Billie Gean Staggs

Billie Gean Staggs, 91, of Manila, widow of Mr. Erbie Staggs, passed from this life Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, at the NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. Born and raised in Manila, she was the daughter of the late Ed and Ethel Palmer Murphy and was a lifelong Manila resident. She attended Mississippi County Community College and Cotton Boll Vocational Tech School where she received her CNA certification. Billie was a longtime employee of Manila Nursing Center and was also employed as a seamstress at Bobby Brooks and Brown Shoe factory. She was a member of Westside Baptist Church in Manila, and she enjoyed traveling, sewing, quilting, dancing and working in her flower beds. In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by two daughters, Wanda Gail Staggs and Linda Sue Lester; two grandsons, Michael Walker and Erbie Dearen; and five sisters.

Survivors include one son, Eugene Staggs of Jacksonville; two daughters, Christine Walker of Swedesburg, Iowa and Darline Dearen of Manila; two brothers, Jerry Murphy of Caraway and Gary Murphy of Manila; two sisters, Cathy Mindy and Marsha Mulford, both of Blytheville. Billie also leaves 10 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Graveside funeral service will be 1 p.m. Monday, March 4, in the Manila Cemetery with Reverend Eddie Hawkins officiating. The family will receive visitors Monday from 11 a.m. until service time at the Howard Funeral Service Chapel in Manila. Friends may sign the online guest register at www.HowardFuneralService.com.