Obituaries

DEATHS FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2009

Friday, March 20, 2009 9:45 AM CDT

Barbara Adams

Mrs. Barbara Denice Adams, 40, of Pine Bluff died Sunday, March 15, 2009.

She was born in Pine Bluff to the late Hubert Stubbs and Jo Ann Welch.

Her survivors include son, Michael Battles Jr.; daughters, Tiffany Battles and Brittany Burks, all of Pine Bluff; brothers, Antonio Welch of Searcy, Anthony Stubbs and Mark Stubbs, both of Upper Marlboro, Md., and Chad Stubbs of Rison; sisters, Vickie Adams of Forrest City, Donna Stubbs, Shelton Stubbs, Teresa Stubbs and Krystal Stubbs; grandfather, Cleveland Adams, all of Pine Bluff; one grandchild.

Her services will be Saturday, March 21, 2009, at Mount Nebo Baptist Church by Rev. Larry Battles at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Visitation is today from 4-7 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 3504 W. Short Second St., Pine Bluff, Ark.

Roelean Briley

Roelean Briley, 65, of Pine Bluff died Monday at her home.

She was born Aug. 19, 1943, at Sheridan, a daughter of the late Jack Thedford and Naomi Edwards.

Survivors: sons, Davis Adams Sr., Paul Simmons Sr., both of Pine Bluff, Richard Baxter Jr. of North Little Rock; daughter, Debbie Simmons-Johnson of Dallas; stepson, Eddie Briley Jr. of Pine Bluff; brothers, Theodis Smith Sr., George Jordan, Fredrick Edwards, all of Pine Bluff; sisters, Emma Lever of White Hall, Marilyn McBride of Little Rock; 16 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral services: 11 a.m. Saturday, Highland Baptist Church, Rev. Mark Stevens officiating. Burial: Henson Memorial Garden by Henson Mortuary.

Charles Collins

Mr. Charles Edward Collins, 30, of Pine Bluff died, Tuesday, March 10, 2009.

He was born in Pine Bluff to Charles Smith of Stuttgart and Margie Smith of Pine Bluff.

His survivors include sons, Charles Parker, Charleston Collins and Kobe Collins; brothers, William Boatman III all of Pine Bluff, Charles Simmons of Stuttgart; sisters, Tychina Baker of Stuttgart and Iesha Boatman; grandmothers, Lether Collins and Roberta Smith; stepfather, William Boatman Jr., all of Pine Bluff.

His services will be Saturday, March 21, 2009, at Mount Harmony Baptist Church by Rev. Issac Barron at 3 p.m.

Visitation will be today from 6-7 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.

The body will lie in state at the church from 2:15 p.m. until time of service.

The family will be at 310 W. Harding St., Pine Bluff, Ark.

Virginia Gentry

Mrs. Virginia Gentry, 79 of Pine Bluff, died, Monday, March 16, 2009.

She was born in Noble Lake to the late Benjamin Suggs and Annie Bell Suggs.

Her survivors includes daughters, Bertha Gates and Barbie Harris of Pine Bluff, Bonita Harris of Lynn, Mass., and Viola Harris of Tampa, Fla.; brothers, O.D. Suggs of Lynn, Mass., Jimmy Suggs and Ed Suggs of Pine Bluff; sisters, Rachel Hill of Crain Creek, Ariz., and Bertha Harris of Pine Bluff; seven grandchildren.

Her services will be Saturday, March 21, 2009, at Main Street COGIC by Elder Joe L. Stocker at 3 p.m. Burial will be in Solomon Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be today from 5:30-7 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.

The body will lie in state at the church from 2:15 p.m. until time of service.

The family will be at 1103 S. Utah St., Pine Bluff, Ark.

ZaMaya Harris

ZaMaya Harris died March 12 at Arkansas Children’s Hospital at Little Rock.

She was born March 12, at Pine Bluff, a daughter of Cynthia Harris of Pine Bluff.

Other survivors include her grandmother, Cynthia Scott.

Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Forest Lawn Memorial Garden by Christian Way Funeral Home.

Thomas Reed Jr.

Thomas Russell Reed, Jr., 91, of Pine Bluff, Ark., died Tuesday, March 17, 2009, at his home.

He was born March 17, 1918, in Pine Bluff, to Thomas Russell Reed Sr., and Julia Marie Reed.

Mr. Reed was reared and educated in Pine Bluff and also attended Arkansas A&M in Monticello.

He served in the United States Air Force during World War II and then went to work at the Pine Bluff Arsenal. At the time of his retirement he was a purchasing agent for the United States Government.

He was a member of Hardin Baptist Church, the Jacob Brump Lodge No. 160, the Scottish Rite and a Shriner. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing golf.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Roberta Harleen Reed, whom he married April 24, 1942, in Stockton, Calif.

Survivors include a son, Vernon Reed of Austin, Texas; a daughter, Roberta Wood of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; two grandchildren, Clark and Natalie Reed; three brothers, Martin Reed of Fairbanks, Alaska, James Reed of Pine Bluff, and Johnny Reed of Pine Bluff.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time today at Robinson’s.

Services will be 2 p.m., Friday, March 20, 2009, Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son, where everyone will be encouraged to share their favorite memories of Mr. Reed.

Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Online register www.ralphrobinsonandson.com

Rubie Hawkins

GOULD — Mrs. Rubie Lee Hawkins, 88, of Gould, Ark., died Thursday, March 12, 2009, at Jefferson Regional Medical Hospital in Pine Bluff.

Born Sept. 9, 1920, in Grady, Ark., she was a daughter of the late Joseph Guest and Naomi Moore Williams.

She was a member of Jericho Missionary Baptist Church, where she was a member of the mother’s board.

Survivors include six sons, Willie Lee Hawkins, Calvin Hawkins, Terry Hawkins, Larry Hawkins, all of Little Rock, Harry Hawkins of Flint, Mich., Alfred Adams of Chicago, Ill.; two daughters, Betty Martin of Alexander and Augustine Gibson of Little Rock; 12 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2009, at First Baptist Church in Gould with Rev. Kenneth Harris officiating. Burial will be in Jericho Cemetery at Gould 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 from 9:30 a.m. until time of service.

Glendine Rauls

HAMBURG — Glendine Rauls, 70, of Hamburg died Thursday at her home.

She was born Aug. 19, 1938, at Malvern, a daughter of the late Robert Watson James and Laferne Shoemaker Dodd.

Survivors include her husband, William Junior Rauls; seven sisters, Louise Gundlach, Vecita Goss, Linda Zion, Carolyn Joyce Neff, Virgie Williams, Sharon James and Karen Guerin.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Buie Funeral Home of Rison with Keith Wesson officiating. Burial will be in Prosperity Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 8 a.m. until time of service Saturday.

Jerry Glover

NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Jerry P. Glover, 86, of North Little Rock, Ark., formerly a longtime resident of Pine Bluff, passed away Monday, March 16, 2009, at Baptist Health Medical Center in North Little Rock.

He was born Aug. 2, 1922, in Shreveport, La., a son of the late Jerry Preston and Annie Mae Railey Glover.

He moved to Pine Bluff as an infant, where he was reared and received his early education. Mr. Glover was a 1942 graduate of Pine Bluff High School, where he played on the 1939 National Championship High School Football Team and also on the 1942 All-State Team.

In 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II as an airplane crew chief working primarily on B-24 Liberators. After attaining the rank of technical sergeant, he was honorably discharged in January of 1946.

Mr. Glover married Johnita Jayne Holmes in Pine Bluff during January of 1943. They spent the next 54 years of their lives together, until her death in May of 1997.

He worked for Arkansas Power & Light for 21 years and later became a sales representative for Mobile Chemical Corp., for 12 years, until his retirement in 1987.

Mr. Glover was a volunteer for the Pine Bluff-Jefferson County Historical Museum and a member of the American Legion. While a resident of Pine Bluff, he was a member of First United Methodist Church.

After moving to North Little Rock in 1998, he became a member of Park Hill Presbyterian Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife; a sister, Dorothy Cornell; and a grandson, Walter Robertson.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Jo Rowe Glover, whom he married Nov. 28, 1998, in Pine Bluff; three daughters, Brenda Robertson, of Oxford, Miss., Cindy Slaughter of Pine Bluff, and Julia May (Todd), of Cabot; two step-daughters, Betty Ann Henry of Little Rock and Sandi Kimmins of Dallas; six grandchildren, David Robertson (Catherine), Preston Slaughter, Sara Slaughter, Wesley Gorman, Courtney Gorman and Jerry Gorman; one step-granddaughter, Michelle Garber; one great-granddaughter and one step-great-grandson.

A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2009, in the Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Home with Revs. Dr. Gordon Garlington and David King officiating. Burial will follow in Graceland Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Park Hill Presbyterian Church, 3520 John F. Kennedy Blvd., North Little Rock, Ark., 72116.

Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.

Leon Harris Sr.

SHERRILL — Mr. Leon Harris Sr., 60, of Sherrill died Monday, March 16, 2009.

He was born in Sherrill to the late Emanuel Harris and Annette Moore.

His survivors include wife, Vera J. Harris; sons, Freddie Harris, Leon Harris Jr., Alex Harris and Stacy Harris, all of Sherrill, and Dewayne Harris of Little Rock; daughter, Regina Harris of Sherrill; brothers, Robert Davis of Little Rock, Louis Penister of Pine Bluff, Leroy Penister of Little Rock, John Penister of Houston, Texas, and Sylvester Harris of Kansas City, Kan.; sisters, Florence McClinton and Louise Hunter of Pine Bluff, Betty Mayweather, Ella Robinson, Clara Harris and Collentine Norwood, all of Little Rock; 15 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

His services will be Saturday, March 21, 2009, at Antioch Baptist Church in Pastoria by Rev. Melvin Walker at 1 p.m. Burial will be in Antioch Cemetery in Pastoria.

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 12:15 p.m. until time of service.

The family will be at 314 Tucker St., Sherrill, Ark.

Fred McNeal Jr.

SHERRILL — Funeral services for Fred “Brother” McNeal Jr., 76, of Sherrill, who died March 5, will be Saturday, 11 a.m., New Hope AME Church, Sherrill, Rev. H.O. Gray pastor, Rev. Clark E. Thomas officiating.

He was born July 21, 1932, in Mississippi, son of the late Fred and Earlene F. McNeal.

He began his early education in Mississippi, he continued his education in Arkansas graduating from Sherrill Junior High and from Wabbaseka High School. He was a graduate of AM&N College, now UAPB, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in science and agriculture.

He worked for over 40 years with the U.S. Post Office in California.

He united with New Hope AME Church, where he served as assistant Sunday school superintendent, donating generously to college scholarship funds and aiding young people who were attending college.

He was preceded in death by his sisters, Corine, Violetta, Jessie.

Survivors include Maxine Cooper; three brothers, Cras M. McNeal, Los Angeles, Calif., Wardell McNeal, Los Angeles, Calif., Calvin McNeal, Oakland, Calif.; two sisters, Geraldine Hayden, Waurean Dugan, both Los Angeles, Calif.; brother-in-law, Jerrell Dugan, Los Angeles, Calif.; two sisters-in-law, Carol McNeal, Rhetta F. McNeal.

Visitations may be made today 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the funeral home.

Burial will be in New Hope Cemetery, Sherrill, Ark., by Perry Funeral Home.

Pearlie Gipson

STAR CITY — Mrs. Pearlie Mae Gipson, 80, of Star City died Monday, March 16, 2009.

She was born in Tillar to the late Oscar and Mary Ward.

Her survivors includes sons, Henry Gipson and Hugh Gipson Jr., both of Pine Bluff, and Willie Gipson of Little Rock; daughters, Irma Gipson and Jennette Gipson of Star City, Joann Glover of Pine Bluff and Rose Simmons of Little Rock; 25 grandchildren; 56 great-grandchildren; and 12 great-great-grandchildren.

Her services will be Saturday, March 21, 2009, at Christ Temple Church of Christ Holiness by Rev. Matthew Winston at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Lincoln Memorial Gardens in Varner.

Visitation is today from 6-7 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.

The family will be at 2400 Surfside Lane, Pine Bluff, Ark.

Raymond Douglas

HOUSTON — Raymond Douglas, 65, of Houston, formerly of Dumas, Ark., died Monday.

He was born Feb. 7, 1944, at Johnstown, Ark.

He was a crane operator for MB Western Industrial and a Baptist.

Survivors include one son, Raymond D. Laymance of Houston; two daughters, Lea Janette Bennett of Tonkawa, Okla., and Tammy Renee Taylor of Ponca City, Okla.; one sister, Lockie Murphy of Dumas; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today at Griffin Funeral Home at Dumas. Burial will be in Walnut Lake Cemetery at Dumas.

Emma Forrest

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Emma B. Forrest, 83, of Kansas City, Mo., died March 14, 2009, at Plaza Manor surrounded by family and friends.

Funeral services will be 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2009, at McGilley Midtown Chapel, 20 W. Linwood, KCMO. Burial will be in Simmons Park Cemetery, Catron, Mo. Visitation at the funeral home from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

Emma was born July 27, 1925, in Arkansas, to Matilda (Wagoner) and James Penister. Emma moved to Howardville, Mo., where she attended The Church of the Holy Temple. In 1999, Ms. Emma moved to Kansas City, where she spent her remaining years at Plaza Manor.

Her survivors include two sons, Jeremiah Wells and Johnnie Lyles; two grandchildren, Maurice Lyles and Tasha Lyles; and three great-grandchildren; several cousins, nieces and nephews.

William Clemmons , 85, of Pine Bluff died Wednesday. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.

Earnestine Dancy , 70, of Pine Bluff died Thursday at her home. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Perry Funeral Home.

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