Obituaries

DEATHS FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2009

Wednesday, April 1, 2009 10:31 AM CDT

Emma Robinson

Emma A. Robinson, age 96, of Pine Bluff, died Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

Born Feb. 22, 1913, at Benton, Ark., she was the daughter of the late Walter and May Lovell Harrison.

She worked as an alteration lady at Wardlaw’s Cleaners of Altheimer, Welch’s Dry Cleaners, and Waymack’s Cleaners of Pine Bluff.

She was a former member of the First Missionary Baptist Church of Sherrill, Ark., where she was at one time honored as its oldest surviving member. She was a current member of First Immanuel Missionary Baptist Church of Pine Bluff, Ark.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest J. Robinson; a son, William “Bill” Robinson; a brother, John Harrison; sisters, Cynthia Camp and Jean Moore; an infant brother; and two grandchildren.

She is survived by two daughters, Nancy Hearon (Louis) of North Little Rock and Pat Henderson (Dave) of Pine Bluff; a brother, Walter Harrison of Missouri; six grandchildren Richard Hearon (Sheri) of Sherwood, Stacy Smith (David) of Cabot, Jim Hearon (Patty) of Ward, John Henderson (Leisa) of Searcy and Matt Henderson (Angie) of Pine Bluff; four stepgrandchildren, Doug, Glen, Sonja and Sharon Bethea; 26 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Thursday, 3 p.m. at Fuller Hale-South Funeral Chapel with Dave Henderson officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery with grandsons serving as pallbearers.

Visitation will be Thursday from 1:30 p.m. until service time.

Family requests memorials can be made to First Immanuel Missionary Baptist Church, 1500 W. 73rd Ave., Pine Bluff, Ark., 71603.

Online condolences: www.FullerFunerals.com

Barbara Patrick

CALMER — Barbara Ann Rushing Patrick, age 65, of Calmer died Monday night, March 30, 2009, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center, Pine Bluff, Ark.

Born Feb. 22, 1944, at Rison, Ark., she was the daughter of the late William (Tom) and Lillian Owen Rushing.

Barbara was reared at Calmer and graduated from Woodlawn High School, later received a degree from Fuhr’s School of Business in July 1963. She became a licensed abstractor for Jefferson Abstract in Pine Bluff, and later became the office manager of Mosley Abstract Company of Rison before retiring in 1978 due to her health. Barbara was a member of Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church.

She was also preceded in death by one brother, James Edward Rushing; one niece and one nephew.

Barbara is survived by five siblings, Ira Van Owen of Pine Bluff, Thelma Morris of Woodlawn, Owen Rushing and Linda Newman, both of Calmer, David Rushing of White Hall, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Thursday, April 2, 2009, at Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church at Woodlawn with Brother Matt Donell and Brother Doney Blackerby officiating. Burial will follow in Friendship Cemetery.

Visitation is 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church Building Fund, 8700 Highway 63, Rison, Ark., 71665; or Friendship Cemetery Association, c/o Peggy McCoskey, 1300 Brushy Creek Road, Rison, Ark., 71665.

Pallbearers are Carrie Taylor, David Williams, J.L. Wolley, Dennis Crabb, Roger Shelby, Don Gavin, Jessie Don Owen, and Gary Rushing.

Honorary pallbearers are Robert and Tyler Rushing, Doug, Brendan, Chaney, and Nicholas Coleman, Terry and Jason Morris, Mike Rushing, Jon, Eli, and Josiah Rushing, Steve Newman, Scott Newman, Jeff Owen, Mike and Jerry Winningham, Bruce and Justin Huddleston, Shawn Honda, Landen Burns, Scott and Blake West, and the class of 1962.

The family will be at the home of Linda Newman.

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

Please sign the online guestbook at www.buiefuneralhome.com.

Billy Rice

CROSSETT — Billy Lee Rice, age 73, a lifelong resident of Crossett passed away on March 30, 2009, at his residence. He was born on April 14, 1935, in Crossett to his late parents, Harvey H. and Willie Mae Watt Rice.

Mr. Rice was retired from GP Plywood Maintenance and was a retired auto mechanic. He was an avid hunter and loved to work in the garden, furnishing family, friends and neighbors with vegetables.

Mr. Rice was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn Rice; three sisters, Virginia Roberts, Joan Rives, Gail King; and one brother, Ivy Jean Barnett.

Survivors include one daughter, Lea Culp and husband, Jim; one son, Bill Rice and wife, Renee, all of Crossett, Ark.; one sister, Betty Bradshaw of Pine Bluff, Ark.; he was a loving papaw to four grandchildren, Brad Murphy, Nina Edwards, JoyAnna Cain and husband, Waylon, Brittany Barnett and husband, Jeremey; and three great-grandchildren, Abby Edwards, Andy Edwards, Hunter Barnett, and Harley Cain (to arrive soon).

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., today, April 1, 2009, at Magnolia Baptist Church with Bro. Mike Griffith and Bro. David Tohlen officiating. Interment will follow at Crossroads Cemetery under the direction of Jones Funeral Home of Crossett, Ark. (www.jonesservice.com)

Pallbearers: James Watt, Timmy Watt, Gene Watt, Kevin Kinchen, Donnie Murel Watt, Jerry Terrell, Edward Phillips, James Michael Watt.

Honorary pallbearers: Jap Watt, Derrell Stephenson, R. E. Thomas, Jimmy Bolton, Terry Williams, Gene Spells.

Hannah McWilliams

LITTLE ROCK — Hannah Grace McWilliams was born on Monday, March 30, 2009, at 2:38 p.m. at Baptist Hospital, Little Rock, Ark., and after spending precious time with family and friends departed this life at 10:30 p.m. that night.

Hannah is survived by her parents, Matt and Elsie McWilliams; brothers, Jordan and Daniel; her loving big sister, Megan; and reunited with her brother, Jacob Aaron McWilliams, who preceded her in death. Hannah is also survived by her grandmother, Celia Stringfellow of Auckland, New Zealand and grandparents, Henry and Julia Ann Beckham of White Hall, Ark.

Graveside funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today, April 1, 2009, at Riverwood Memorial Garden in Maumelle.

Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal

Smedia Wilkes Sr.

MONTICELLO — Smedia Wilkes Sr., 85, of Monticello, passed away Sunday, March 29, 2009, at his home.

He was born July 4, 1923, in Drew County.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Mary Reed Wilkes of Monticello; six sons, Smedia (Barbara) Wilkes Jr. of St. Louis, Mo., Garnett Wilkes of Monticello, Cleolen Wilkes of Oak Park, Ill., Leonard (Sonja) Wilkes of Lynwood, Ill., Mark Wilkes and Timothy Wilkes, both of Monticello; five daughters, Mary (Louis) Thompson of Monticello, Dorothy (Alvin) Kinnebrew of Marietta, Ga., Bennie Lenear of Houston, Texas, Pat Nelson of Monticello, Shirley (Geneo) Tucker of Sherwood, Ark.; loving grands, great-grands, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Stephenson-Dearman Chapel. Burial in Oakland Cemetery.

Arrangements by Stephenson-Dearman.

Donell Eason Jr., 20, of Pine Bluff died Tuesday. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Christian Way Funeral Home.

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