Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Doris Ann Buirse
Helena-West Helena, Ark. - Funeral services for Doris Ann Buirse, 41, of Little Rock will be held 11 a.m. today in the Robert Lee Brown Memorial Chapel with Supt. Alex J. Smith officiating.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. today in the Robert Lee Brown Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in Oak Grove No.1 cemetery in Helena-West Helena.
Buirse was born Jan. 15, 1967 in Helena to James and Dorothy Buirse. She entered into eternal rest on Friday, Sept. 19, 2008 at Hospice Home Inpatient Care in Little Rock.
Her mother, Dorothy Buirse and her oldest brother, James Anthony Buirse, preceded her in death.
She leaves to cherish her memory, her father, Willie James Buirse of Little Rock; five brothers, Frank Buirse (Vanessa) and Antonio Buirse (Ardinika) of Little Rock, Curtiss Buirse and Chris Buirse (Lisa) of Phoenix, Ariz., Lawrence Buirse (Regena) of Memphis; three sisters, Beverly Buirse-Snell (Jimmie), Glenn Buirse and Sandra Buirse (James), all of Little Rock; an uncle, Joseph Reynolds of Oneida; seven nephews, Jimmy Jr., Frank Jr., Robert, Jay, Jasmine, Amari and Raquel; and a host of cousins, friends and in-laws.
Brown’s Home for Funerals Inc. will direct the services.
EUGENE JOHNSON
Helena-West Helena, Ark. - Funeral services for Helena-West Helena Alderman Eugene “Red” Johnson, 76, will be held 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 8, 2008 at the Twin City Church of Christ, Highway 49 in Helena-West Helena. Rev. Fannie Washington will officiate. His body will lie in state from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the church. Visitation will be from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Pettis Memorial C.M.E. Church.
Johnson was born May 7, 1932 in Fort Smith to the late Lettie Knauls and John Johnson. He was the second oldest of seven children. He died Monday, Dec. 1, 2008 at his home. Jesus said, “well done, my good and faithful servant.”
Johnson began his journey years ago to serve all mankind and he has diligently done so in his role as an educator, a civic leader and steward for the Lord. He served as a teacher and principal at C.V. White High School in Lake View for many years.
Johnson’s memory, character and guidance will live on in the lives of his survivors, his wife, Ruth N. Johnson; two sons, Rodney (Stephanie) Johnson, of Nokesville, Va. and Patrick Johnson of Birmingham, Ala.; two daughters, Kimberley Johnson of Jonesboro and Millicent Johnson of Helena-West Helena; grandchildren, Azariah, Kyla, Nicholaus and Alexis; a brother, Billy Johnson and a sister, Doris Cole, both of Fort Smith; and many nephews, nieces, cousins and cherished friends.
Four brothers, Ezell, Merle, Johnny and Robert and a sister, Sue, preceded him in death.
Stephens Funeral Home will direct services. Friends may either send flowers or donate to the Eugene Johnson Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 2432, West Helena AR. 72390.
Sarah Brown
Helena-West Helena, Ark. - Funeral services for Sarah Brown, 65, of Helena will be held noon Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008 at the Robert Lee Brown Memorial Chapel with Rev. Jarvis Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Oak Grove No. 3 cemetery in Helena- West Helena.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8 in Robert Lee Brown Memorial Chapel.
Earline McCraney Sparks
Helena-West Helena, Ark. - Funeral services for Earline McCraney Sparks 73, of Helena will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008 at the New Haven Missionary Baptist Church. Elder Kim Smith will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Grove cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 tonight at the Kincaid Funeral Services Auditorium, 1164 Highway 49 Helena- West Helena.
She leaves to cherish her memory, nine daughters, Martha (James) Williams, Brenda (Derome) BoBo, Jessie (Ellvin) Howard, Linda Sparks, Bobby (Charles) Williams, Ethel (Renwich) Sparks, Earline Sparks, Sherrye (Melvin) Gamble, Cynthia (Frederick) Gamble; seven sons, Thomas (Annie) Whitfield, Roosevelt (Celicia) Whitfield, Walter L. Sparks Jr., Raymoland (Diane) Sparks, Clarence S. Sparks, Danny L. Sparks, Gary (Kimberly) Sparks; three sisters, Lestien Dixon, Mary Lewis and Martha Moody; two brothers, Leon Montgomery and Walter McCraney; a sister-in-law, Josephine McCraney; 57 grandchildren; 43 great- grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins relatives and friends.
Kincaid Funeral Services Inc. will direct services.
Betty (Palmer) Green
Helena-West Helena, Ark. - Funeral services for Betty (Palmer) Green, 49, of Helena-West Helena will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008 in the Robert Lee Brown Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow in the Oak Grove No.1 cemetery in Helena-West Helena. Visitation is Friday, Nov. 28, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the chapel.
Green was born Jan. 13, 1959 in Mississippi to John and Lizzie Palmer. She was a member of the Christ Temple Church of God in Christ.
She died Saturday, Nov. 23, 2008.
She leaves to cherish her memory a loving mother, Lizzie Palmer of Helena-West Helena; six sisters, Bertha Langston of Helena-West Helena, Rose Sanders of Jacksonville, Bobbie King of Little Rock, Lillie Woodbridge of Helena-West Helena, Brenda McClurge (Roy) of Helena-West Helena and Teresa (Roy) Hawkins of Helena-West Helena; three brothers, John (Helena) Palmer of Helena-West Helena, Leroy (Carolyn) Palmer of Helena-West Helena and Jerry Palmer of Sterling, Ill.; a devoted friend, Kim Speed; 38 nieces and nephews; 50 great nieces and nephews; and a host of friends and relatives.
Brown’s Home for Funerals Inc. will direct services.
Charles Connelly Warfield, Jr.
Helena-West Helena, Ark. - Charles Connelly Warfield, Jr., 69, a retired restaurant owner in Baton Rouge, La. died Nov. 28, 2008 after a courageous battle with diabetes and kidney failure. He is a native of Helena and lived in Memphis before moving to Baton Rouge in 1977. He attended the University of Arkansas and was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He had many friends across the country, including his much loved high school classmates with whom he celebrated their 50th reunion party in May 2007.
A private service will be held at a later date in Arkansas. He leaves his wife, Carol Anne Hinson Warfield; daughter and son-in-law, Amy and Dennis Skerrett and their children, Will, Anna and Ben; son and daughter-in-law, Chip Warfield and Laurie Bradshaw and their son, Cameron; sister, Carol Shields; sister-in-law, Jane Warfield Montgomery; nephews, Rick and Randy Warfield; and nieces, Ashley and Kensey Shields.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Connelly Warfield, Sr. and Louise Gordon Warfield; and brother, Richard Gordon Warfield. Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the Kidney Foundation. Seale Funeral Service, Inc., Denham Springs, La. Is in charge of arrangements.
Edgar Allen Hardy
Helena-West Helena, Ark. - Edgar Allen Hardy, 43, of Springdale died Dec. 2, 2008, at Northwest Medical Center in Fayetteville. He was born April 15, 1965 in Helena to Earl Edmund and Martha June Hardy. He served in the Air Force from 1984 to 1989 where he was trained as a medical technologist. He spent 20 years in the laboratory field retiring from the Veteran’s Medical Center in Fayetteville in 2007. He was a member of Gentry Lodge No. 222, F&AM of Arkansas. He was a member of Sequoyah United Methodist Church in Fayetteville.
Allen loved country music and was a Razorback fan.
His father, Earl Edmund Hardy, preceded Allen in death. He leaves his loving wife of 6 years Debra Ellen Gilbert Hardy of the home; his children Tristan Adam Hardy and granddaughter Geneviette of Schofield Barracks, Honolulu, Hawaii; Danielle Nichole Self and husband Justin of Honolulu, Hawaii; Ian McGregor Gilbert of the home and twins Jillian Siobhan and Adrian Duncan Hardy of the home. He leaves his mother, Martha June Hardy of Bradford, and his brother, Lennon Michael Hardy and wife, Tammy of Boling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. and their 4 children. He also leaves many other relatives and friends.
Visitation is Friday, Dec. 5, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Rhodes and Sons Funeral Home in Augusta, with a graveside service on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. in the Smalley cemetery at Connell’s Point.
Norvellus Williams
Helena-West Helena, Ark. - Funeral services for Norvellus Williams, 39, of Helena-West Helena will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008 at the Twin City Church of Christ in West Helena with the Rev. Nathaniel Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Jackson Memorial Gardens in Lexa. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at the Second Missionary Baptist Church at 167 West Park Street in West Helena.
Williams, the son of Lola Mae and Clevester Williams, was born on Oct. 13, 1969. He confessed a hope in Jesus Christ at the age of 27. He was baptized by Pastor Jarvis Smith at Second Missionary Baptist Church in West Helena and was a faithful member until his demise. He graduated from Central High School in 1989 with honors. After high school, he attended the University of Arkansas at Jonesboro and attained a Bachelor’s of criminal justice degree. While pursuing this educational milestone in the spring of 1990, he pledged and joined the Kappa Alpha PSI (Kay) fraternity with the line name “Ice Kold Majesty” - the man that could do the “thang” with the cane. He served as the Dean of Pledges and was a wide receiver on the ASU Jonesboro Indians football team.
In 1995, he returned to West Helena where he worked as a substitute schoolteacher and at Helena Contractors as a bridge builder. He later joined the security department at the Horseshoe Casino in Robinsonville, Miss. as a security officer and was promoted to security shift manager. He moved his employment to Isle of Capri Casino at Lula on July 10, 2001 as a security officer and was promoted to security supervisor in 2003. During this period he worked also as the Chief of Police in Holly Grove. On Dec. 10, 2007 he was promoted to security manager of the Isle of Capri Casino where he was known for his smile, dedication and professionalism until his death.
In 2005, Norvellus Williams Sr. and Angela Davis were united in marriage. During this union daughter Tyasia Williams was born.
Williams entered eternal rest on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008.
He leaves to cherish his memory, his companion, Trakesia Milton of Helena; his spouse, Angela Williams of West Helena; his daughters, Tyasia Williams of West Helena, Keona Williams of Clarksdale, Miss.; his sons, Norvellus Williams Jr. of West Helena, Demarius Williams and Darrius Williams of Helena, Markerion Williams of Senatobia, Miss., Darrius Williams of Jonesboro, Reginald Williams of Tulsa, Okla.; two mothers-in-law, Regina Roston of Conway and Carolyn Davis of Lexa; his father-in-law, Walter Davis of Lexa; three grandchildren; eight sisters, Ida Mae Smith, Brucine Rodgers, Meredeth Cannon, Doris Williams, Sharon Schaffer, Lawanda Peterson of Helena-West Helena, Ruthie Mae Hughes of Monticello and Avery Lilly of Chicago, Ill.; his brothers, Tony Aaron of Dallas, Texas, Rev. Nathaniel Smith, Berl B. Holbrook, Tyronza Smith, and Michael Williams of West Helena, Alvin Smith of Goldsboro, N.C., Carl Smith of Plano, Texas, Rev. Dewayne Williams of West Memphis, Clevester Williams Jr. of Joliet, Ill., and Marvin Williams of Chicago, Ill.; two stepdaughters, Teyanna Harris of Conyers, Ga., and Tunisia Jones of West Helena; sisters-in-law, Tequila Aaron of Dallas, Texas, Alice Smith and Margie Holbrook of West Helena, Sheila Smith of Goldsboro, N.C., Cassandra Suzette Smith of Plano, Texas, Jean Williams of West Memphis, Marilyn Outley of Forrest City, and Tonya Jones of Lexa; nine brothers-in-law, Clarence Mitchell and Tommy Baker of Robinsonville, Miss., K’Torri Dunlap and Torri Barrow of Helena, Sidney Smith of Little Rock, Alvin Johnson of Conway, Charles Jones of Lexa, James Gates III of West Helena (deceased), and Rev. Terry Lilly of Chicago, Ill.; aunts, Brucine Strong of Chicago Ill., Doris Aaron of West Helena (deceased), Ida Mae Aaron of Hempstead, N. Y., Nora Lee Moten and Carolyn Nash of West Helena, Helen Jones of Chicago, Ill., Earlene Haynes of Saginaw, Mich., Louis Mae Gochitt and Mamie Walton of Bronx, N. Y., Dorothy Carter of Chicago and Maggie Jones of Winstonville, Miss., Sandra Jones of Tennessee, Eddie Bea, Mamie Ruth Lois Acklin of St. Louis. Mo.; uncles, Hudson Harris Jr. Of Tunica, Miss., Joe Nathan Jones of Winstonville, Miss., Edward (Tap) Jones, Bobby Ray Jones of Friars Point, Melvin Jones of Tenn., Antonio Jones of Greenwood, Miss., Edward Haynes of Saginaw, Mich., Larry Walton of Bronx, N.Y., and Leo Acklin of St. Louis, Mo.; his best friend, Dorsey Williams of West Helena; his children’s mothers, Katina Edwards of Senatobia, Miss., Terri Roberts and Joyce Womack of West Helena, Nakiel Phillips of Helena, Kenish Williams of Clarksdale, Miss., Tara Clark of Jonesboro and Erica Davis of Tulsa, Okla., and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.
Final viewing will be from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. Saturday at the Twin City Church of Christ. Brown’s Home for Funerals will direct services.
Dorothy Armstrong Wenzel
Helena-West Helena, Ark. - Dorothy Armstrong Wenzel, long-time Helena resident died Dec. 7, 2008 in Helena. Her husband, Henry Wenzel of Helena preceded her in death.
She leaves three sons, Bill Wenzel of Tunica, Miss., Jim Wenzel of Shelburne Falls, Mass. and Jerry Wenzel of Helena; four grandchildren, Julie Wenzel of Southaven, Miss., Lynn Wenzel Dulaney of Tunica, Miss., Stephanie Wenzel of Brooklyn, N.Y. and Nicole Wenzel of New York City, N.Y.; and three great grandchildren.
Father Travis Frank conducted a memorial service Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008.
The family requests that memorials be sent to the First United Methodist Church, 502 Porter St, Helena, AR 72342.
Melvyn Kalb “Mimi” Larkin
Helena-West Helena, Ark. - Melvyn Kalb “Mimi” Larkin died Dec. 8, 2008 at Willow Bend Nursing Home in Marion after a long illness. Formerly of Helena-West Helena, she was preceded in death by her husband, John C. “Bill” Larkin, also of Helena-West Helena.
She leaves a sister, Dorothy Snyder of Prairie Grove; a son, John K. Larkin of Memphis; three grandsons, John K. Larkin Jr. of Clarksville, Tenn., Jason K. Larkin of Atoka, Tenn. and Allen S. Larkin of Savannah, Ga. She also leaves three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Cleburne Avenue Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. on Dec. 11. The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorials be sent to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Mrs. Charlie Stayton
Helena-West Helena, Ark. - Funeral services for Mrs. Charlie Stayton, 65, will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12 at the Twin City Church of Christ in Helena-West Helena. Burial will be in Jackson Memorial cemetery in Southland.
Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11 at the St. Peters M.B. Church in Little Rock and from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Jackson and Highley Funeral Home chapel.
Stayton, born March 3, 1943 in Helena to Harvey and Charlie Lee DeSquare, died Dec. 5, 2008.
Her mother, and husband, Theodore Roosevelt Stayton, preceded her in death.
She leaves to cherish her memory, her father; a brother, Harvey (Equilla) DeSquare III; six children, Ann Brown, Patsy (Arthur) Parson, Almarshell Bennett, Tonnise (Danny) Norment, Raenetta (Terence) Jackson, and LeMonte Stayton; 12 grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; and a host of nephews, nieces, family and friends.
Jackson and Highley Funeral Home will direct services.
Evelyn Marie Wyssbrod
Helena-West Helena, Ark. - Graveside services for Evelyn Marie Wyssbrod, 82, of Marvell will be held 11 a.m. today at the Schaffhauser cemetery in Marvell. Lynn Lumpkin will officiate.
Wyssbrod, born Nov. 5, 1926 in Marvell to John and Earl Dulaney, the eldest of six children, died Dec. 10, 2008 at her home in Marvell.
She leaves five sons, William Wallace Wyssbrod Jr. and his wife, Gloria of Moscow, Tenn., Wayne David Wyssbrod and his wife, Francis of Marvell, Winfred Wyssbrod and his wife, Dovie of Lexa, Wade Wyssbrod and wife, Susan of Covington, Tenn., Winston Wyssbrod and wife, Pat of Indiana; and a daughter, Janice Bottorff of Marvell; 13 grandchildren; and 13 great grandchildren.
Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, William Wallace Wyssbrod Sr., who was a World War II veteran; four sisters, Montine Lamar, Elsie Lumpkin, Mable Fitts, Janette Ward and brother, Thomas (Buddy) Dulaney, who both died in 2008; a grandchild, April Wyssbrod and a great grandchild.
Pallbearers will be William Wallace (Trey) Wyssbrod III, Wayne David (Big Sug) Wyssbrod Jr., Victor Dulaney, Michael Dulaney, Bruce Bottorff and Garren Bottorff.Honorary pallbearers will be Jackie Ford, James Bottorff and Byron Roberts.
The family expresses a special thanks to Wyssbrod’s sister-in-law, Jennie Dulaney.
Bob Neal-Brickell Funeral Home in Marvell will direct services.
