Obituaries

DEATHS FOR SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2009

Friday, April 10, 2009 11:13 PM CDT

Juanita Whiley

Juanita “Bobbie” Varnell Wilson Whiley, age 70, of Pine Bluff, died Wednesday, April 8, 2009.

Born Dec. 31, 1938, at Ferda, Ark., she was a daughter of the late Otha and Rhoda Mae West Wilson. A member of Eastside Pentecostal Church of God, she had worked at Ben Pearson, Pinecrest Cotton Mill, and International Paper Company.

Her husband, Francis Felix Whiley, a son, Michael Whiley, and a sister, Linda Dixon predeceased her.

Survivors are two daughters, Barbara Collins (David) and Sandra Roscoe (Richard); brother, Ruben Wilson; sisters, Mildred Sanchez, Carol Hollingsworth, Rose Ann Ferguson, Margaret Smith, and Joyce Douthitt; 12 grandchildren; and two great- grandchildren.

Funeral services are Monday, 2 p.m. at Fuller Hale-South Chapel, with interment in Graceland Cemetery.

Visitation is Sunday, 6-8 p.m.

Online condolences: www.FullerFunerals.com

Aretha Steward

DERMOTT — Aretha White Steward, 89, was born to the late Saul and Sallie White on Jan. 21, 1920, in Sunflower, Miss. On Saturday, April 4, 2009, Aretha departed this life at the McGehee Desha County Hospital in McGehee, Ark.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, two sisters, two daughters, and three grandchildren.

Aretha gave her life to Christ at an early age. After moving to the Hurds Community, she united with the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorage of the late Rev. A.D. Ford, where she remained a faithful member until her death, under the leadership of her present pastor, Rev. Charles Hargraves Sr. She was a member of the Elect Triumphant #348 of the Order of the Eastern Star of Dermott, Ark. She served on the Mother’s Board of her church and numerous other auxiliaries until her health began to fail.

She leaves to cherish her memories: two daughters, Hazel Stewart of Pine Bluff, Ark., and Debbie (Willie) Nimmer of Dermott, Ark.; four sons, Larry Steward of Dermott, Ark., Dwight (Cindy) Steward of Temecula, Calif., Roy (Patrice) Steward of La Palma, Calif., and Elvis (Marcella) Steward of San Diego, Calif., and Conway, Ark.; 29 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be April 13, 2009, at Mt. Olive M.B. Church at Dermott, at 1 p.m.

Visitation will be April 12, 2009, from 7-9 p.m. at Dillard Funeral Home, Dermott, Ark.

Floyd Harris

DUMAS — Floyd Harris, 89, of Dumas died April 4, 2009, at McGehee Desha County Hospital.

He was born Aug. 31, 1919, in Reedville.

He is survived by two brothers, and three sisters.

Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Watson District Headquarters in Mitchellville with the Rev. Ronald Neal officiating. Burial will be in Almeta Cemetery in Reedville.

Arrangements are by Serenity Gardens Funeral Services of Dumas.

Harold Rauls Jr.

GRADY — Harold Doyle Rauls, Jr., 65 of Grady, Ark., passed away Thursday, April 9, 2009, at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff.

Born March 23, 1944, in Clinton, Mo., he was the son of Ruth Pauline Crider Rauls and the late Harold Doyle Rauls Sr. He was reared and received his early education in Wright, Ark., attending Plum Bayou High School.

In December of 1961, he married Eva Lou Tyler and they spent the next 48 years of their lives together.

He was self-employed for over 40 years in several businesses including trucking, automotive repair and construction. He was a member of Pine Grove Baptist in Pine Bluff and a member of the Grady Lions Club. He was a licensed pilot and an avid outdoorsmen.

He was preceded in death by his father, and one sister Debbie Hooks.

He is survived by his mother, Ruth Rauls of Pennsylvania; his wife Eva Lou Rauls of Grady; four children, Kimberly Gaye Rauls Duncan of Allen, Texas, Tona Renee Rauls Duncan of Maumelle, First Sergeant David Rauls of Lawton, Okla., and Kevin Doyle Rauls of Gonzales, La.; eight grandchildren, Kimberly Brooke Anderson, Holli Elizabeth Duncan, Brittany Renee Gnau, Jennifer Leigh Gnau, Tyler Suzanne Gnau, Chase Hartman Duncan, Nicholas Alan Rauls, Jacob Hunter Rauls; one great-grandchild Shayden Eve Flanagan; and loving sister Donna Foster of Atlanta, Ga. and sister Shirley Sooy, of New Jersey.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Jefferson Regional Medical Center's Intensive Care Unit and the Third Floor Cardiac Unit Staff, Dr. Wright, Dr. Imran, Dr. Christine Martin and friends who showed support during this trying time. They would also like to thank Reverend Raymond Reed for his continued spiritual support and guidance.

Services will be held 10 a.m., Monday, April 13, 2009, in the Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son with Rev. Raymond Reed. Interment will follow in Orion Cemetery at Hensley, Arkansas. The family will receive friends Sunday, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Robinson's. Friends may sign the online register at www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.

Memorials may be made to The American Heart Association, 909 W. 2nd St., Little Rock, Ark., 72201.

Roscoe Joiner

MITCHELLVILLE — Roscoe Joiner Sr., 88, of Mitchellville, died April 2 at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff.

He was born Oct. 30, 1920, in Dumas.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Velma Jackson Joiner.

He is survived by 15 children; two brothers; 58 grandchildren; and 118 great-grandchildren

Funeral services will be Saturday at Watson District Headquarters in Mitchellville at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Jerusalem Cemetery. Rev. Roscoe Joyner Sr. will be officiating.

Arrangements are by Serenity Gardens Funeral Services of Dumas.

Jon Butler

STAR CITY — Jon Carter Butler of Star City was born April 8 and died April 9 at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medial Center in Little Rock.

Survivors include his parents, Bryan and Jonna Hillyard Butler; brother, Dylan Butler; grandparents, Johnny and Barbara Hillyard and Jimmy and Linda Butler; great-grandmothers, Virginia McWhorter and Doris Butler; great-grandfather, Clarence Haynes, all of Star City.

Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Sunday at Hickory Grove Cemetery in Star City with Onas Gray and Earl Jenkins officiating.

Arrangements are by Griffin Funeral Service in Star City.

Clarence Yarberry

STAR CITY — Rev. Clarence William Yarberry, 83, of Star City died Thursday.

He was born Nov. 27, 1925, at Belfast (Grant County) to the late Jessie and Olga Elizabeth Williamson Yarberry. He was an apostolic minister and retired from Ben Pearson as an experimental welder.

Survivors include his wife, Betty McCool Yarberry; 10 sons; three daughters; two brothers; two sisters; 38 grandchildren; and 34 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Griffin Funeral Home in Star City. Burial will be in Drake Cemetery.

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Juanita Clay

WARREN — Juanita Hunter Clay, 79, of Warren died Thursday at Wagnon Place Nursing Home.

Born July 26, 1929, in Calhoun County, she was a daughter of the late Grady Hunter and Doris Dearman Hunter.

She also was preceded in death by a brother, Curtis Hunter.

Survivors include her husband, Fred Henry Clay, whom she married Jan. 12, 1946; son, Jerry Clay of Sheridan; daughter, Ann Duvall of Warren; two brothers, Rev. Victor Hunter and James Hunter, both of Warren; three grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be 2 p.m. today at Moseley Cemetery by Frazer’s Funeral Home.

LITTLE ROCK — Ruth Taylor Jones, 96, formerly of Pine Bluff, died Friday in Little Rock. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Ralph Robinson & Son.

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