Memphis, Tenn.--HERSCHEL B. BAKER JR., 49, of Memphis, music supervisor for Lee County (Ark.) Schools, died of heart disease Tuesday at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Forest Hill Funeral Home East with burial in Forest Hill Cemetery East. He was a member of the Order of St. Luke association of church organists. Mr. Baker, the husband of Louise Baker, also leaves a son, Christopher Alan Baker of Memphis, and his father, Herschel B. Baker of Magnolia, Ark. --Commercial Appeal, The (Memphis, TN) - March 9, 1994


Kansas City, MO--JOHN I. BANKS, 77, Kansas City, MO, passed away September 4, 1997, at his home. Funeral services will be Noon, Thursday, September 11, at the Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church with Reverend Wallace S. Hartsfield officiating; burial in Highland Park Cemetery, Kansas City, KS. Friends may call 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, at the Lawrence A. Jones and Sons Linwood Chapel, where Masonic Services will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, and Thursday from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the church.
Family suggests contributions to the American Cancer Society.
Mr. Banks was born in Lee County, AR. He lived in Kansas City for 65 years. He was a member of the Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church and a member of the Sunday School Department of the church. He was also a member of the Brotherhood of the church. He was an Army W.W.II veteran. He was a member of Wayne Miner American Legion Post 149. He also belonged to the YMCA and AARP.
Mr. Banks had worked at Armco Steel Company, retiring in 1982. He was a member and past Worshipful Master of the Blue Valley Lodge 64 and a member of the Kansas City Consistory 7. He was a past patron of Queen of Sheba Chapter 19 of Order of Eastern Star. He was a member of the Mt. Oread Chapter 6 of the Holy Royal Arch Masons.
Survivors include his wife, Emma L. Banks, of the home; two sons, Lee James, Kansas City, KS, John I. Banks, Jr., Kansas City, MO; one daughter, Ella J. Hullaby, Kansas City, KS; a sister, Elnora Marshall, Kansas City, MO; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. (Arrangements: Lawrence A. Jones and Sons Funeral Chapels)   Source:  Kansas City Star, The (MO) - September 9, 1997.


MOGADORE, OH -- GUY COTHRAN, JR., 70, went home to be with the Lord on Feb.17, 1994 after a long illness. He was born in Lee County, Ark., and lived in Mogadore for 36 years.
Mr. Cothran was employed as a construction worker for 30 years, retiring in 1985. He won awards several years for his Christmas light display, and was also an avid gardener and hunter.
Preceded in death by parents, Guy and Lela Cothran, he is survived by wife of 36 years, Mary; son, Harold Morris Cothran of Pea Ridge, Ark.; three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; brother, Willie Tolman Cothran of Avenal, Calif.; sisters, Helen Sexton of Palestine, Ark., Thelma Collins of Squaw Valley, Calif.; Sue Morgenstern of New Matamoras, Ohio, Christine
Cothran of Forest City, Ark., Imogene Villa of Tulsa, Okla., Sally Casteneda of Squaw Valley, Calif., and Betty Linnanto of Eugene, Ore.
Funeral service Saturday, 1 p.m., at Hopkins Lawver MOGADORE Funeral Home, 34 S. Cleveland Ave., with Rev. G. Rod Taylor officiating. Burial at Greenwood Cemetery in Mogadore. Friends may call the funeral home one hour prior to service time on Saturday.
--Akron Beacon Journal (OH) - February 18, 1994

Memphis, Tenn.--CHARLES BINGHAM DOZIER, 86, of Memphis, formerly of Lee County, Ark., retired regional manager of the farm loan department with Equitable Life Assurance Co. and landowner in eastern Arkansas, died Wednesday at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Moro (Ark.) Baptist Church with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery there. Memphis Funeral Home Union Chapel has charge. He was a 32nd degree Mason. He was a member of Sons of the American Revolution, Scottish Rite and Al Chymia Shrine Temple. He leaves his wife, Geraldine West Dozier; a daughter, Mrs. Leigh W. MacQueen of Memphis; two sisters, Mrs. Emma Edrington Collier and Mrs. Marguerite Jones, and a brother, John P. Dozier, all of Moro, and four grandchildren.   --Commercial Appeal, The (Memphis, TN) - March 21, 1991.

Cairo, IL–MRS. ODESSA MOSBY DUNIGAN was one of seven children born to Tommie and Mary Mosby on September 14, 1918 in Marianna, Arkansas.  The Lord called her home, Saturday, January 31, 2009 at her home in Marston, MO at the age of 90 years old.
Her parents, her husband, two children, three brothers and three sisters preceded her in death.
She professed faith in Christ and united with Lily of the Valley Freewill Baptist Church in Point Pleasant, MO. She later, united with Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church of Marston, MO, where she served faithfully and was a member of the Mission Society. She was a member of Marston Community Betterment Club.
She leaves to cherish her memories: three daughters; Bernice Venable of Kansas City, MO; Christine Mullins of Jamaica, New York; and Barbara (James) Long of St. Louis, MO.; two sons; Jesse (Portia) Dunigan of St. Louis, MO; and Ronnie Dunigan of Kansas City, MO.; 18 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren, a host of other relatives, friends and the Good Hope Church Family.
Funeral services were conducted at noon, Monday, Feb. 9, 2009 at the Good Hope Missionary Baptist church in Marston, Mo. with Rev. Kirk Dunnivant officiating. Interment followed in Mason Cemetery in Point Pleasant, Mo.  Williams Funeral Home in Charleston, Mo. in charge of arrangements.  --Cairo Citizen (IL)--Published: Monday, February 23, 2009.


St. Petersburg, FL–DOUGLAS H. FARRELL, of St. Petersburg, died Monday (June 5, 1995) at Brandon Hospital. He was born in Lee County, Ark., and came here in 1974 from Tallahassee. A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi State University, he received a doctorate from Florida State University. He was an environmental specialist at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection since 1974. He was a Baptist.
Survivors include his wife of 31 years, Sandra S.; a son, John T., Melbourne; and a sister, Dianne Dulle, Shreveport, La.
R. Lee Williams & Son Funeral Home, St. Petersburg.
--St. Petersburg Times (FL) - June 7, 1995


BOWLING GREEN, KY–MARSHALL CHARLES “MC” GRAHAM, 66, of Bowling Green died Dec. 18, 1999, at Greenview Regional Hospital.
The Lee County, Ark., native was a retired employee of General Motors Corvette Assembly Plant and a member of Prospect Baptist Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Benevolent Order of Elks.
He was a son of Johnny Archie of Milwaukee and the late Velma Johnson.
Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Icy Sink Baptist Church with burial in Davis-Hoffman Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Burnam & Son Mortuary and after 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church.
Other survivors include his wife, Phyllis Houchins Graham; three daughters, Lavette Graham-Wright, Matricia Graham and Michelle Davis, all of St. Louis; four stepdaughters, Debra Dorsey of Kansas City, Mo., Shirley Brown of St. Louis, Pamela Pillow of Smiths Grove and Olevia "Libby" Major of Lexington; a sister, Jennie Smith of Bowling Green; and 12 grandchildren.
--Daily News (Bowling Green, KY) - December 20, 1999.


LEWISTOWN, IL -- JOHN HAVENS,  49, of Rural Route 1, died Tuesday, April 6, 1993, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.
Born Feb. 13, 1944, in Lee County, Ark., to James L. and Cleo V. Lawson Havens, he married Marcy S. Hess on Dec. 28, 1962, in Winchester. She survives.
Also surviving are four sons, John L. and Joseph S., both of Lewistown, and Joshua M. and Jake R., both at home; one daughter, Mrs. Norman L. (Jenny) Tate of Miamisburg, Ohio; four grandchildren; and one sister, Mrs. Gordon (Mary Ann) Evans of Winchester. He was preceded in death by his parents.
He had farmed in the Lewistown area for the past 25 years. He was a member of Grace Baptist Church in rural Havana, the Fulton County Fair board and Lewistown Academic Foundation board.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at his church. The Rev. Dan French will officiate. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 tonight at Henry Memorial Home in Lewistown and one hour before services at the church. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in Lewistown.
Memorials may be made to an education fund for his sons, Joshua and Jake, established at Farmers State Bank in Lewistown.
--Peoria Journal Star, The (IL) - April 8, 1993


Decatur, IL--MARY DAISY LOVE, 91, of Decatur, passed into eternity on Friday, January 20, 2006 at Aspen Ridge Care Center.
Services will be 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 at Community Temple Church of God In Christ with Bishop Willie F. Newbon officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to service. Burial will be held in Graceland / Fairlawn Cemetery. Walker Funeral Service & Chapel are in charge of the arrangements.
Mary was born on December 6, 1914, to Benjamin and Jessie Drake in Marianna, Arkansas. Mary accepted Christ at the age of 16 and was faithfully doing whatever she could for the Lord. She moved to Illinois in 1920 and became a devoted member and mother of Sandusky Church of God In Christ, working where ever needed. Mother was employed at the Apple and Peach Orchard in Anna, Illinois and she also worked as a Seamstress at NYA, in Southern Illinois. On May 17, 1941, she was united in marriage to Bunch Love of Mounds, Illinois; from this union they welcomed seven children. Mother Love was also a Foster Mother to a multitude of children until 1996. In April 1996, after health declined, she moved to Decatur, to the home of her daughter Daisy Glass and became a member of Community Temple Church of God In Christ and there remained until November 24, 2002. When her health further declined she became a resident of Aspen Ridge Care Center, where she remained until God called her home.
Mother Love leaves not to mourn, but to lovingly cherish: three daughters: Gola Banks of Decatur, IL, Daisy Glass of Decatur, Illinois, and Rose Love of Alton, Illinois, three sons: Diamond Love of Decatur, Illinois, Rev. James (Claria) Love of Sandusky, Illinois, Delbert Love of Cobden, Illinois, one nephew: Clarence Love of Energy, Illinois, one brother: Freddie Drake of Decatur, Illinois, 24 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.
Mother Love was preceded in death by her: parents, husband, and oldest son: Nelson Cee, two sisters, two brothers, one niece: Earlene Love, son-in-law: Ronnie Banks Sr.
Mother Love was a wonderful Lady and truly an inspiration and blessing to everyone who knew and loved her. She will be greatly missed, but will live in our hearts and memories forever.  We all love you, but God loves you best. See you in the Sweet Bye & Bye.
--Obituary written by family members. Source: Herald & Review (Decatur, IL) - January 24, 2006, contributed by Leslie Riney.


MARIANNA, Ark. - RONNIE LEE SMITH, 49, formerly of Marston, Mo., died Nov. 26, 2001, at the Methodist Central Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.
Born on May 22, 1952, in Marston, to the late Katherine Lynch and Ira Smith, he was a maintenance engineer with the U.S. Corps of Engineers. A member of the American Legion Post in Marianna, he served three years with the U.S. Army and 20 years with the National Guard.
In August 1989 at Wynne, Ark., he married Mary Graham, who survives of the home.
Other survivors include; two daughters, Sharon Denise Smith and Barbara Denean Summerhill of Marianna; one brother, Donnie Smith of Portageville, Mo.; and one grandson, Steven Levon Summerhill of Marianna.
Friends may call after 5 p.m. today at Richards Funeral Home in New Madrid, Mo., where services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday. The Rev. Roy Edwards, minister of Marston United Methodist Church, will officiate.
Burial will follow in Mounds Park Cemetery near Lilbourn.
--Wednesday, November 28, 2001, Sikeston Standard Democrat

WEST HELENA, AR - HARVIE R. VAN METER, 89, of Midwest City, Okla., formerly of Lee County, Ark., homemaker, died of heart failure Wednesday at Midwest City Nursing Center. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Roller-Citizens Funeral Home in West Helena with burial in Sunset Memorial Park. She leaves a daughter, Betty Lou Blalock of Tyler, Texas; a son, Richard Van Meter of Port Sulphur, La.; four sisters, Lucille Appleton of Los Angeles, Rosy Smith of La Grange, Johnnie Smith of Wilson and Manda Morton of Midwest City, six grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.  --Commercial Appeal, The (Memphis, TN) - August 28, 1998.

PEORIA, IL -- AARON J. “A. J.” WILSON, 56, of 2405 W. Antoinette died at 8:17 a.m. Friday, May 8, 1998, at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. He was born Nov. 5, 1941, in Lee County, Ark., to Woodrow and Lexanna Hines Wilson.
Surviving are four sons, Benjamin Scott, Albert Russell, Vincent Wilson and Aaron Wilson Jr., all of Peoria; two daughters, Mrs. Shaun (Crystal) McGee and Mrs. Stephen (Arlissa) Holford, both of Peoria; two brothers, Oscar and Jesse, both of Peoria; six sisters, Lacie Wilson, Pearl Wilson, Maxine Jones and Mrs. Eugene (Kay) Johnson, all of Peoria, Lowrine Denson and Mrs. Melvin (Moralee) McLaurin, both of Chicago; and eight grandchildren.
One brother preceded him in death.
A Vietnam War Army veteran, he received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He was a member of Disabled American Veterans.
A member of United Auto Workers Local 974, he worked at Caterpillar Inc. for 35 years. He was a member of the American Association of Retired Persons.
He was a member of Church of the Living God Temple 130 in Peoria, where he was a member of the choir, the Deacon Board and Trustee Board and served as Sunday school superintendent.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at his church. The Rev. Joseph Hines will officiate. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Simons Mortuary and one hour before services at the church. Burial will be in Swan Lake Memory Gardens.
Family will receive friends at 2405 W. Antoinette.
Memorials may be made to his church or to the American Heart Association
--Peoria Journal Star, The (IL) - May 11, 1998
 

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