DEATHS FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2009
Cleo Johnson
Mrs. Cleo Johnson, 94, of Pine Bluff, died Thursday at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. She was born April 4, 1914, at Tarry, the daughter of the late Willie and Eva James.
She was preceded in death by her parents, son James H. Johnson, two brothers Hoarse and Albert James and Iva Clay.
Survivors include two sons Perry Johnson, Jr. and Jocephus Arrington both of Pine Bluff, one daughter, Gwendolyn Dickerson of Kansas City, along with a host of grandchildren, friends and loved ones.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Monday at Main Street Church of God In Christ. Elder Joe Stocker officiating. Burial will be at Forest Lawn Cemetery by Christian Way Funeral Home. Visitation will be Sunday 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Body will lie in state from noon until service time.
Bessie Wright
DUMAS—Mrs. Bessie Robinson Wright, 95, of Dumas, died Wednesday at Delta Memorial Hospital.
Born July 22, 1913, in Mer Rouge, La., she was a daughter of the late Frank and Clare Bonner Lane. She was a member of Kingdom Hall Jehovahs Witness.
Survivors include one sister, Veola Patterson of Little Rock, two nieces, Mattie Johnson of Dumas and Ruth Lane of Little Rock.
Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Kingdom Hall Jehovah's Witness with Elder Jerry Kravitz officiating. Burial will be held in Curtis Hall Cemetery at Pickens by Brown Funeral Home of Dumas.
Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
The body will lie in state at the church from 10 a.m. until time of services.
Mary Anders
JERSEY — Mary Sue Gilbert Anders, 83, of Jersey, died Friday at Baptist Medical Center.
She was born March 11, 1925. at Calhoun County a daughter of the late Walter L. “Dode” Gilbert and Minnie Frances Webb Gilbert.
Survivors: husband, Gordon Anders whom she married on Dec. 24, 1947; two sons, Jim Anders and spouse Ginger of Jersey and Joe Anders and spouse Karen of Warren; four grandchildren, Chris Anders of Ruston, La., Brad Anders of Maumelle, Alicia Davidson of Mabelvale and Heather Owen of Lonoke; four great grandchildren.
Funeral services: 2 p.m. Monday at Frazer’s Chapel. Burial: Shady Grove Cemetery at Jersey by Frazer’s Funeral Home.
Visitation: 6-8 p.m. Sunday at Frazer’s.
Samuel Power
Samuel Alyn (Sammy) Power, 55, White Hall, tap danced out of this world and into heaven on Friday, March 6, 2009 at Baptist Medical Center, Little Rock, Ark., after a brief battle with lung cancer. Sam was born November 23, 1953 at Pine Bluff, Ark. He is survived by his wife and cohort in mischief for 14 years, Linda Sue Lindsay Lane Power, his mother, Eva Beatrice (Bea) Hamilton Rembowski, Pine Bluff, his brothers Marvin Edward (Ed) and wife Sandy, Pine Bluff, James Harold and wife Brenda, Rison, Thomas Richard (Tom), Pine Bluff, and Jeffrey Dewayne (Jeff) and wife Charlotte of Sheridan, favorite uncle and mentor, Richard Power and wife Kathryn of Houston, Texas, step-brothers Calvin D. Austin, Gainesville, Florida, Carroll Lee Austin, Kingsland, Billy Joe Austin, Little Rock, James T. Austin, Pine Bluff, Bill Rembowski and wife Kay, Alpena, Michigan, step-sisters Ramona Ray, Jasper, Marsha DeVeganera and husband Pete, Alpena, Michigan, Barbara Markam and husband Mark, Las Vegas, Nevada, step-daughter, Cathy and her child, Texas and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews.
After a few setbacks, Sam graduated from Pine Bluff High School in 1973 where he was a “band buzzard” playing drums. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational Management from John Brown University in 2004. He was so proud to walk down the aisle in his cap and gown to get that piece of paper, and the family would like to remember the late “Boo” Houston for her encouragement while he was struggling in her English class.
He was discharged from the Navy in 1976 after serving two years as a jet engine mechanic with the VF-202 unit, Naval Air Station, Dallas. One of the biggest surprises he experienced was visiting the Naval Air Station in 1995 and seeing “his” jet on permanent display.
Sam was employed at the Pine Bluff Arsenal for 32 years, most recently working as an Industrial Specialist for the Directorate of Engineering and Technology. He earned his black belt in Taiho-Ryu Karate under Sensei Bo Hardy, and tried very hard to live up to the credo of Discipline-Honor-Respect-Humility. He loved to poke around old Civil War sites with his metal detector looking for relics; fishing with anyone who cared to wet a hook, camping and hunting. He started playing drums as a youngster when his Papaw Sam Power bought him his first trap set, and played professionally from his teen years until he joined the Navy. He was previously co-owner of a photography studio in Pine Bluff several years ago.
Sam was full of humor, energy and love, and he brought that special magic into life. He will be sorely missed.
He was predeceased by his 2-year-old sister, Tammy Power in 1965, step-father, Leo Rembowski in 1990, father, Martin E. Power in 1994, and step-mother, Bertie Estelle Austin Power in 2008.
The visitation will be Monday, March 9, 2009, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Robinson’s.
Funeral services are scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 2 p.m., in the Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son with Reverend Terry Williams officiating. Cremation will follow the service.
Online guest registry at www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.
Andrew Dupree, 57, of New Edinburg, died Friday at his home. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Brown-Williams Funeral Home of Fordyce.
Scottie Fern Green Harper, 87, of Pine Bluff, died Friday at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Ralph Robinson and Son Funeral Directors.