DEATHS FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2009
Jeannie Bragdon
Jeannie L. DeMoss Bragdon, 75, passed away peacefully at her home in Pine Bluff, Saturday, April 4, 2009.
Jean was born April 10, 1933, in Grapevine, Ark., the daughter of Harry Smith DeMoss Sr. and Mary Simpson DeMoss.
She attended Grapevine Schools and graduated in 1951. After high school, she moved to Pine Bluff and went to work as an operator for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. She later worked for Condray Sign Company before finally settling into her longtime career as business manager at Benny Hatcher Construction Company in 1956. She was known by co-workers to be a tireless worker who was dedicated to getting things done correctly.
Jean was a member of Sardis Baptist Church in Grapevine. She was a charter member of the Pine Bluff Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction. She was a past president and regional director of the organization. It was during this time that she was able to travel throughout the U.S. representing NAWIC. She had fond memories of her time spent with other women in the construction business and forged lifelong friendships along the way. She was a Dale Carnegie graduate and a member of the Grapevine Historical Society.
Although Jean was definitely a career woman, she also enjoyed her spare time. She was known for having fun get-togethers during the 1970s after her nephews’ baseball games. An avid collector of 45 records, she always had the latest and greatest tunes of the times. She also enjoyed games of all sorts, but especially Scrabble, Yahtzee, and cards. She was a voracious reader who had a collection of books that lined her walls. A lady of style, Jean always dressed immaculately. One never saw her without her hair perfectly coiffed and make-up carefully applied.
Jean was a caring family member who always had good advice and a spare bedroom for a loved-one who needed it. As she was a meticulous housekeeper, the only requirement was to keep the room as spiffy as one had found it. Although she answered to Jean, Jeannie Lou, and Sis, she was known by most in her family as “DooDoo” or “Doodie.”
She loved sitting in her olive-green swivel chair while doing some sort of needlecraft, watching her favorite sports or TV show, sipping Coca-Cola out of a Dixie cup and smoking a cigarette. No doubt, she enjoyed life.
Jean is survived by a sister, Nancy DeMoss Donaldson and her husband Pat Mitchell of Pine Bluff, with whom she had lived since 1992. She also is survived by a host of other family members including sisters-in-law, Naomi DeMoss and Marilyn DeMoss, nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, John DeMoss, Harry S. DeMoss Jr., Paul DeMoss, James Edward DeMoss; and sisters, Geneva Moring and Delma Brewer.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 8, 2009, at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Ralph Robinson and Son in Pine Bluff with Brother Ronald Young officiating. Interment will immediately follow at Lee Cemetery in Jefferson County.
Visitation will be at the funeral home today, April 7, 2009, from 6-8 p.m.
Memorial gifts may be made to Hospice Home Care of Pine Bluff, 3063 W. 28th Ave., Pine Bluff, Ark., 71603; or Sardis Baptist Church Building Fund, 80 Grant County Road 18, Grapevine, Ark., 72057.
Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com
Elsa Day
Elsa L. Day, 92, of Pine Bluff, Ark., died Sunday, April 5, 2009, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center.
She was born Nov. 16, 1916, in Greenbrier, to William Monroe and Esther Tyler Love.
She was reared and received her education from Greenbrier, where she graduated.
Mrs. Day worked 54 years at the Jefferson County Health Department, before retiring as a bookkeeper.
She was a member of Olive Branch Baptist Church.
She enjoyed gardening and working crossword puzzles.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ornace A. “Slim” Day; a son, Donald Day; her parents; two brothers, Forrest Love, William C. Love; two sisters, Thelma Fudge and Ruth Ebbs.
Survivors include two sons, Carlton Day of Pine Bluff, Joe Day of Sand Springs, Okla.; a daughter, Sharon Calabretta of Pine Bluff; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. today at Robinson’s.
Services will be 2 p.m., Wednesday, April 8, 2009, Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son with Rev. Roger Stewart officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Choir Fund, c/o Olive Branch Baptist Church, 5130 Bobo Road, Pine Bluff, Ark., 71603.
Online register at www.ralphrobinsonandson.com
Mildred Tindall
LITTLE ROCK — Mildred Kathleen Horn Tindall, 89, of Little Rock, Ark., passed away Monday, April 6, 2009.
She was born in Drew County on Jan. 26, 1920, to the late Van b. and Anne Hackney Horn.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry E. Tindall.
She is formerly of Lake Village, where she retired from the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. She was an active member of Lakeside United Methodist Church in Lake Village for many years until moving to Little Rock, where she became a member of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church.
Survivors are two sons, Michael Tindall of Santa Fe, N.M., and Dr. Stephen Tindall and wife, Dr. Jocelyn Colquhoun of Madison, N.J.; a daughter, Sandra Tindall of Little Rock; grandson, Eric Tindall and wife, Holly and two great-granddaughters, Morgan and Rachel Tindall of Keller, Texas.
Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Stephenson-Dearman Chapel in Monticello. Burial in Oakland Cemetery.
Visitation 11-noon Wednesday before service.
Memorials may be made to Arkansas Alzheimer’s or Arkansas Hospital, 5600 W. 12th St., Little Rock.
The family is grateful for the compassionate care given by Dr. Delbra Caradine and the UAMS House Calls team, caregivers Rosalind Brooks and Lashandra Canada, and Arkansas Hospice.
Zelphia McClellan
NEW EDINBURG — Zelphia Mae McClellan, 87, of New Edinburg, died Sunday at Bradley County Medical Center.
She was born Jan. 29, 1922, at Rison, a daughter of the late Walter Keith and Gracie Keith.
Survivors include one son, James McClellan; three daughters, Wilma Thornton, Wanda Carr and Martha Smith; two brothers, Marvin Keith and Russell Keith; three sisters, Aileen Coins, Laurene Ray and Nell Jacobs; eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services: 10 a.m. Wednesday at Frazer’s Funeral Home at Warren. Burial: Moseley Cemetery.
Visitation: 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Jack Ashcraft
SEARCY — Jack Kevin Ashcraft, 36, of Searcy, passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2009, unexpectedly in a motorcycle accident.
Mr. Ashcraft was born June 8, 1972, in Pine Bluff, Ark., the son of William L. and Martha Sue Dardenne Ashcraft.
He was employed by K&L Electronics in Searcy.
Jack is survived by his wife, Stacy Lynn Tooke Ashcraft of Searcy; his son, Tyler Ashcraft of Searcy; his daughter, Jacy Ashcraft of Searcy; his parents, William and Martha Ashcraft of Pine Bluff; a sister, Jill Porter of Fort Worth, Texas.
Funeral services will be conducted 10 a.m. today at Powell Funeral Home in Searcy with interment at 2:30 p.m. today at Brown Cemetery in Pine Bluff.
Arrangements entrusted to Powell Funeral Homes.
Leon Adams, 88, of Pine Bluff died Monday at home. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff.
James Dixson, 90, of Pine Bluff died Sunday at home. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Henson Mortuary.