Obituaries

DEATHS FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2009

Saturday, February 28, 2009 11:52 PM CST

Edward Akines

C. Edward Akines, 82, of Pine Bluff died Thursday.

Survivors include his wife, Syble Akines of Pine Bluff; sons, Danny and Glen Akines, both of Pine Bluff, and Arlin Akines of Star City; daughter, Judy Brown of Pine Bluff; brother, Claudie Akines of Pine Bluff; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services: 2 p.m. Monday at Buie Chapel in Rison. Burial: New Hope Cemetery by Buie Funeral Home of Rison.

Charles Failla

Charles Joseph Failla Jr., 78, of Pine Bluff died on Feb. 28, 2009, at home with his wife of 57 years, Theresa Goodman Failla of Pine Bluff; daughter, Julie Failla Earhart of St. Louis, Mo.; and son, Charles “Cooter” Failla III of Pine Bluff by his side. Born in Pine Bluff on May 11, 1930, Charlie married his high school sweetheart on Sept. 25, 1951.

Celebrating his life at a rosary service on Sunday, March 1, 2009 at 5 p.m. at Ralph Robinson and Son Funeral Directors (online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com) and at his mass on Monday, March 2 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Rev. L. Warren Harvey officiating will be his brother, Orlando “Skipper” Failla and his wife, Joanne, of Tulsa, Okla.; his brother, Richard Failla and his wife, Kim, of Kansas City, Mo.; and his sister, Linda Failla Nicholson and her husband, Sid, of Muskogee, Okla.

The son of Mary Grace Barranco and Charles P. Failla Sr. served with honor in the United States Navy during the Korean War on the ship the USS Baltimore. A group of nieces, nephews and a huge family of friends will remember Charlie “Pop” Failla as a sweet gentleman who loved his wife with abundance and adored his two children and especially the light of his life, his grandson, Charles Joseph Failla IV of Pine Bluff.

A lifelong, loyal Razorback fan, Cooter and Joseph escorted Pop to his final calling of the Hogs when they beat LSU in Little Rock this fall.

Mr. Failla worked for Safeway for 22 years. He co-founded Failla Janitor and House Cleaning Service with his bride, Theresa, in 1963. He owned and operated Failla’s with his wife until his retirement in 1995.

He was a member of the Third and Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus and St. Joseph Alter Society at St. Joseph Catholic Church. He was also a member of 25 For Now.

Pallbearers for his service on Monday at 11 a.m. will be Tommy Aureli, Bo Hardy, Baker Goodman, Ronald Goodman, Tom Spillyards, Fabian Fontinot, Ray Gilbert and Dr. David Lupo. Honorary pallbearers include Jack Culpepper, Jay Goodman, Carl Goodman, Mike Grimes, David Shapiro, Sid Simpson, Wirt Franklin, I.W. “Eggie” Elkins, Hugh Murray, Jerry Poss, Dr. Jimmy Cornwell, Sammy Womble, Wimpy Norton, Shawn McDonley, Ray Pullen and the Tuesday Night Social Club (current and those greeting him in Heaven).

Special appreciation to family friend Girtha Adway and also to the staff of Hospice Angels.

Memorials may be made to St. Joseph’s Building Fund, 412 W. Sixth Ave., Pine Bluff, AR 71601.

Virginia Dunker

GOULD — Sister Virginia Dunker, DC, 74, of Gould, and a member of the Daughters of Charity for 56 years, died Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009, while driving to her ministry at the Department of Correction in Varner. She was struck head-on by a southbound vehicle and died instantly. She was living in a Gould community with sisters Kathleen Miles, Denise Duplessis and Judy Warmbold.

She was born to the late Hazel Brown and Barnwell Dunker on Nov. 15, 1934 in Perryville, Mo. She is survived by two brothers, Douglas (Sue) and Buddy of Perryville, Mo.

The greatest blessing in her life was her current work with prisoners as a literacy tutor at Varner, where she recognized the gifts and talents of her students and helped them feel better about themselves and what they can accomplish.

She was a loving educator. She received her graduate degree in Religious Education and her undergraduate degree in History. She served as an elementary school teacher and Director of religious education in Nevada, Arizona, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri and Maryland.

Visitation will be held at Griffin Funeral Service in Star City on Monday, March 2 at 5 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will follow at 6 p.m. with Father Tom Stehlik, CM, celebrating. Burial services will be held at Marillac Cemetery in St. Louis, Mo.

Arrangements by Griffin Funeral Service in Star City.

Samuel Owens

RISON — Samuel (Sam) Owens, age 88, of Rison, died Friday, Feb. 27, 2009 at his home. He was born Aug. 17, 1920, in Monticello, a son of the late Marion Owens and Elizabeth Bennett Owens. Mr. Owens retired from the United States Air Force where he was a diesel mechanic. He was a member of the American Legion and a Missionary Baptist. Mr. Owens was also preceded in death by an aunt and uncle who raised him, Lewis Bennett and Louise Bennett; sister, Elizabeth Owens Clark; half sister, Shirley Owens Tullis; and half brother, Charles Stacey Owens.

Mr. Owens is survived by his wife, Catherine Riggins Terry Owens of Rison; two sons, Samuel Marion Owens Jr. of College Station, Texas and Robert L. Owens of Fort Worth, Texas; stepson, Marvin Terry of Wilmar; two stepdaughters, Martha Knowles of Rison and Jeanell Jarvis of Warren; sister, Margaret (Gal) Inman of Reseda, Calif.; three grandchildren; nine step-grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and 11 step-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, March 2, 2009, at Buie Chapel in Rison with Brother C.E. Van Ness officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Monday prior to the service. Pallbearers are Josh Rodriquez, Jim Knowles, Billy Knowles, Daniel Jarvis, Scott Terry, Shawn Rauls, Brad Denton and Larry Cook. Honorary pallbearers are Cade Knowles, B.J. Knowles, Lewis Knowles, Glen Knowles, Jackie Knowles and Timothy Knowles. Arrangements are under the direction of Buie Funeral Home of Rison, (870) 325-6216. Please sign the online guestbook at www.buiefuneralhome.com.

Marshel George

SHERIDAN — Marshel Edward George, 71, of Sheridan, died Saturday.

He retired from International Paper Company, was a member of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and Sheridan Golf Club and was preceded in death by a son, Bill George.

Survivors: Wife, Jo Ann Sweeney George; three sons, Rickey, Garry and Bobby; two daughters, Shirley Cox and Julie Bell; two brothers, Havis and wife, Linda, and Stanley and wife, Ann; and sister, Barbara Gibbs and husband, Buddy.

Funeral services: 2 p.m. Tuesday at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home Chapel in Sheridan. Burial: Lost Creek Cemetery.

Memorials: Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, c/o Diane McElroy, #8 Toler St., Sheridan, AR 72150. Arrangements by Memorial Gardens Funeral Home of Sheridan, (870) 942-1306. Sign online: www.memorialgardenssheridan.com.

Samuel Mays

WILMAR — Samuel Wesley Mays, 78, of Wilmar, passed away Friday at Bradley County Medical Center in Warren. He was born Dec. 12, 1930, in Drew County.

He was retired from Burlington Industries and a Methodist. He was the son of the late Herman Cecil Mays and Henrietta Cherry Mays.

Survivors include his wife, Callie Fuqua Mays of Wilmar; two daughters, Susan Roam and special friend, James Morgan, of Monticello and Sammye Matthews and husband, Larry, of Wilmar; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Stephenson-Dearman Chapel, with burial in Rock Springs Cemetery. Arrangements by Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Climietine Hughes, 83, of Pine Bluff died Friday at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Perry Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.