Obituaries

DEATHS FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2009

Thursday, April 2, 2009 10:22 AM CDT

Jessie Marks

Mrs. Jessie Bass Marks, 79, of Pine Bluff, died Thursday, March 26, 2009.

She was born in Coulquitt, La., to the late Jesse and Nannie Bass.

Her survivors include sons, Sammie Marks of Seattle, Wash., Elvin Marks and Donald Marks; daughters, Jessie Marks, all of Pine Bluff, and Annette Marks of Seattle, Wash.; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Her services will be Friday, April 3, 2009, at New Town Baptist Church by Rev. Melvin Graves at 11 a.m. Interment will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery.

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

The body will lie in state at the church from 10:15 a.m. until time of service.

The family will be at 4101 W. Short Third St., Pine Bluff, Ark.

Martha Turner

Martha Janet Nethercutt Turner, 76, of Pine Bluff, died March 29, 2009, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center.

Mrs. Turner was born Feb. 3, 1933, at Hermitage, Ark., the daughter of the late Jesse Garland and Mary Ruth Nethercutt.

She graduated from Pine Bluff High School in 1951, after attending various schools in Arkansas and Tennessee. She married Charles Turner on Aug. 19, 1951, in El Dorado, Ark.

Mr. Turner was the son of late Otis and Bertha Turner, longtime residents of El Dorado. Mr. Charles Turner passed away on Nov. 17, 2005.

Mrs. Turner worked in El Dorado at McCroy’s Department Store and at a dress store, then moved to Pine Bluff, where she was a homemaker for several years and raised four children. She worked for Sears in Pine Bluff for 25 years in various departments until she was forced to retire on disability.

Mrs. Turner helped organize the National Girls Ponytail Softball League, also serving as president and a coach.

She worked with the Boy’s National League, serving as president of the Ladies Auxiliary Board for one year and team mother for three years while her three boys played Little League.

Mrs. Turner worked with the Pine Bluff Boys Club at Ninth Avenue and Ash Street, as a team mom and a Little Pigs Cheerleader sponsor.

She was very involved in the schools. She served as Parent Teacher Association president at Sam Taylor Elementary, where she received the lifetime membership pin, and Dial Jr. High. She was also president of the Central Council Parent Teacher Association, where she received a lifetime membership.

Mrs. Turner was a member of the DuBocage Chapter of the ABWA, where she served as president, vice president, as well as several other capacities. She was also chosen Woman of the Year. She also attended National Conventions in San Antonio and Los Angeles, where she enjoyed meeting new people.

She was a charter member of Wesley United Methodist Church, which met under a tree before the building was built. She and her husband joined the church under the tree. She served the church in many areas. She taught a 5-year-old Sunday School Class for 10 years.

Mrs. Turner enjoyed traveling to see her children and grandchildren. She traveled to Michigan, California, Nevada, Texas, Missouri, and even Okinawa, Japan to see her children and grandchildren. She has also been to Florida, the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls and Mexico. She also enjoyed crafts and reading.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Mr. Charles O. Turner.

Mrs. Turner is survived by her daughter, Pamela S. Turner of Pine Bluff; three sons, Larry E. Turner of Stuttgart, James Allen Turner of Memphis, Tenn., and Charles Wade Turner of Sacramento, Calif. She is also survived by three sisters, and a brother; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Friday, April 3, 2009, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Robinson’s.

Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, April 4, 2009, 10 a.m. in the Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son with Rev. Jason Ferguson officiating. Interment will follow in Goodfaith Cemetery.

Online register:www.ralphrobinsonandson.com

Dorothy Williams

Dorothy Mae Williams, 77, of Pine Bluff died Friday.

She was born at Pine Bluff a daughter of the late Jessie and Molly Langel.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Rose Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. G.L. Ford officiating. Burial will be in Mount Olive Cemetery by Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.

Visitation will be from 4:30-7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

The body will be at the church from 1:15 p.m. until time of service Friday.

The family will be at 3700 S. Holly St.

Leonard Ridgle Sr.

ALTHEIMER — Leonard Keith Ridgle Sr., 44, of Altheimer, died Sunday.

He was a son of Hattie Ridgle.

Other survivors: wife, Shanika Ridgle; children, Joshalynn Oates, Leonard Ridgle Jr., Keith Ridgle, Akia Ridgle, Brandon Bridges and Candance Harris; brothers, O.D. Ridgle Jr., John Ridgle, Jeffrey Ridgle Sr., Roy Ridgle Sr., Bruce Ridgle Sr., and David Ridgle; sisters, Shirley Lea, Leara Summons and Kathryn Gibson; and six grandchildren.

Funeral services: 1 p.m. Saturday at East Macedonia Baptist Church at England with Derrick Herron officiating. Arrangements are by Robinson Mortuary at Little Rock.

Visitation: 6-7 p.m. Friday at Abundant Grace at England.

Orville Ledbetter

DUMAS — Orville Eugene Ledbetter, 82, of Dumas, Ark., departed this life, Tuesday, March 31, 2009, at Delta Memorial Hospital in Dumas.

Born April 14, 1926, in St. Charles, Ark., he was a son of the late Nelson and Nora Adams Ledbetter. He was reared and received his education in several towns in South East Arkansas.

In September of 1944, Mr. Ledbetter joined the United States Navy. He served during World War II, in the Pacific Theater on the USS Rendova. After attaining the rank of Fireman First Class, he was honorably discharged in June of 1946.

In 1946, Mr. Ledbetter moved to Bearden, Ark., where he married Roxie Jean Bowman. Together they moved to Camden in 1949, living there for a number of years. Mr. Ledbetter was a master plumber who took jobs all over, causing him and his family to live in different cities in Arkansas. They moved to Arkadelphia and then on to England, where he was the England Water Plant Manager for over seven years. He and his family then moved to the Pine Bluff area, working for the city of Pine Bluff for seven years as the city plumbing inspector. He then became the owner and operator of Better’s Plumbing, until his retirement in 1988. He and his wife then retired to a small community outside of Dumas.

“Mr. Led” or “Pop,” as he is lovingly remembered, was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a Christian and enjoyed his daily Bible devotions with Brother Murray from Shepherds Chapel. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying both hunting and fishing.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and one son, Jerry Wayne Ledbetter in 2000.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Roxie Jean Ledbetter of Dumas; two daughters, Jo Linda Ledbetter of Dumas and Laurie Ann Minton (Delbert) of England; four grandchildren, Scott Ledbetter of Pine Bluff, Amy Woolridge (Chris), of Newalla, Okla., Jennifer Belyea (Lewis) of Oklahoma City and Sable Minton of England; and two great-granddaughters, Samantha Belyea and Katie Woolridge.

Graveside service will be held 2 p.m., Thursday, April 2, 2009, at Moss Cemetery at Bearden, Ark.

The family will receive friends Thursday morning from 10 a.m.-12 noon at Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Home.

Friends may sign the online register at www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.

Myrtle Edwards

GRADY — Myrtle Edwards, age 79, longtime resident of Grady and widow of J.C. Edwards, died Wednesday.

Born Jan. 23, 1930, at Kingsland to the late Marvin P. and Mary Elizabeth Wilson Brown, she was a homemaker, a Methodist, and lived in Little Rock for past five years.

She was predeceased by four brothers, Albert “Bud” Brown, Lester Brown, W.W. “Bill” Brown, and Herman “Red” Brown.

Survivors: sons, Gary Smith of White Hall and Kirby Smith of Little Rock; sisters, Mary Caple of Sheridan and Ruby Barnett of Kingsland; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.

Graveside Services: Friday, 1:30 p.m., Kingsland Cemetery.

Visitation: today, 6-8 p.m., Fuller Hale-South Funeral Services, Pine Bluff.

Online condolences: www.FullerFunerals.com

Lois Wigley

MONTICELLO — Lois Young Wigley, age 91, passed away Monday, March 30, 2009, at Monticello Healthcare.

Born Sept. 6, 1917, in Drew County, Ark., she was the daughter of the late Lawrence Young and Susie Green Dennis.

She was the widow of Wilson Wigley, a retired merchant, and a member of Second Baptist Church. Mrs. Wigley loved sewing, quilting and playing Skipbo with her friends.

She also loved cooking for people and she was widely known for her famous fried pies. She loved her church and her friends dearly, and had a sense of humor that never ended.

She was also preceded in death by a son, Billy Wigley; three brothers, Jim, Pete and Albert; two sisters, Lurene and Sally; a son-in-law, Billy Wayne Berry; a daughter-in-law, Sara Wigley; a great-granddaughter, Madeline Ann Grubbs.

Survivors include one son, Sam Wigley of Lacey; two daughters, Dorothy Berry of Fountain Hill and Eleanor Stephenson and husband, Travis of Monticello; one brother, Dick Jones of Greenville, Miss.; one sister, Scottie Cloud of Freeport, Texas; a daughter-in-law, Betty Wigley Berry of Monticello; eight grandchildren, David Wigley, Michael Wigley and wife, Lori, Lisa Shrum and husband, Gabe, Greg Berry, Lee Ellen Wigley, Joshua Wigley, Traci Grubbs and husband, Nat, and Tim Stephenson; and six great-grandchildren, Daniel and Mary Beth Wigley, Reagan and Gillian Shrum, and Meredith and Emily Grubbs.

Funeral Service will be 2 p.m. Friday, April 3 at Second Baptist Church in Monticello, Ark., by Rev. Jimmy Albrecht and Rev. Keith Hicks. Burial will be in the Prairie Grove Cemetery by Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home of Monticello.

Family visitation will be 6-8 p.m. today, April 2 at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the Second Baptist Church building fund or the Prairie Grove Cemetery Association.

William Gibbs

WHITE HALL — William J. Gibbs went to be with the Lord March 28, 2009.

Bill was born March 31, 1936, in New York.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William J. Gibbs Sr. and Virginia Nesbit.

Bill is survived by one son, Matthew Gibbs of Seattle, Wash.; and one granddaughter, Hannah. Also surviving are his sister, Gini Aiken and husband, Bob of White Hall; nephews, Bill Wiegand and family of White Hall, Bob Wiegand and family of Dallas, Texas, Cassandra Smith and family of Sheridan, Shirlee Donaldson and family of Boston; three stepchildren of California.

Memorials may be sent to Family Church in White Hall or the Jefferson County Humane Society.

Arrangements were by the Neptune Society.

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