Obituaries

DEATHS FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2009

Thursday, March 12, 2009 10:04 AM CDT

Tracey Davis

Tracey Lee Davis, 12, of Pine Bluff died Monday.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Directors. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.

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

David Kimbrell

David Gage Kimbrell, 3-month-old son of Bobby and Amy Harrell Kimbrell of Pine Bluff, went to be with the Lord, Monday, March 9, 2009.

He was born Nov. 17, 2008, in Little Rock.

David was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Alex Kimbrell, Sam and DeeMerris Peden, Reba Ford.

He is survived by his parents, Bobby and Amy Harrell Kimbrell of Pine Bluff; one sister, MadaLynn “Maddie” Kimbrell of Pine Bluff; grandparents, Sandy Babcock of Hensley, Ronnie Harrell, Mack and Brenda Kimbrell, all of Pine Bluff; great-grandparents, Carol Kimbrell of Pine Bluff, Barbara and Buddy Calaway of Hensley, Tommy Ford, James and Margaret Harrell, all of Pine Bluff; aunts and uncles, Rusty and Becky Hobson of Sheridan, Brittany and Brad Harrell of Hensley.

Funeral services are 2 p.m. Friday, March 13, 2009, at Buie Chapel in Rison with Brother John Bean officiating. Burial will follow in New Hope Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., today, March 12, 2009, at Buie Funeral Home.

Arrangements are under the direction of Buie Funeral Home of Rison (870) 325-6216.

Please sign the online guest book at www.buiefuneralhome.com

Mamie Ross

Mamie L. Etherly Ross was born on March 22, 1925, to the late Arthur and Manervia Etherly.

Graduating from Rison High School in 1943, she attended Branch Normal College. She completed nurse’s training at Pines Vocational School with the highest academic honors in her class. For 23 years she worked with great compassion as a nurse at Jefferson Regional Medical Center.

On Dec. 26, 1944, she entered into holy matrimony with her high school sweetheart, Burks Ross Sr. (deceased)

Mrs. Ross was a member of Eighth Avenue Baptist Church, where she served as a trustee, former Women’s Day chairperson, second vice president of the Women’s Missionary Society and Esther Circle chairperson. She was the Sunday school secretary for the Emma Taylor classroom and a committee member for various other programs. She was also past vice president of the Retired and Active Nurses Group.

A servant to God and to all that needed her assistance, she was also an articulate orator and a constant doer of good deeds.

Cherishing her memory forever is her son, Burks (Stephanie) of Creve Couer, Mo.; and daughter, Jacquelyn (Will) of Buffalo, N.Y.; two grandsons, Kevin (Michelle) of Lawrenceville, Ga., Jason (Elena) of San Francisco, Calif.; and one granddaughter, Kena of Creve Coeur, Mo.; four great-grandchildren, Nigel, Raven, Aminah and Willow; a beloved brother and sister, John W. Etherly and Johnetta Etherly Gough, both of Pine Bluff, Ark.; sisters-in-law, Norma Etherly of Pine Bluff, Ark.; Ophia Etherly of Flint, Mich.; and brother-in-law, Dr. Edward E. Mays.

A wake will be held on Thursday evening, 5-7 p.m. at P.K. Miller Funeral Home.

Funeral services: Friday, March 13, 2009, 11 a.m. at Eighth Avenue Baptist Church, 1200 W. Eighth Ave., Rev. Lafayette Woods, officiant and eulogist. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Gardens.

Phyllis Smith

Ms. Phyllis LaKay Smith, 50, of Pine Bluff was called home on March 6, 2009.

With her daughter by her side, Phyllis walked into her Lord's loving arms on that morning. Phyllis enjoyed being around people and she had a heart warming smile for everyone she met. Throughout her years, she refused to allow her illness to hinder the pursuit of her goals. She will forever be remembered as a person who savored every drop of life she could get.

Phyllis was born to the late Charlie and Cornelia Smith on July 21, 1958, in Chicago, Ill. She spent most of her childhood years in Pine Bluff, where she attended school at Watson Chapel. She obtained her bachelor’s degree at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and later received her master’s degree at New Hampshire College of Manchester, N.H.

She leaves to cherish her memories, her beloved daughter and friend Rorie Chante’ Smith and three grandsons Ke’Lonn, Kenny and Kyronn of Grand Prairie, Texas. Her sisters, Juanita Johnson of Coon Rapid, Minn., and Jeanette Nelson of Chicago, Ill. Her sisters/friends, Estella Fisher of Missouri City, Texas, Patricia Millard Johnson of Little Rock and Sharon Dionne Crosby of Pine Bluff and a host of friends and family.

A service to celebrate Phyllis’ life will be held on Friday, March 13, 2009, at 11 a.m. at Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Pine Bluff with Rev. Harold Shirlee officiating.

Visitation will be held today at Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff from 5-7 with a family hour from 6-7.

Her family and friends would like to express their gratitude to all that lent a helping hand.

Jimmy Taggart

Jimmy L. Taggart, 58, of Pine Bluff born Feb. 9, 1951, the son of the late Aaron and Sadie Taggart departed this life, Monday, March 9, 2009.

Two brothers, Jessie and Aaron Taggart; and one sister, Dorothy Taggart preceded him in death.

Survivors: wife, Virdia Bland Taggart; daughters, Karla Michelle Taggart, Latasha Tate (Larry), Karkarsha Freeman; son, Anthony Freeman; brothers, Roosevelt Taggart and James Taggart, Oscar Taggart; sisters, Rosie L. Bell, Marie Okey, Future M. Moore, Freddie M. Westmoreland.

His services will be Friday, March 13, 2009, at Full Counsel Church by Pastor S. Vincent Johnson at 2 p.m. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Section of Graceland.

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 1:15 p.m. until time of service.

Clarence Thomason

WARREN — Clarence L. Thomason, 90, of Warren died Wednesday at Bradley County Medical Center.

He was born Jan. 27, 1919, at Warren, a son of the late Walter Howard Thomason and Carrie Elmyra Glover Thomason.

Survivors: one son, Jimmy Thomason of Beebe; two daughters, Nancy Thomason Anders of Warren and Becky Thomason Bryant of Poetry, Texas; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services: 10 a.m. Friday at Frazer’s Funeral Home at Warren. Burial: Oakland Cemetery.

Visitation: 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church or Bradley County Medical Center.

Charles Edward Collins, 30, of Pine Bluff died Tuesday. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.

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