zandt Windsor officiating. Visitation will be on today at Trinity Episcopal Church Parish Hall from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Linda Rhoades

Linda Rhoades, 56, of Pine Bluff died Tuesday.

She was a daughter of the late James Earl Rhoades and Pearl Rhoades.

Survivors include two sons, Jody Harp and James Harp, both of Pine Bluff; a daughter, Linda Harp of Shreveport, La.; three brothers; five sisters; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by one sister, Veda Jo Robinson.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Fuller Hale-South Funeral Chapel with Ronald Grundy officiating. Burial will be in Mulberry Cemetery at England. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Le’Verne Tyler Jr.

Master Le'Verne Lee Tyler Jr., 9, of Pine Bluff, died Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009.

He was born in Pine Bluff to Laverne Tyler Sr. and Tamar Tyler, both of Pine Bluff.

His survivors include brothers, Jo’Mar Dudley and Ta’Ru Tyler; sisters, Paris Tyler and Kyla Tyler, all of Pine Bluff; grandfather, Frank Jewell of Atlanta, Ga.; grandmothers, Jacqueline Hogan of Pine Bluff and Eltha Hampton of Holly Grove; great-grandmothers, Virginia Jewell of Atlanta and Rosie Billups of Stuttgart.

His services will be Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, at Christian Outreach Church by Rev. Christopher Mack Sr., at 2:30 p.m. Burial will be in Cypress Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be today from 4-7 p.m. with a family hour from 5-6 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.

The family will be at 2011 S. Amis St., Pine Bluff, Ark.

David Watts Jr.

Rev. David Watts Jr., 88, of Pine Bluff died Feb. 13 at his home.

He was born Sept. 8, 1920, at Altheimer, a son of the late David Watts Sr. and Mary Holly Watts.

Survivors: wife, Patricia Watts; sons, Freddie Watts, Stockton, Calif., Dave Watts III, Pine Bluff; daughters, Mary Davis, Veola Miller, Pine Bluff, Delois Ofonwa, Las Vegas, Birletha Harris, Jacksonville; stepsons, Eley Harris, Sacramento, Calif., Arthur Henderson, Fairfield, Calif., Billy Ray Henderson, Portland, Ore., Sammy Lee Henderson, Leonard Watson, Pine Bluff; stepdaughters, Joyce Briggs, Norma Faye Henderson, Malissa Watson, Santia Jenkins, Pine Bluff; 19 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services: 2 p.m. Saturday, Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Rev. Anthony Craig officiating. Burial: Derrisaux Cemetery by Henson Mortuary.

Visitation: 4 to 5:30 p.m. today at the mortuary.

Darlean Williams

Darlean Williams, 72, of Pine Bluff died Monday at Jefferson Regional Medical Center.

She was born June 19, 1936, at Atlanta, a daughter of the late Frank B. Poole and Savannah White Poole.

Survivors: son, Robert Chapman of Pine Bluff; brother, Willie Poole of Detroit; sister, Ruth Poole, Ann Spencer, Faye McDermott, all of Detroit, Vera Poole of Los Angeles, Velvarie Blackmon of Fort Wayne, Ind.

Funeral services: 3 p.m. Saturday, Barraque Street Baptist Church, Rev. Robert Thompson officiating. Burial: Bellwood Cemetery by Henson Mortuary.

Visitation: 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. today at the mortuary.

Dean Tatum Jr.

DUMAS — Mr. Dean Tatum Jr., 28, of Dumas, Ark., died Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009, at Delta Memorial Hospital in Dumas.

Born March 14, 1980, in Dumas, he was a son of Dean and Rose Mary Chatman Tatum Sr. of Dumas and a member of Faith Apostolic Church of Jesus in Mitchellville, Ark.

Other survivors include one son, Dacario Tatum of Dumas; three brothers, Claude Tatum of Hot Springs, Steve Tatum and Kevin Tatum, both of Dumas; two sisters, Deshonda Tatum and Deardrea Baker Tatum, both of Dumas; his grandfather, Rev. Hoover Chatman of Dumas.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, at Hunt Memorial Church of God in Christ in Dumas with Dr. Glenn Tatum officiating. Burial will be in Free Gift Cemetery in Dumas by Brown Funeral Home of Dumas.

Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. today at the funeral home.

The body will lie in state at the church Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until time of services.

W. Johnson-Williams

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Mrs. Wanda Kay Johnson-Williams, 49, of the 400 block of Crown Crescent, passed away Feb.12, 2009, in Portsmouth Naval Hospital.

She was born July 15, 1959, in Altheimer.

Wanda Kay was a member of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, where she was a member of the choir. She was a graduate of Altheimer High School. She received her BA degree from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Wanda Kay taught school at Kee Business College in Portsmouth, Va., for four years. She was employed by the City of Chesapeake Social Services as a case manger.

She was predeceased by her father, Cleaven Johnson Sr.; and her dear sister, Jacqueline Fay Johnson; and grandparents, Joseph and Anner Spriggs.

She is survived by her husband, Bruce Earl Williams Sr.; and her son, Bruce Earl Williams Jr. of Chesapeake, Va.; her mother, Ellen J. Mason of Pine Bluff; her brothers, Cleaven Johnson Jr. of Pine Bluff, Donnie Ray Johnson of Altheimer, Daryl Elmos (Leslie) Johnson of Altheimer; her sister, Linda Johnson Simon of Hamilton, Ohio; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews, cousins, and other family and friends.

Her services will be Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Altheimer by Rev. Ricky Bifford at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Forrest Lawn Cemetery.

Her visitation will be today from 5-8 p.m. with at family hour from 7-8 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 1406 W. 29th St., Pine Bluff, Ark.

WABBASEKA — Caldonia Washington, 81, of Wabbaseka died Thursday. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.

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