Obituaries

Kenny Glenn Gentry, 62, of Gosnell, passed away Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. Kenny was born in Blytheville to Vancel and Christine Warren Gentry. He was a master carpenter and was the owner of Gentry Construction for many years. ...

Burnis Martin, 84, of Monette passed away Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, at NEA Baptist Hospital. He was born July 1, 1936, in Beebe to the late Johnny and Wada Blassingame Martin. Burnis was a carpenter, who loved hunting, fishing and woodworking. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Venedia Martin; three brothers, Troy Martin (Sue) of Jonesboro, Mark Martin (Mary) of Sterling, Ill., and John Martin (Kaye) of Hope; two sisters, Beatrice Smithee (J.W.) of Rock Falls, Ill., and Phyllis Flier of Peoria, Ill.; and several nieces and nephews.. ...

Jeanetta Jean Boyd, 71, of Shawnee, Okla., formerly of Blytheville, passed away Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021 at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City, Okla. Jeanetta was born in Blytheville to Otis and JoNell Needham Austin. She was retired from the Blytheville Credit Union and was a former member of First Baptist Church. Jeanetta was the former owner of Flower Fashions, and enjoyed painting, diamond painting and pottery...

Catherine Roberson Willbanks, 62, of Osceola died Feb. 21, 2021, at SMC Medical Center in Osceola. She was a court administrative secretary for the City of Osceola, employed by the City of Osceola for 20 years and a member of First Baptist Church in Luxora. Mrs. Willbanks was born Nov. 28, 1958, in San Antonio, Texas, to Herbert Roberson and Nadine Hill Gifford. She was preceded in death by her father, Herbert Roberson...

Walter Taylor, Jr. of Blytheville was born June 26, 1942, in Osceola to the late Walter Taylor, Sr. and the late Lillie B. McNelson Jefferson. He was a factory worker and a church elder and pastor of the Pentecostal faith. Mr. Taylor passed away Feb. 17, 2021, at his home in Blytheville at the age of 78. He was preceded in death by his father, Walter Taylor, Sr., mother, Lillie B. McNelson Jefferson, and one sister, Sarah Hill...

Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, Ruth Marie Smith went home to be with the Lord at the age of 95, at the Generations of Irmo, Irmo, S.C. Mrs. Smith was born in Chicago, Ill., in December of 1925 and was the oldest of seven children. She met her husband, Marvin E. ...

On Jan. 11, 2021, God called Orville Freeman of Lexa home to heaven. Orville was born Aug. 28, 1936, in Bay Village to Maude Eva (White) and James Newton Freeman. Orville was a faithful servant of God. He loved the Lord and he lived his life serving Him. ...

Trayvon Jovan King McNichols was born April 29, 2002, in Blytheville to Ronald Davis, Jr. and the late Tracy McNichols. He was of the Baptist faith. Mr. McNichols passed away Feb. 15, 2021, at his home in Blytheville at the age of 18. He was preceded in death by his mother, Tracy McNichols...

Dominick Renaldo Marquez, 28, of Leachville, passed from this life Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Leachville. Born in Sacramento, Calif., he was the son of the late Zachary Renaldo Marquez and had lived most of his life in Leachville. He was a former employee of Gifford Insulation and Drywall, as well as Stracener Brothers Construction Company, both of Blytheville...

Tommy Leroy Kerley Sr., 56, of Manila died unexpectedly on Feb. 15, 2021, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Not only did we lose our dad we also lost our best friend. He was an amazing man, laid back and easy going. Never said no to any of us and gave us all he could, so we never had to struggle. His biggest accomplishments were his children and grandchildren. He instilled in his family the importance of hard work, honesty, and that family always came first...

Lisa Jones Barber, 60, of Dyess, passed from this life Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. The daughter of the late Bill and Patsy McHaney Jones, she had lived most of her life in Dyess and was a 1978 graduate of Rivercrest High School. She was a former employee of Siegel-Robert Inc. in Wilson and later retired from Columbia Forest Products in Trumann. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by two brothers, Stephen Jones and Randy Jones...

Carol Ann Galloway, 75, of Leachville, widow of Eddy Galloway, passed from this life Sunday evening, Feb. 21, 2021, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born in St. Louis, Mo., she was the daughter of the late Cecil and Marcelite Sinclair Ralston and had been a longtime Leachville and Manila area resident. She was a certified nurses aide, having been employed by Monette Manor Nursing Center and the Area Agency on Aging of Jonesboro. Carol enjoyed watching wrestling, gospel music and spending time with her family, especially her grandsons and great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Kesha McCallie.. ...

Dr. Tommy J. Carney, Sr., 82, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, at home surrounded by loving family. He was born in Blytheville on Sept. 29, 1938, to Herman Leonard and Jessie Lee Moody Carney. He was a local business owner of Carney Funeral Home & Cemetery and Carney Farms & Rentals...

Fred A. “Joe” Calhoun, 51, of Blytheville passed away at home surrounded by his loving family. He was born Sept. 10, 1969, in West Memphis to Arthur L. and Willie Mae Cruz Calhoun. He was a master carpenter. His hobbies were riding his motorcycle, barbecuing, with his family, and shooting guns with his grandson...

Betty Lou Carter of Trumann departed this life Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro at the age of 82 years, 10 months and 6 days. She was born Saturday, April 10, 1938, in Lepanto to the late Oscar and Mollie Conatser and was a lifetime resident of Trumann. ...

Gary Don Smith, 68, of Caraway, passed away Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, at St. Bernards Medical Center. He was born April 2, 1952, in Black Oak. Gary enjoyed working with wood, listening to music and doing lawn care for people. He was preceded in death by his mother, Vernie Smith, and two brothers, Morrell Mangrum and Jerry Henry...

On Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, Mary Florence Wheat, loving friend, and mother of four children, passed away at the age of 83, in Fayetteville. Mary was born March 16, 1937, in Arab, Ala., to David and Lillian (Odom) Lewis. Mary had a passion for gardening and loved caring for others. ...

David Gaylon Sowell, 83, of Blytheville, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. David was born in Montezuma, Tenn., to David and Hazel Tucker Sowell. He was retired from Nibco and was a member of First Baptist Church. ...

James Hopkins, Sr. of Blytheville was born Feb. 28, 1949 in Dell to the late Alfred Hopkins, Sr. and the late Pauline Whaley Hopkins. He was a factory worker and a member of St. Mark Full Gospel in Blytheville. Mr. Hopkins passed away Feb. 11, 2021, at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville at the age of 71. He was preceded in death by his father, Alfred Hopkins, Sr.; his mother, Pauline Whaley Hopkins; his wife, Debra Hopkins; and two brothers, Alfred Hopkins, Jr and Rev. Robert Hopkins...

Wilma Lou Thomas Elder, 87, of Blytheville, passed from this life Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, at the Heritage Square Nursing Center in Blytheville. Born to Arthur and Irene Thaxton Thomas in Lake City, she was a retired 34-year employee of Wal-Mart where she worked many years in the Cloth/Accessories Department. ...

Gail Wilson, 77, of Blytheville, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. Gail was born in Hermondale, Mo., to Robert and Dee Manley Henson and was a member of Clearlake Baptist Church. She was a retired teacher and taught 7th through 12th grade at West Junior High and Blytheville High School, and also taught American History at Arkansas Northeastern College. Gail enjoyed watching old western movies and Jeopardy...

Our precious mother, Elizabeth Louise (Betty) Day, was joyously welcomed back into God’s arms on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. We know Mason, her husband of 70 years, family, friends and a myriad of cats and dogs celebrated her homecoming. Betty was born on March 31, 1929, in Quitman. ...

Sammy Thomas Young, Sr., 61, of Osceola died at his home Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. He was a factory worker and of the Baptist faith. Mr. Young was born April 22, 1959, in Carson Lake to Bo and Odesther Smith Young. He was preceded in death by his father, Bo Young; his wife Frankie Young; one son, Erik Young; three brothers, Frank Young, Baby Brother Young and Willie T. Young,; four sisters, Bobbie Lowery, Elizabeth Dabney, Vera Mae Young and Tommie Lee Davis; and one grandchild, Sammy Young III...

Travis Armstrong was born Jan. 26, 1984, in Memphis, Tenn., to Dorothy Armstrong. Travis departed this life Thursday, Feb.4, in Blytheville at the age of 37. His life will be forever cherished by his mother, Dorothy Armstrong of Aurora, Ill.; two sons, Travion Adams of Jonesboro and Cervante Patrick Bell of Minneapolis, Minn.; his sister, Stephanie Armstrong of DeKalb, Ill.; his brother, Calvin Robinson of Aurora, Ill.; a grandson; Travis Armstrong of Jonesboro; and a host of other family members.. ...

Randall Lowery Burcham of Payneway/Marked Tree was born March 16, 1938, in Rienzi, Mississippi to Orlando Lowery Burcham and Doris Yancey Burcham. He died February 13, 2021, after battling Covid-19 in Jonesboro, AR. He was a 1958 graduate of Messick High School in Memphis, TN. ...

James Leroy Southard, known as Buck to his family and Jim to the community and his customers, passed away Saturday, February 13, 2021 at his home. Jim was born in the family home in the old Airbase area. He was the first born of eight children of Elmer and Emma Vaughn Southard. Jim loved God and was a lifelong member of Gosnell Baptist Church...

James Leroy Southard, known as Buck to his family and Jim to the community and his customers, passed away Saturday, February 13, 2021 at his home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced when complete. Cobb Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements...

Dorotha Eloise Roden, 88, formerly of Blytheville, passed away peacefully at St. Bernards Hospital in Jonesboro on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. She was born in Wilson on Nov. 23, 1932, to Earl and Lois Bullard, who preceded her in death. Mrs. Roden was also preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, John W. Roden, Sr., daughter Rebecca Anne Caviness, sisters, Beverly Gentry, Barbara Deskin and brother David Bullard...

Amy Joe Renfro, 38, of Osceola died Feb. 10, 2021, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born Dec. 28, 1982 in Osceola to James Joseph and Dianne Chambers Renfro. She was preceded in death by her father. She is survived by her mother, Dianne Renfro of Osceola; five brothers, Steven Renfro and Ricky Renfro of Warner, Okla., David Renfro of McCook, Neb., Jamie Renfro of Osceola and Jody Renfro of Kennett, Mo., two sisters, Tammy Reeves of Alabama and Tina Renfro of Warner, Okla...

Bennie Earl Mosley of Blytheville was born Oct. 10, 1964, in Osceola to Loraine Dority Walker and the late Ben Archie Mosley. He was an artist and a deacon of First Missionary Baptist Church in Blytheville. Mr. Mosley passed away Feb. 4, 2021, at his home in Blytheville at the age of 56. He was preceded in death by his father, Ben Archie Mosley...

Rev. Charles Jackson of Blytheville was born Aug. 9, 1949, Hermondale, Mo., to the late Henry Jackson and the late Josephine Rogers Jackson. He was a machinist and the minister for New Hope M.B. Church in Yarbro. Rev. Jackson passed away Feb.8, 2021, at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro at the age of 71. ...

William Wayne “Bill” Craft, 78 of Marked Tree, departed this life Feb. 11, 2021, in Jonesboro. He was born in Marked Tree on Sept. 18, 1942, to William Wesley and Tessie Irene Coates Craft. Bill was of the Church of God faith. He was very civic minded. ...

Alan Edmond Cable, 53, of Osceola died Feb. 10, 2021 at Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. He was in retail and of the Pentecostal faith. Mr. Cable was born August 28, 1967 in Blytheville to Jerry Cable and Peggy Hodge Denavarra. He was preceded in death by his parents...

Bobby Dean Martin, 71, of Leachville, passed from this life Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. Born in Manila, he was the son of the late Raymond and Opal Mouzy Martin and was a 1969 graduate of Central High School in Caraway. ...

Richard Wayne Nokes was born April 27, 1940, in the Promised Land farming community outside of Blytheville and died Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn., surrounded by his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul E. Nokes and Algus Russell Nokes...

JT Davis, 80, of Villa Rica, Ga., former Osceola area resident, passed from this life Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, at the Tanner Medical Center in Villa Rica. Born and raised in Northeast Arkansas, he was a 1958 graduate of Missco High School near Osceola. He was a veteran of the U.S. ...

Kenneth Neal Benham, 58, of Manila, passed from this life Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, at his home. Born in Conway, he was the son of the late Mackey Joe and Shirley Coyeta Ford Benham and had been a lifelong area resident. Kenneth had worked several years for Paul Fleeman Farms and had been an employee of the City of Manila since 2019. ...

Sandra Smith Hopkins was born Aug. 21, 1971, to Cordell Wells Sr. and Merry Smith in Chicago, Ill. Sandra departed this life on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, in Blytheville at the age of 49. She was preceded in death by her mother, Merry Smith. Sandra life will be forever cherished by her three sons, Jarren Ephriam of Copperas Cove, Texas, Cortedz Ephriam and Rodney Weaver Jr., both of Dallas, Texas; her father; Cordell Wells Sr. ...

David Carl Tennyson, 68, formerly of Blytheville, AR via Steele, MO, died Sunday, Feb. 7th 2021 at his home in Columbia, MO. He went peacefully in his favorite chair with a glass of truly awful Canadian Whiskey near at hand and is most likely pleased that he didn’t have to sit through that Super Bowl...

Gary Allen Wheeler, 59, of Monette passed away Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Memphis. He was born May 20, 1961, in Jonesboro to the late Ernest and Lela Ross Wheeler. Gary served his country proudly in the United States Marines. He was a truck driver for over 25 years and loved to relax at home with his family...

Betty Jean “Dalton” Washington of Oakland, Calif., was born Aug. 2, 1960, in Crawfordsville to the late Leroy Dalton and the late Corine McKinney Dalton. She worked in childhood development and was a member of West End M.B. Church. Mrs. Washington passed away Jan. 21, 2021, at her home in Oakland, Calif., at the age of 60. She was preceded in death by her father, Leroy Dalton, and her mother, Corine McKinney Dalton...

Benard Williams of Los Angeles, Calif., was born Nov, 29, 1968, in Osceola to Erma Hall Williams of Blytheville and the late Willie Williams. He was a lift driver and was of the Christian faith. Mr. Williams passed away Jan. 22, 2021, at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Calif., at the age of 52. He was preceded in death by his father, Willie Williams...

Alice Faye Dresbach Rogers, 89, of Blytheville, passed from this life Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, at the Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. Born to Jacob and Eula Dresbach in Whitton, she was a retired teller at the Wilson American State Bank and a past accountant of the Lee Wilson Company where she was employed for 42 years. ...

Willie Earl Martin Jr. of Blytheville was born Nov. 19, 1939, in Memphis, Tenn., to the late Willie Earl Martin Sr. and Terra Smith. Willie Earl departed this life Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, at St. Bernards Hospital in Jonesboro at the age of 81. He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Arnest Martin, John Drew Smith, Larry Charles Smith, Ola B. Williams, Farry Stein Smith, Mary (Liz) Johnson and Mary (Verdell) Johnson, and his stepson, Ben Brooks...

Clementine “Tina” Love, 98, of Jonesboro, passed away Dec. 17, 2020, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro with her daughter by her side. Tina lived on a small farm near Dell Township with her parents, Dewey and Pearl Sheppard. She often said, “We were poor, but I didn’t know it." After her Dell graduation, she attended Arkansas State College for one year, before marrying W.L. Welborn. They had two daughters, LaMartha Griggs, now deceased, and Winifred Keahey of Spanish Fort, Ala...

Mason Frederick Day, Jr. was born Nov. 4, 1925, in Dexter, Mo., and went home to be with the Lord on Jan. 31, 2021. He grew up in a loving family with father Mason Frederick Day, Sr., mother Sarah Rankin Day, and brother Walter Day. His family moved frequently, as his father was a baker who loved adventures...

Patricia Ann Henderson, 66, of Wilson, departed this life on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, at her home. She was born on July 28, 1954 in Merigold, Miss., to Gene and Aileen Knapp Wheeler. Patricia a member of The Lighthouse Assembly of God in Dyess, Arkansas and she was a retired paraprofessional from Rivercrest School District...

Earl Melton Towell, 81, of Paragould, former longtime Leachville resident, died Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, at the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Born in Ida, he was the son of the late Lori and Ella Dill Towell and had lived most of his life in Leachville. ...

On Jan. 31, 2021, Charlotte Faye Bennett Staggs, 73, passed away peacefully in Little Rock surrounded by loved ones. Charlotte was born in Memphis, Tenn., to Robin Gill Bennett and Tom N. Bennett of Blytheville. She graduated from Blytheville High School, class of 1965, and Arkansas State University, class of 1969...

In loving memory of Betty Jean (Dalton) Washington. It is with deepest sadness that you left us too soon. Our hearts are hurting but joyful because we know you are with God. Thank you for the abundance of love you always shown to all of us and letting us know each time we talked. ...