Pulaski County
WILLIE JAMES ATKINS, 69, of Little Rock, passed away on Sunday, July 23, 2017. He leaves to cherish his memory; children, Jacqueline Atkins, Willie O’Keith Atkins, Latrese Atkins and Stephanie Atkins Crudup (SirMarcus); siblings, Anthony Atkins, Kenneth Atkins, Roger Atkins and Barbara Atkins, James Batts, Tony Batts and Ronald Batts, Betty Green, Rose Tyous, Wanda Willis and Janet Elder; nine grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, 10:30 a.m. at South Temple COGIC, 2623 South Arch Street, Little Rock. Personal and Professional services entrusted to Hardy Funeral Home, 5300 West 12th Street, Little Rock. To sign the online guestbook please visit www.hardyfuneralhomeinc.com. “We Care, When Caring Counts.”
–––––❖––––– KATIE MARIE DUHART, 73, of Little Rock, Ark., transitioned this life on July 27, 2017. She is preceded in death by her husband: Rev. Lee Otis Duhart; parents, Earl and Marie Nettles McKenzie, two brothers C.L. and J.F. McKenzie. She leaves to cherish her memory: son Ellison McKenzie (Rushonda Robinson); siblings: Earlee, L.C., Pearl, Jessie Lee McKenzie, Mearl McKenzie-Scott, and Opelia McKenzie-Giles; two grandchildren and a host of relatives. Funeral: Friday August 4, 2017 at 10 a.m. at St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church, 7th and Valentine, Little Rock, Pastor Burris officiating. Services entrusted to Robinson Mortuary, 1201 Dr. MLK Jr. Drive, Little Rock, Ark. (501) 371-0111. “Service You Can Trust.”
–––––❖––––– FRANCES MITCHELL HAMILTON, 86, of Little Rock, longtime resident of Pine
Bluff, went to be with the Lord, Wednesday, July 26, 2017, at her home. She was born July 11, 1931, in Boughton, Arkansas, the daughter of D and Syble Frances Morgan Mitchell. She was reared and received her education in Camden, where she graduated from Camden High School in 1949.
On January 29, 1949, Frances Mitchell married Billy DeWayne Hamilton in Stephens, Arkansas. In 1950, they moved to Natchez, Mississippi. Mrs. Hamilton worked for Commercial Credit Corporation and Reagan Equipment Company. She moved to Pine Bluff in 1958. She worked for Sears, Roebuck & Company then went to work for International Paper Company in 1962 from which she retired in 1989. She attended First Baptist Church of Pine Bluff, serving as a Sunday School Teacher of children, a member of the Choir, and the Tabulation Committee. She was also a member of the Singing Women of Arkansas-Sweet Adenlines and a tutor for the Literacy Council of Jefferson County.
Mrs. Hamilton is survived by her son, Charles DeWayne Hamilton and his wife Gretchen of Little Rock; four grandchildren, Matthew, Melissa, Ryan and Eric; eleven great-grandchildren, Spencer, Austin, McKenzie, Haines, Kassidy, Avery, Brynlee, Kaylee, Eric Jr., Cassidy and Carson. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of over 60 years, Billy DeWayne Hamilton, who passed away June 12, 2009; and her brother, Charles D. Mitchell.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, August 2, 2017, 1:30 p.m., in the Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Home with Reverend Gary O’Neal officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to service time. Online condolences: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.
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BILLY JOE LAWSON, 68, of North Little Rock, Ark., passed away Thursday, July 27, 2017. He was born Oct. 2, 1948 in Memphis, Tenn., to Jessie and Omega Lawson. He was a member of Park Hill Baptist Church in North Little Rock.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Janie Lawson; children, Brian Lawson (Kathleen), Ben Lawson (Amie), Brad Lawson (Jordan); grandchildren, Madelyn, Hudson, Eva Jean, Mark, Parker, and Peyton; sister, Barbara Moise from Trumann, Ark., and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Thomas Lawson.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017 at Smith- North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St. Funeral Service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2017 at Park Hill Baptist Church, 201 E. C Ave, North Little Rock. Burial with military honors will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017 at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock.
Online obituary at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.
–––––❖––––– EARLENE W. LITTLE, of Little Rock, departed this life for home on July 28, 2017, at the age of 90 years. She was the much beloved mother of Glenda Royal, Gerald Little (Debbie) and Frank Little (Lee). She had five grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Winford Little, parents, Earl and Mabel Ledbetter, and sister, Bobbie Nalley. She love the Lord and was a faithful member of Christ Church in Alexander, Ark. Pastor G.A. Dudley will be officiating. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017 at Roller Drummond Funeral Home on I-30 in Little Rock. Visitation is from 6-8 p.m., Monday, July 31, 2017 at the funeral home. Burial will be at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Bauxite, Ark.
Online guestbook may be found at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/ drummond.
–––––❖––––– TIMOTHY JOHN McCORD, 67, of Little Rock, passed away July 21, 2017. He was born Feb. 7, 1950 in New York, N.Y. He leaves behind his sister, Elizabeth Weinstein, to cherish his memory. Cremation Arrangements entrusted to Arkansas Cremation. www.arkansascremation.com.
–––––❖––––– RAMON SALINAS RENDON was called home by his father July 25, 2017. He was born April 6, 1949 to Natalia and Ramon and his step-mother Dora Rendon. He proudly served his country as a Chief Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force for 27 years in Air Transportation. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Roland Rendon and father-in-law, Harold Shirley.
He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Karen; children, Philip Rendon, Heather (Jason) Phillips, Veronica Rendon and Brandi (Danny) Casey; mother-in-law, Helen Shirley; siblings, Ramiro Rendon, Alfonso Garcia, Gilberto Garcia, Rose Garza, Mary Esparza, Linda Ortiz and Sylvia Rendon, Melody Robinson, Susan Lee; numerous nieces and nephews; four grandsons, Brandon, Wyatt, Ben and Noah; two granddaughters, Beryln and Cheyenne. Ray will be dearly missed by all.
Special thanks to the “Rendon Raiders,” a special group of men and women who worked alongside Ray in his 27 years of service to our country.
Graveside services will be 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017 at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery 1501 West Maryland Ave., North Little Rock, Ark. 72120.
Arrangements by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home (501) 982-2136. Sign online guestbook at www.mooresjacksonvillefuneralhome.com.
–––––❖––––– EDWIN J. SMITH, 89, of Roland, passed away Saturday, July 29, 2017. He was born on Oct. 25, 1927 in Pope County, to Everette and Sue Smith. He served in the U.S. Army. Edwin retired from Timex after 42 years of service and was a member of North Point Baptist Church.
Edwin is survived by daughter, Ann Furr (Cecil); son, Wayne Smith (Carol); daughter, Marjorie Ward; daughter-in-law, Kay Smith; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandson. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elnora Wolf Smith; son Edwin Smith Jr.; and seven brothers and sisters.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., on Tuesday, Aug. 1 at the North
Point Baptist Church (Lighthouse Family Church) in Roland. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday at the church. Burial will be at Pleasant Grove Cemetery. Online guestbook at www. SmithFamilyCares.com.
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JOE C. SMITH, 94, passed away Tuesday, July 25, 2017. He was born March 27, 1923 in Ellisville, Ark. He was a Navy Veteran who honorably served in World War II. He married Lou Ella Brumley Smith on Sept. 15, 1940, and they had six children. Joe was a farmer, electrician, radio repairman, and a truck driver for Wheeling Pipeline. He was proud to have driven the bicentennial truck in 1976. He also worked for Miller Transport until he retired in 1988. He loved working in his garden, fishing, hunting and camping.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Lou Ella Smith; parents, Hoy and Pearl Butler Smith; brother, Hoy Smith Jr.; two sisters, Emogene Craig and Jimmie Nell Marks and a great-grandson, Devon Lazarus. He leaves behind a brother, Walter Ellis Smith; five sons, Bobby J. Smith (Ann), Vernon Smith (Beverly), Eddie Smith (Margie), Alan Smith (Margaret) and Dale Smith (Julie); daughter, Wanda Russell (Freddy); 25 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren, eight great-great-grandchildren and other extended family.
A visitation will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017 followed by a funeral service at 10:30 a.m., at Smith – North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St. Burial with honors will follow at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery.
Online obituary at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.
–––––❖––––– OUIDA BELLE HARRIS SMITH, 83, of North Little Rock, passed away Wednesday, July 26, 2017. She leaves to cherish her memory; husband, Norman H. Smith; children, Steven Smith and Dr. Rosalyn Smith Phillips (Aaron); sister, Jo Freda Richards, three grandchildren, one great-grandson and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017, 11 a.m. at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church 1109 South State St. The family will receive friends tomorrow from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Personal and Professional services entrusted to Hardy Funeral Home, 5300 West 12th St., Little Rock. To sign the online guestbook please visit www.hardyfuneralhomeinc.com. “We Care, When Caring Counts.”
–––––❖––––– FLOYD DEAN WILLIAMSON passed away on Wednesday, July 26 in Little Rock. He was born on Dec. 16, 1923 in Buckville, Ark.,
the third of five children born to the late Ruth Ella and Joseph Henry Williamson. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Mary Alyce Saeler Williamson and all of his siblings, brothers Robert, Earl, Gary, and sister, Jo Helen Cook.
Dean and his family moved from Buckville to Hot Springs, Ark., in the late 1920’s. After graduating from high school he entered the army and from there attended Henderson State Teachers College. He earned his B.S. degree in Education in 1950 and met the love of his life, Mary Alyce Saeler. They moved to Little Rock where Dean began his successful career as a Realtor for Block Realty Company. Whether it was innate or the result of living through the Great Depression, Dean’s ambition and drive were legendary. The Block brothers recognized he was a born salesman and gave him a job. He was their top salesman for 22 consecutive years. Dean’s motto was “work hard, play hard”. When he wasn’t working Dean loved to hunt and fish. He spent countless hours at the Poor Boy Duck Club near Humnoke, the Speer Deer Camp near Star City, and the Old River Fishing Club east of Little Rock. He also went on many hunting trips to south Texas and New Mexico with his brothers. Dean passed on his love of hunting and fishing to his son, son-in-law, and grandsons. After he retired in the early 1990’s he and Mary began to travel the world. They visited Europe, South America, the western U.S. and his favorite, Alaska. Dean also loved to garden. One part of his backyard was for flowers, the other for vegetables. He frequently clipped bouquets for Mary and gave away lots of cucumbers.
Dean loved his family. He was a tough, but loving father and a superb grandfather. He drove an enormous SUV longer than he should have so he could fit all his grandchildren.
He is survived by his daughter, DeeDee (Walt) Dickinson of Little Rock; son, Dr. Tony Williamson of Butte, Montana; six grandchildren: Ian (Amanda) Williamson, Dr. Mary (Jay) Neeson, Sara Williamson, Walt Dickinson III, Mary Dickinson, and Will Dickinson. Two great-grandchildren, Callie Williamson and Colton Williamson.
The family would like to express their gratitude to his caregivers, Vernette Freeman, Yvette Colbert, Theretha Jackson and Ashley Freeman.
Visitation will be Monday, July 31 from 10-11 a.m.at Ruebel Funeral Home. A graveside service will immediately follow at Roselawn Memorial Park. Arrangements under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home, www. ruebelfuneralhome.com.