Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Charley "Mutty" Dorsey
Charley "Mutty" Ellis Dorsey, age 80, resident of Horatio, died Saturday, Aug. 12, 2000 in Wadley Regional Medical Center at Texarkana.
Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16 in First Assembly of God Church of Horatio with Rev. J.L. Walker and Rev. Ralph Staggs officiating. Burial followed in Clear Creek cemetery under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home of De Queen.
He was born Sunday, Sept. 21, 1919 in Kingston to the late Derby Richard and Fronie Bell King Dorsey; and was a farmer.
He is survived by his wife, Gracie Viola Dorsey; two sons, Gary Lee Dorsey and Charles Randy Dorsey, both of Horatio; three daughters, Wanda Faye Edens and Fenora Louise Watkins, both of De Queen, and Mary Ellen Hudson of Foreman; two brothers, Claude T. Dorsey of De Queen and Clyde Dorsey of Detroit, Mich.; four sisters, Flossie Jean Griffin of Horatio, Vestie Penner of Moore, Okla., Nellie Juanita Salmon of Cordell, Okla., and Sarah Louise Britton of Sentinal, Okla.; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Melvin Dean Smith
Melvin Dean Smith, age 66, resident of De Queen, died Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2000 in St. Vincent Hospital at Little Rock.
Graveside services were held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 18 in Chapel Hill cemetery with Van Ledbetter, minister, officiating under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home.
He was born Aug. 12, 1934 in De Queen to Willis Dewey and Orbra Lee Cantlon Smith; was a member of the Church of Christ of De Queen; had served in the U.S. Air Force as a staff sergeant; was a retired masonry contractor; and was a former masonry instructor at Cossatot Technical College. He was predeceased by his father, Willis Dewey Smith in August, 1937; and a brother, Eugene Smith in June, 1941.
He is survived by his wife, Dee Ann DuBose Smith of De Queen; two sons, Justin Dean Smith of Arkadelphia and Preston Eugene Smith of Horatio; three daughters, Carrie Dalynne Randolph of Hatfield, Darlene Sherie Mabry of Bartlett, Tenn., and Linda Jean Roden of De Queen; his mother and step-father, Orbra Lee and Reginald Andrew Harrison of De Queen; four brothers, A.F. Smith of Grannis, Marvin Smith of De Queen, Leo Harrison of Fayetteville, and Kent Harrison of Hot Springs; two sisters, Willie Lee Sunderman of Nashville and Helen Smith of Mineral Springs; 10 grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Thelma LaFaun Best
Mrs. Thelma LaFaun Feraris Best, age 87, resident of Kansas City, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2001 in St. Michael Health Care Center at Texarkana.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 26 in First Assembly of God Church of Dierks with Bro. Gary Bobo officiating. Burial followed in Old Union cemetery under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home of De Queen.
She was born March 3, 1913 in Pittsburg, Kan., to the late Theodore L. and Jennie Feraris; was retired from Dr. Hunkler Eye Clinic in Kansas City where she worked as an insurance clerk and in the collections department; was a member of the Eastern Star in Kansas City; and was of the Lutheran faith. She was predeceased by her husband, Leonard Best.
She is survived by one daughter, Lorna Rhodes of Lockesburg; two sons, Harold Brown of San Carlos, Calif., and Frank Henrion of Alabama; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Viewing will be held at Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel in Dierks.
Bernice Arlene Bates
Mrs. Bernice Arlene McCrary Bates, age 81, resident of Texarkana, died Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2001 at her home.
Graveside services were held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 in Gillham cemetery with Pam Brule officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home of De Queen.
She was born July 15, 1919 in Nashville to John K. and Snow Chambers McCrary; was a homemaker; and a member of Sugar Hill Methodist Church in Texarkana. She was predeceased by a daughter, Sue Ellen Bates.
She is survived by her husband, Cleo Gordon Bates of Texarkana; two daughters, May Mae Mauldin of Knob Noster, Mo., and Sue Ann Jackson of Texarkana; two grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1599 Clifton Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30329, or the charity of your choice.
Norene D. Best
Mrs. Norene D. Best, age 93, resident of Gillham, died Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2001 in De Queen.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 in Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Bob McManus officiating. Burial followed in Millcreek cemetery.
She was born May 19, 1907 in Normanna, Tex., to Solomon G. and Annie Tustin Davison; was a homemaker; and a member of the Union Church at Kellum. She was predeceased by her husband, James K. Best Sr. on Dec. 15, 1973; and one daughter, Alice Hutson in November of 1997.
She is survived by one son, James K. Best Jr. of Gillham; two daughters, June Best Johnston of De Queen and Irene Best Collier of Andrews, Tex.; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday evening at the Wilkerson Funeral Home.
John Elmer Griffin
John Elmer "Toots" Griffin, age 78, resident of De Queen, died Monday, Jan. 22, 2001 at his home.
Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24 in Old Center cemetery at Horatio with Rev. Ralph Staggs officiating, under the direction of Chandler Funeral Home.
He was born Feb. 26, 1922 at Horatio to Bennie Franklin and Callie Ann Ayers Griffin; was retired from the City of Baytown, Tex., where he served in traffic control; and was a Baptist. He was predeceased by a brother, Hubert Griffin.
He is survived by his wife, Christine Huddleston Griffin of De Queen; one son, Carl D. Griffin of Highlands, Tex.; one daughter, Kathy Griffin Bays of Hurst, Tex.; three brothers, Clarence Griffin of Horatio, Kenneth Griffin of Tenino, Wash., and Bennie Griffin of De Queen; two sisters, Sue Mumma of Lancaster, Tex., and Marilyn St. John of Gillham; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Marie Brooks
Mrs. Marie Dellinger Brooks, age 86, resident of Winthrop, died Saturday, Jan. 20, 2001 at her home.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22 in Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel with James McRae and Dean Sanders, ministers, officiating. Burial followed in Pauley cemetery.
She was born on Friday, Jan. 30, 1914 in Lockesburg to Luther and Florence Tabler Dellinger; was a homemaker; and a member of Horatio Church of Christ. She was predeceased by her husband, Tillman Brooks on April 26, 1984; and a grandchild, Seth Rogers.
She is survived by two sons, T.L. Brooks Jr. and Gerald Brooks, both of Winthrop; two daughters, Nelda Grant of Tom, Okla., and Louise Rogers of Longview, Tex.; one brother, Sam Dellinger of Dallas, Tex.; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the Horatio Church of Christ or the charity of your choice.
Glenna Nadine Dodd
Glenna Nadine Dodd, age 81, resident of Sulphur Springs, Tex., died Sunday, Jan. 21 in Hopkins County Memorial Hospital.
Visitation services were from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23 at Stinnett Church of Christ. Graveside services followed in Sunset Memorial Park cemetery in Stinnett, Tex., with Bro. Zeb Sailors officiating under the direction of Tapp Funeral Home of Sulphur Springs.
She was born May 27, 1919 in Dodson, Tex., to Idus and Gertrude Williams Smith; was a homemaker; an avid genealogist; and a member of Stinnett Church of Christ. She was predeceased by her husband, James Manley Dodd on July 11, 1965; her parents; a son, Ronnie Lee Dodd on Aug. 1, 1965; a brother, Harold Smith; a sister, Lorene Wesson; and one granddaughter, Mary Ellen Dodd.
She is survived by four sons, Harold Dodd of Sulphur Springs, Tex., Bill Dodd of Lubbock, Tex., Bobby Dodd of De Queen, and Garry Dodd of Mt. Pleasant, Tex.; one brother, Donald Ray Smith of Abilene, Tex.; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
