Obituaries

DEATHS FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2009

Friday, April 3, 2009 10:40 AM CDT

Donell Eason Jr.

Donell Eason Jr., 20, of Pine Bluff died March 31, 2009, in Pine Bluff, Ark.

He was born Oct. 16, 1988, to Mr. Donell Eason Sr. and Mrs. Minnie Eason of Pine Bluff, Ark.

He is survived by his parents; four sisters, Serinthia Franklin, Veronica Franklin, Danialle Eason and Nastassia Nesby, all of Pine Bluff, Ark.; grandparents, Minnie Franklin of Pine Bluff, Clarence and Charlesetta Eason, both of Altheimer, Ark., and a host of other relatives.

Funeral service will be Saturday, April 4, 2009, at noon at Mount Harmony Baptist Church with Rev. Clark Thomas officiating. Burial will be in New Salem Cemetery in Sherrill, Ark.

Visitation will be today at Trinity Annex Building, 2900 W. Sixth from 5-7 p.m.

Services entrusted by Christian Way Funeral Home.

Doretha Johnson

Doretha Johnson, 75, of Pine Bluff died March 27 at her home.

She was born Aug. 27, 1933, a daughter of the late Sam Mathews and Mary Louise Chatman.

Survivors include one son, Jawayne Davis of Chicago; daughter, Leah Marie Hicks of Pine Bluff; one brother, W.J. Mathews of Lake Providence, La.; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Funeral services: noon Saturday at Unity Church of God in Christ with Elder Tommy York officiating.

Burial: Forest Lawn Memorial Garden by Pine Bluff Mortuary.

Visitation: 5-7 p.m. today at the mortuary’s chapel, 1001 E. Sixth Ave.

Lorraine McElyea

Lorraine Douglas McElyea of Pine Bluff died Wednesday.

She was born Feb. 7, 1921, at Steele, Mo., a daughter of the late John Henry and Elma Douglas. Survivors include one son, Mike Bigham of Warren; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Private services and burial were held Thursday in Bellwood Cemetery. Arrangements were by Fuller Hale-South Funeral Services.

Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to Bradley County Medical Center, 404 S. Bradley, Warren, Ark., 71671.

Willie Richerson

Mr. Willie T. Richerson, 58, of Pine Bluff, died, Friday, March 27, 2009.

He was born in Pine Bluff to Doliner Fisher of Los Angeles, Calif., and the late David Jackson.

His survivors include son, Danrian Banks of Little Rock; brother, Jimmie Williams of Pine Bluff; sisters, Veronica Fisher and Lynda Valenzuela, both of Los Angeles, Calif., and Rachel Webb of Carson, Calif.

His services will be Saturday, April 4, 2009, at Motley Chapel Baptist Church by Rev. James Grant at 3 p.m. Interment will be in Solomon Hill 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 2:15 p.m. until time of service. The family will be at 1313 E. 26th St., Pine Bluff.

Drusilla Woods

Mrs. Drusilla Reynolds Woods, 86, of Pine Bluff died Thursday, March 26, 2009.

She was born in Pastoria to the late Manuel and Roberta Reynolds.

Her survivors include sons, Nathaniel Woods, Elzie Woods Jr. and Rev. Lafayette Woods Sr., all of Pine Bluff, and Robert Woods of Los Angeles, Calif.; daughters, Ida Woods, Bobbie Woods-Estis, Bernestine Woods-Bennett and Lois Woods-Williams, all of Pine Bluff; 23 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Her services will be Saturday, April 4, 2009, at Mount Carmel Baptist Church by Rev. Lafayette Woods Sr., at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Visitation is today from 5:30-7 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff. The family will be at 4800 W. Long Third St., Pine Bluff, Ark.

James Allen

GOULD — Mr. James Allen, 76, of Gould died Friday, March 27, 2009, at McGehee-Desha County Hospital in McGehee.

Born Nov. 4, 1932, in Dumas, Ark., he was a son of the late Wordie and Christabell Webb Allen.

He was a member of Almeta Missionary Baptist Church in Reedville, where he served as a trustee, usher and supervisor of transportation. He was also a retired employee of Nuckols Brothers Trucking of Dumas and an Army veteran.

Survivors include his wife, Joanne G. Allen of Gould; two sons, Kenneth Allen of Detroit, Mich., Chad Allen of New Orleans, La.; one stepson, David Riley of Pine Bluff; three daughters, Pamela Davis, Crystal Woodruff, Amy Allen, all of Detroit, Mich.; three stepdaughters, Jackie Riley, Tonja R. Tanner, both of Gould, Yulanda Riley of Pine Bluff; one sister, Emma Jean Price of Wichita, Kan.; 18 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 4, 2009, at Almeta MBC with Rev. Edward Demery officiating. Burial will be in Almeta Cemetery 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 until time of service.

Virginia Simmons

GRADY — Virginia Anne Tucker Simmons, 59, of Grady, Ark., born in Pine Bluff, Ark., March 21, 1950.

Anne attended Bethel Baptist Church and was employed by Arkansas Department of Correction.

She died March 31 in Pine Bluff. Visitation: today 7-9 p.m., Griffin Funeral Home Chapel with services 10 a.m., Saturday, April 4, Griffin Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Dark Corner Cemetery.

Survivors: son, Stephen Simmons, Sapulpa, Okla.; three brothers, Larkin Jesse Tucker III, Muskogee, Okla., Alvin Ray Tucker, Bakersfield, Calif., and Stephen Wayne Tucker, Solon, Maine; and two grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to donor’s choice of charity.

Arrangements: Griffin Funeral Home, Dumas, Ark.

Maria Juarez

HERMITAGE — Maria E. Juarez, 53, of Hermitage died Tuesday at Jefferson Regional Medical Center.

She was born Jan. 25, 1956, at San Luis Poto Si, Mexico, a daughter of Lamberto Juarez of Mexico and the late Margarita Castillo Juarez.

Other survivors: four sons, Daniel Ramirez Jr., Gilbert Ramirez, Esteban Ramirez and Ismuel Ramirez; six brothers, Pedro Juarez, Arturo Juarez, Juan Juarez, Felix Juarez, Gregory Juarez and Guadencio Juarez; and two grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel Ramirez Sr.

Funeral services: 2 p.m. today at Frazer’s Funeral Home at Warren. Burial: Holly Springs Cemetery at Hermitage.

Molinda Brown

JEROME — Molinda Brown, 85, of Jerome died March 26 at her home.

She was born March 21, 1924, at Montrose, a daughter of the late Jessie Skipper and Alberta Knight. Survivors include her husband, Morrell Brown; four sons, seven daughters, two sisters, and 63 grandchildren.

Funeral services: 2 p.m. Saturday at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church at Dermott with the Rev. Jessie Courtney officiating. Burial: Evergreen Cemetery at Boydell by Davis Strickland Funeral Home at Dermott. Visitation will be from 6-7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Rubie Oliver

MCGEHEE — Rubie Jean Oliver, 53, of McGehee died March 27 at her home.

She was born Sept. 8, 1955, at Dumas, a daughter of Willie Hinson and Annie Jo Hinson, both of Dermott. Other survivors: husband, Freman Oliver Jr.; sons, Tyson, Orlando, Cedric Oliver of Jonesboro, Ark., Michael Oliver of Winchester, Ark.; brothers, Otis Hinson of Chicago, Ill., Albert Sr., Willie Oliver of Kansas City, Kan., Jesse Hinson of Dermott; sisters, Estella Jackson of Gould, Ark., Alma Jackson of Pine Bluff, Flora Green, Rosa Griffin of Kansas City, Kan.; 18 grandchildren.

Funeral: 1 p.m. Saturday, McGehee Chapel Baptist Church, Rev. Leroy Hood officiating. Burial: Strickland Memorial Lawn by Davis Strickland Funeral Home.

Gene Andrews

ROCK SPRINGS — Gene Andrews, 59, of Rock Springs died March 25 at Drew Memorial Hospital at Monticello.

He was born Dec. 20, 1949, at San Jose, Calif.

Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Glenda Curry Andrews; one daughter, Jill Andrews Bodiford of Rock Springs; one brother, Harold Andrews of Monticello; and one grandchild.

Memorial services will be at 5 p.m. Saturday at Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home at Monticello. Memorials may be made to St. Judes Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn., 38105.

Elizabeth Williams

HUMBLE, Texas — Elizabeth Ann Williams passed away Saturday, March 28, 2009, at her home in Humble, Texas.

Ann grew up in Pine Bluff, and attended Dollarway schools, where she was active in anything musical. She lived in Glen Rose, Texas for many years raising her family. Her life ended too soon, and her generous, kind-hearted, and loving soul will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Sam and Anna Flemmons; and a brother, Sammy Flemmons.

She is survived by Dennis Williams of Glen Rose; children, Sherri Williams of Fort Worth, Spike Williams and wife Stephanie, and John Williams and wife Valerie, all of Glen Rose; grandchildren, Sloan Williams, Tristyn Williams, Rendon Tipton, Ethan Kruger, and Addison Barber, all of Glen Rose; siblings, Pearl Reed and husband Larry, Brenda Moltz and husband Ronnie, and Glen Flemmons and wife Sherry, all of Pine Bluff, Ark.; and her companion of many years, I.G. Hernandez of Humble, Texas.

Funeral services will be Saturday, 1:30 p.m. at Fuller Hale-South Chapel with Brother Billy West officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be today from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Online condolences: www.FullerFunerals.com

Syble Akines, 83, of Pine Bluff died Wednesday. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Buie Funeral Home of Rison.

Tennessee Ladd, 75, of Pine Bluff died Thursday. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Pine Bluff Mortuary Co.

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