Sharon Ann Rutledge

Sharon Ann Rutledge, 63, of Marmaduke, died Saturday, May 1, 2004, at her home.

She was born March 1, 1941 , in Columbus , Ohio . She was a retired factory worker for Emerson Electric and a member of Marmaduke First Baptist Church .

She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Charlotte Graves Carroll.

Survivors include her husband, Gail Rutledge of Marmaduke; two sons, David Rutledge of Licking, Mo., and Eric Brown of Marmaduke; two daughters, Becky (Rutledge) Shewmaker of Benton and Debbie (Rutledge) Bearden of Rector; one sister, Brenda Nelson of Marmaduke; and three grandchildren.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Marmaduke First Baptist Church with the Rev. Kim Bridges and Ben Whitaker officiating. Burial will be in Hartsoe Cemetery in Marmaduke under the direction of Heath Funeral Home of Paragould.

Pallbearers are Shane Robinson , Shannon McDowell , Shawn McDowell , Shane Jordan , Andrew Dodd , Ronnie Coward and David Fultz .

Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. Monday at Marmaduke First Baptist Church .

Memorials may be made to Marmaduke First Baptist Church .

Verna Williams

Verna Williams, 86, of Wynne, formerly of Marmaduke, died Friday, April 30, 2004 , at Wynwood Nursing Center in Wynne.

She was born Sept. 5, 1918 , in Greene County . She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church of Marmaduke.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Sylvia Vestal ; and one son, Vesta Gene Williams .

Survivors include her husband, Odis Williams of Wynne; two sons, Earl Dean Williams and Ronnie Lee Williams , both of Widener; one sister, Elsie Brightwell of Paragould ; five grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church of Marmaduke with Kim Bridges officiating. Burial will be in Harvey's Chapel Cemetery in Marmaduke under the direction of Mitchell Funeral Home of Paragould.

Pallbearers are Bryan Exum , Jim Hitchcock , Bruce Smith , Riley Hitchcock , Ethen Williams , Grant Williams and Grayson Exum .

Dora Frances Cross

Dora Frances Cross, 74, of Mountain Home, formerly of Paragould, passed away Wednesday, April 28, 2004.

She was born June 12, 1929 , in Cherry Valley , Ark.

She was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith.

Mrs. Cross was preceded in death by her husband, Ben Cross ; her parents, Thomas Hall and Bessie Mae Monk; and by her six brothers, Ed , Thomas , Clarence , Elbert, James , and Ronnie .

She is survived by one daughter, Barbara Ashmead of Mountain Home; two sons, Ben Cross of Paragould and David Cross of Alba , Texas ; 13 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

A graveside service is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday at Greene County Memorial Gardens.

Imogene Knopp Lewis

Imogene Knopp Lewis, 77, of Jonesboro, died Monday, May 3, 2004, in Jonesboro .

She was a homemaker, a member of First United Methodist Church in Jonesboro , Believers Sunday School Class, Fourth Quarter Club, and was a volunteer at City Youth Ministries.

She is survived by her husband, Austin , of the home; one daughter, Lynn Lewis Ratliff of Jonesboro ; two grandchildren, Allison Camferdam of Dominica , West Indies and Elaine Farris of Newburgh , Indiana ; one sister, Erma Houston of Coffeyville , Kansas and one brother, Neal "Buddy" Knopp of Houston, Texas.

She was preceded in death by one sister, Marvine Fox .

Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Linwood Cemetery with Russell Hull officiating.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Heath Funeral Home in Paragould . Memorials may be made to City Youth Ministries in Jonesboro , First United Methodist Church in Jonesboro or the church or charity of your choice.

Charles Cherden Nelson

Charles Cherden Nelson, Paragould, Arkansas , died Wednesday morning, 5 May, 2004 from cancer. He was 74 years old. Mr. Nelson was born at Monette , Arkansas , 11 February 1930 , a son of William Edward and Ollie Myrtle (Hill) Nelson .

He was married in Kalamazoo , Michigan , to Evelyn Ewing, now of Haleyville , Alabama . Survivors include his children, Judy R.; James A. Nelson and Janet K. Nelson, both of Haleyville, Alabama; Eddie D. Nelson of Miller's Creek, North Carolina; two granddaughters; five sisters and two brothers: Arveleah Ward of Paragould, Arkansas, El Marie Kirby of Galesburg, Michigan, Ollie Coffey of Edgemont, Arkansas, Lloyd Nelson of Lawton, Oklahoma; Sibbie Sheppard of Beebe, Arkansas; Leamon Nelson of El Paso, Texas, Myrna Joyce Shelley of Kalamazoo, Michigan; his significant other, Edith Fancher and her son, James Livesay of Paragould, Arkansas.

Mr. Nelson was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Myrtle Nelson; a grandson, Brett Nelson , North Caroline and two brothers, William H. Nelson and Douglas A. Nelson .

Charles Nelson , a U.S. Army veteran, enlisted in 1951 and served in the U..S. Army's 317th Signal Battalion (Construction) in Germany and Japan .

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Mitchell Funeral Home, with a graveside service at Gainesville Cemetery , 1:30 p.m. today with Jesse Dollars officiating.

William Jack Townsend

William Jack Townsend, age 82, a native Texan, passed away on May 3, 2004 . A veteran of three wars, World War II , Korea and Vietnam , he always glorified his country to all people of whatever origin. Enlisting in the famed 36th Division of the Texas National Guard in October 1939, he transferred to the regular Army Air Corps in December 1939. Although he never won any prestigious awards during his career, he spent 15,000 hours flying as a Flight Engineer on varying types of aircraft, ferrying troops and supplies to wherever our personnel were stationed.

He is survived by two daughters, Patricia of Redwood City, Calif., and Susan of Portland, Ore.; one granddaughter, Ayanna of Portland, Ore.; one sister, Helma Bell of Dallas , Texas ; and one sister-in-law, Jane , and her husband of Paragould , Ark.

No services are to be held after cremation. Burial of ashes will be in Paragould. Suggested memorials are to be made to Paragould Children's Homes. Arrangements with Porter Loring , 1101 McCullough Ave. , San Antonio , TX 78212.

Donna Michelle Wrather

Donna Michelle Wrather, 32, of Paragould, died Thursday, May 6, 2004.

Mrs. Wrather was born July 14, 1971 , in Kennett , Missouri . She was an employee of W.D. Quick Mart and of the Baptist faith.

Survivors include her husband, Robert L. Wrather of the home; her father and stepmother, Donald W. and Vicky Faries of Paragould; her mother and stepfather, Wilma and Glenn Guiltner of Jonesboro; one daughter, Kailee Michelle Wrather of the home; paternal grandmother, Isie Faries of Rector; maternal grandfather, Enos Pollard of Rector; and three sisters, Beverly Chedister and Kerri Cambron, both of Jonesboro, and Stacey Faries of Paragould.

Her funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 10, at Mitchell Funeral Home Chapel, Paragould , with Kim Bridges officiating.

Burial will follow in the Greene County Memorial Gardens .

Visitation will be Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m. at Mitchell Funeral Home.

 
Billie Jean Cleveland

Billie Jean Cleveland , 68, of Paragould , Ark. died Thursday, May 6, 2004 , at her residence.

Mrs. Cleveland was born Sept. 13, 1935 , at Corning , Ark. and was a homemaker.

She was married to Carl E. Cleveland . He survives.

Other survivors include one daughter, Debbie Woodson of Paragould , Ark. ; one son, Ricky Townsend of Jonesboro , Ark. ; one sister, Charlotte Medcalf of Paragould ; one brother, Loucian Seagraves of Paragould ; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Visitation was from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Ermert Funeral Home in Corning .

The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. today in the funeral chapel. Burial will be in the Pirtle Cemetery in Peach Orchard, Ark.

Billy Gene Adams

Billy Gene Adams, 66, Marmaduke, died Friday, May, 07, 2004 in Jonesboro .

He was retired from Emerson Electric and attended First Freewill Baptist Church .

He is survived by his wife, Amy Adams of the home; mother, Piccola Boone of Paragould; sons and daughter-in-law, Billy Ray and Nancy Adams of California and Keith Taylor of Lafe; daughters and sons-in-law, Pamela And Keith Bryant of Paragould and Kristie and Jeff Foster of Lafe; sisters, Shirley Jackson and Barbara Mullins of Paragould; aunt, Pauline Carmon of Paragould; eight grandchildren; nephew and nieces, Rick Jackson, Debbie Maddox, Brenda Walker, Susan Winchester, Penny Mullins and Randy Mullins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Victor "Bug" Adams and his son, Victor W. Adams .

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Heath Colonial Chapel with Reverends Glenn Smith and Kim Bridges officiating.

Visitation will be tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. at Heath Funeral Home.

Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society.

Clyde Alfred Cook

Clyde Alfred Cook, 63, Paragould, died Friday, May, 7, 2004 , in Jonesboro .

He was employed by Smith Precision Machine and was of Pentecostal belief.

He is survived by his wife, Geneva Cook of the home; mother, Maudie Cook of Paragould; sons and daughters-in-law, Adrian Cook of Paragould, Michael and Marie England of Poteau, Oklahoma, Brandon and Jamie England and Gary and Shauna Bailey, both of Paragould; daughters and sons-in-law, April and Michael Fowler of Pocahontas, Michelle and Lance Ayers of Vernon, Texas, Angela Cook and Briana England, both of Paragould; brothers and sisters-in-law, Marvin Cook of Paragould, Sam and Jean Cook of Horton, Colorado, George and Reva Cook of North Carolina, James and Terri Cook of Jonesboro, Gary and Carol Cook of Paragould; sisters, Jr. and Mary Blankenship of Paragould, Sally Shepard of Marmaduke, Peggy and Ray Weaver, Martha and Ruben Rodriquez, both of Paragould; several nieces and nephews; 19 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his father, Clarence Cook ; sister, Shirlene Oupar ; and brother, John Edward Cook .

Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Monday at Gainesville Cemetery with Reverend Daniel Simonin officiating.

Visitation will be tonight from 6:30 to 7:30 at Heath Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to M.D. Anderson Hospital , P.O. Box 4486 , Houston , Texas , 77210-4486 .

  
Walter Lee Holland , Sr.

Walter Lee Holland, Sr., 71, of Marmaduke, died Friday, May 7, 2004. Mr. Holland was born February 8, 1933 , in Lilbourn , Missouri . He was a retired factory worker and a U.S. Army veteran and a member of Stonewall Church of the Rock.

Survivors include his wife, Frances Holland of the home; his sons, Walter Lee Holland, Jr. and Jimmy Dean Holland and one daughter, Teresa D. Brown, all of Marmaduke, Arkansas; four brothers, Jerry Holland of Florida, Alfred Holland of Burton, Michigan, Richard Holland of Dexter, Missouri and Gene Brooks of Phoenix, Arizona; two sisters, Mary Moss of Charleston, Missouri and Ethel Morrison of Pontotoc, Mississippi; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by: his parents, William and Carrie Holland ; three brothers, William , Albert and Jewel Holland.

His funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 10, at Mitchell Funeral Home Chapel, Paragould , with Daniel Simonin officiating. Burial will follow in the Providence Cemetery . Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Mitchell Funeral Home.

Violet O. McGee

Violet O. McGee, 83, of Paragould, died Saturday, May 8, 2004, in St. Louis , Missouri . She was a homemaker, a member of First United Methodist Church , the " Duplicate Bridge " Club and the Glenna Rose Circle of the First Methodist Church .

Survivors include her husband, James McGee of the home; a sister, Lorene Crossno of Paragould , Arkansas and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, William H. and Claudie Toler, four brothers; and three sisters.

Pallbearers will include: Danny Langston , Marion McGee , Charles Toler , Jimmy Crossno , Roy Crossno and Jerry Toler . Honorary Pallbearers will be the Homemaker Sunday School Class.

Her funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 11th, at Mitchell Funeral Home Chapel, Paragould . Burial will follow in the Greene County Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Mitchell Funeral Home.

Mary Mothershed

Mary Mothershed, 67, of Granite City, Illinois, died Wednesday, May 5, 2004, in Granite City , Illinois . Mrs. Mothershed was born on October 10, 1936 , in Tennessee . She was a homemaker and of the Pentecostal faith.

Survivors include her husband, Luthor C. Mothershed of the home, one son, Charles G. Mothershed, three daughters, Loretta G. Mothershed, Barbara L. Mothershed and Toni R. Mothershed, all of Granite City, Illinois; three sisters, Linda McKim and Clara V. Tatum, both of Paragould, Arkansas, Carolyn F. Cupp of Memphis, Tennessee; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by: her parents, Harrison and Leona Blanton .

Her services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 11th, a graveside service at the Pine Log Cemetery near Brookland , Arkansas , with Michael Mothershed and Paul Barnhardt officiating. Visitation will be from noon until 1:30 p..m. Tuesday at the Mitchell Funeral Home, Paragould , Arkansas .

Mary Beth Agee

Mary Beth Agee, 64, of Marmaduke, died Sunday, May 9, 2004, at St. Bernards Medical Center.

She was born May 21, 1939 , in Leachville , Arkansas , to Allen and Notra Young Berry. Mary Beth was a 1957 graduate of Crowley 's Ridge Academy and a former houseparent at Paragould Children's Home. She was a farmer's wife, a former employee of Emerson Electric and owner of Mary 's Custom Quilting..

Survivors include one son, Chad Allen Agee and wife, Krista, of Marmaduke; one daughter, Cheryl Fairchild Ward and husband, John, of Hardy, Arkansas; one brother, Allen Spencer Berry of Woodlawn, Tennessee; and three grandchildren, Justin Ward, Derek Agee and Andrew Agee.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Agee , her parents and one brother, Y.H. Berry .

Funeral services will be Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. in the Mitchell Funeral Home Chapel, Paragould , with Ronnie Stevens officiating. Pallbearers will be John Ward , Earl Parrish , Don Parrish , Justin Ward , Cary Clayton and Spencer Berry . Burial will be in the Greene County Memorial Gardens . Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Mitchell Funeral Home.

Memorials may be sent to Paragould Children's Home.

Laverl Brannon

Laverl Brannon, 77, of Paragould, died Sunday, May 9, 2004 at his home.

He was a retired brick layer.

He is survived by his wife, Bessie McMillin Brannon; daughters, Joan Herbig and Betty Womack of Siloam Springs, Cheryl Poindexter of Paragould ; sons, Terry , Andrew and Matthew Brannon of Paragould ; two sisters, Earline McMillin of Jonesboro , Wanetta Smitherman of North Little Rock ; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Leslie Clarence and Maude Simpson Brannon ; brothers, Arvill and Gerald Brannon ; and sisters, Zola Gatewood and Lola Huggins .

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Heath Colonial Chapel with Reverend Futrell Butler officiating.

Visitation will be tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 at Heath Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to St. Bernards Hospice.

Clarence "Red" Edwards

Clarence "Red" Edwards , 79, of Paragould , died Saturday, May 8, 2004 , at his residence. Mr. Edwards was born February 14, 1925 , in Bunny, Arkansas . He was of the Pentecostal faith.

Survivors include his wife, Lucille Edwards of Paragould; five stepsons, Samuel Roseman of Summerville, Texas, James Cooper, Jerry Cooper, Gary Cooper, and Robert Cooper, all of Paragould; two stepdaughters, Shirley Thomas of Paragould, and Wilma Pierce of Cabot, Arkansas; 20 step-grandchildren, 20 step-great-grandchildren; and by a nephew, Robert Edwards and niece, Betty Harrington, both of Jackson, Michigan.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Ellen Edwards ; one stepdaughter, Mary Ann Roseman ; two brothers, Gene and Carl Edwards ; and by one sister, Sadie E. Lloyd .

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. , Wednesday, May 12, at Mitchell Funeral Home Chapel, Paragould , with Jimmy Dale Sullivan officiating. Burial will follow in the Mountain Home Cemetery. Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at Mitchell Funeral Home.

Carl Tyson

Carl Tyson , age 65, of Marmaduke, died Monday, May 10th in the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center . Services will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the Irby Funeral Home of Marmaduke.

He is survived by two daughters, Michele Hardin and Carla Blagg ; seven brothers; three grandchildren, Sharece Whitaker , Ashley Hardin , and Zoe Blagg ; and an expected great-grandchild.

Ruth C. Wiggington

Ruth C. Wiggington, age 92, of Shoreacres, Texas, formerly of Paragould, died Friday, May 7, 2004, at Clear Lake Regional Medical Center in Webster, Texas. She was a homemaker and a member of Third Avenue Baptist Church