Biographical And Historical Memoirs of Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, Grant, Saline, Perry, Garland And Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas
Cleatus Eskridge
Cleatus Ethel Cagle Eskridge, 87, of Red Bluff, Calif., died Sunday, July 28, 2002 at her home.
A native of Plumerville, and graduate from Plumerville High School in 1937, Mrs. Eskridge was born on October 30, 1914, in Martinville, Ark., daughter of Noah and Leila Winfrey Cagle. She married Troy E. Eskridge on September 11, 1938, in Solgohachia. They moved to Hayward, Calif., in 1946, and to Red Bluff in 1957.
Mrs. Eskridge was a 45-year member of First Southern Baptist Church, Red Bluff, and currently a member of Antelope Home Fellowship in Red Bluff. She was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Post 1932, serving as chaplain for the past 10 years, and also president in 1973-75 and 1979-80. Mrs. Eskridge taught Sunday School for 65 years, mostly 2- and 3-year-old children. Her husband of 59 years, Troy Eskridge, preceded her in death in January 1997.
Survivors include son, Bob Eskridge, and daughter and son-in-law, Leila and Scott Capilla, both of Red Bluff; four grandchildren, Brandyln Neese, Josh Herndon, Talia Temple, and Susanna Eskridge, and one great-grandson, Cade Temple, sister, Lou Lynn McCoy of Morrilton, Ark.; sister-in-law, Fern Cagle, of Hines, Ore.; and niece, Nancy Hall, of Bonanza, Ore.
Services were held August 1, at Chapel of Flowers in Red Bluff, and internment in Oak Hill Cemetery in Red Bluff. Pallbearers were Wes Herndon, Josh Herndon, Ryan Neese, Jason Temple, Jim Randolph, and Ken Close.
Ethel Sharp
Ethel Eakin Sharp, 70, of Rockford, Ill., died Thursday, Aug. 1, 2002.
She was born Sept. 13, 1931, a daughter of Luther and Myrtle Nichols Eakin. She was the widow of Noble Lee Sharp.
Survivors include two brothers, James Eakin and John Eakin, both of Cleveland, Tenn.; and one sister, Judy Denny of Chicago.
Graveside service was 3 p.m. Monday at Ada Valley Cemetery with Bro. John Chapman officiating. Burial was at Ada Valley Cemetery by Harris Funeral Home of Morrilton.
Dorothy Crawford
Dorothy May Crawford, 82, of Morrilton, a retired Licensed Practical Nurse, died Thursday, Aug. 1, 2002.
She was of the Baptist faith, and a former foster parent, fostering over 12 children.
Survivors include one son, Larry Overby of Oregon, Ill., and one grandson.
Graveside service was 10 a.m. Saturday at the Grandview Cemetery near Center Ridge. Arrangements were by Bob Neal and Sons Funeral Homes, Morrilton. Full obit at:
Ruby Martin
Ruby E. Martin, 75, of Crabtree died Saturday, Aug. 3, 2002.
She was born in Russellville, a daughter of Ben and Rosie Simmons. She was a Baptist.
Survivors include her husband William Henry “Bill” Martin Sr.; four sons, Jimmy Martin of Barley, Calif.; William Martin Jr., Cecil Martin and Dave Martin, all of Crabtree; one daughter, Francis Russell of California; one brother, Jessie Simmons of Waldon; 17 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services were 2 p.m. Tuesday at Lemley Funeral Chapel by the Rev. Virgil Lemmings. Burial was at Bells Chapel Cemetery by Lemley Funeral Service.
Pallbearers were her grandsons.
Dorothy Smith
Dorothy Genell Smith, 72, of Atkins died Monday, Aug. 5, 2002.
She was born March 16, 1930, in Conway County, a daughter of Earl and Evie Robinson Gilley. She was a licensed minister through the Blackwell Full Gospel Church.
Survivors include her husband, the Rev. Ray Smith; two sons, Kenny Smith of Atkins and Eddie Smith of Russellville; one daughter, Brenda Branch of Atkins; four brothers, Jeff Gilley of Atkins, Glenn Gilley of Fort Smith, Ed Gilley of Dardanelle, and James Earl Gilley of Hutchinson, Kan.; four sisters, Jo Ann Meyers of Nashville, Tenn., Bonnie Mitchell of Atkins, Barbara Doris of Dardanelle, and Iva Gardner of Houston, Texas; one half-sister, Vera Merrit of Pine Bluff; two grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be today (Wednesday) 10 a.m. at Lemley Funeral Chapel by the Revs. Bob Branch, J.W. Heflin and Bill Nowlin. Burial will be at Atkins Cemetery by Lemley Funeral Service.
Pallbearers will be Robbie Sweeden, Gary Branch, Dean Grigsby, J.C. Kinder, Jimmy Smith, and Adam Waldron. Honorary pallbearers will be Ralph Meyers and Danny Doris.
Harmon Bridgman
Harmon Millard Bridgman, 77, of Morrilton died Monday, Aug. 5, 2002.
He was born Aug. 22, 1924, in Morrilton, a son of William Berry Bridgman and Dessie Fryer Bridgman. He was a butcher at Morrilton Packing Co., and of the Methodist faith.
Survivors include two brothers, Lonnie Bridgman of Morrilton and Clarence Bridgman of Solgohachia; three sisters, Helen Adams of Morrilton, Ellen Sitton of Oklahoma City, and Cleo Lindsey of Solgohachia.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at the Harris Chapel with the Rev. Larry Miller officiating. Burial will be at Friendship Cemetery by Harris Funeral Home of Morrilton.
Pallbearers will be John B. Bridgman, Sturl Bridgman, Scott Bridgman, Junior Freeman, Tim Bridgman, and Buddy Barker.
Floyd Langston
Floyd A. Langston, 87, of Little Rock, formerly of Perry County, died Sunday, Aug. 4, 2002.
He was born Oct. 16, 1914, in Wooster. Upon returning from service in the Navy during World War II, he worked in public school education for 35 years serving in the Bigelow, Vilonia, Jacksonville, Pulaski County, and Little Rock School districts. He was a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Jessie Woolf Langston; two sons, Paul Langston of Springfield, Mo., and Mark Langston of Little Rock; one sister, Dorothy Matthews of Little Rock; and four grandchildren.
A gathering in remembrance of Mr. Langston will be 1 p.m. today (Wednesday) in the chapel of Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth Custom Funerals & Cremations, 5800 W. 12th St., Little Rock. Burial will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Alexander.
Memorials may be made to Missionary Baptist Church Seminary, 5224 Stagecoach, Little Rock, Ark. 72204.
Leon Brents
Leon Brents, age 87, of Cleveland, died Tuesday, Oct. 8, at the Conway Regional hospital.
Leon was born on February 4, 1915, in Cleveland, Arkansas, a son of the late James W. and Eldora Hendricks Brents. He was a self-employed cattle and chicken farmer, and a veteran of WWII, where he served in five campaigns in the European theatre. Leon was a member of the Church of God-Abrahamic Faith, a 32nd Degree Mason, a member of the Scottish Rite, Cleveland Lodge 473, and a strong, supportive member of the Disabled American Veterans.
Leon Brents is survived by his wife of 56 years, Betty Brents of Cleveland; one son, Douglas Lewis Brents of Cleveland; one daughter, Jennifer Jo Ann Jones and husband Jimmy Dale of Cleveland; four granddaughters, Charlotte Spencer of Colorado Springs, Colo., Monica Zachary of Cleveland, Jessica Brents of Russellville, and Leslie Brents of Cleveland; four great-grandchildren, and a host of many relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Leon Brents will be 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at the Bob Neal and Sons Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at the Brents Cemetery at Cleveland. Mark Goode and Loyd Brents will officiate the services.
Pallbearers will be William Bennett, Travis Beck, Bobby Brents, Jimmy Wells, Doyle Brents, and Aaron Duvall. Honorary pallbearers will be Woody Ring, David Roberson, Keith Underwood, and Bob Bowling.
