Pulaski County
Mrs. BESSIE REGINA DAVIS-HERRING, 53, of North Little Rock, Ark. passed Friday,
July 20, 2018.
Funeral Service will be 3 p.m., Saturday,
July 28, 2018, at Union Baptist Church in
Pine Bluff, Ark., by Rev. Leroy
Spears Jr. www. brownfuneralhomeandmortuary.com.
–––––❖––––– DONNIE DEAN HILL, 81, of North Little Rock passed away Wednesday,
July 25th. Donnie was born in
Alicia, Arkansas, to parents
W.L. Thompson Jr. and
Ruth Childers Thompson. A gifted athlete, at 17 Donnie was recruited by the Chicago Cubs baseball team but his mother would not sign the papers due to his age. He served his country in the U. S. Army, 11th Airborne Division during the Vietnam War. Donnie attended ASU and went on to graduate from the University of Maryland with an Engineering degree in Radiology Electrical Engineering.
Donnie was an avid and accomplished hunter and fisherman and loved the outdoors. An excellent storyteller, he wrote many articles for outdoor magazines. He was also a motorcycle enthusiast.
A longtime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in North Little Rock, Donnie served on the Board and volunteered his service to the church in many ways. A leader in the community, Donnie also was a member of the American Legion, Elk’s Club, North Little Rock NRA (President), Knights of Columbus, American Duck Hunters Association (President) and was a Mason. Donnie also mentored many children and coached softball for many years.
He married the love of his life, Joan D. Hill, on September 7, 1957, and remained her husband and partner for 61 years. Donnie was a loving husband, doting father and grandfather — a great friend and good listener who gave of himself. He was always a happy man and had a great heart-felt laugh. Everyone who knew him loved him.
Donnie was raised on a small family farm in a small community, he raised himself up to build Don’s Weaponry and went on to own multiple businesses.
He was preceded in death by his parents, W.L. and Ruth Thompson; grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. John C. Childers; beloved wife Joan, brother, Bobby Hill. He leaves behind his cherished family; daughter, Kim Tipton and son-in-law, Charles Tipton; grandchildren Joshua Tipton Sr. and his wife, Rebecca, Jacob Tipton, Lacey Tipton Spradlin and her husband, Erik Spradlin; great-grandchildren, Joshua Tipton Jr., James Tipton, Isabella Tipton, Temperance Spradlin and Archer Spradlin along with many other extended family members as well as special friends Robie and Heidrun Norman and Mark Lisko.
A visitation celebrating Donnie’s life will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, July 29th, at Rest Hills Funeral Home, 7724 Landers Rd., NLR. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 30th, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in North Little Rock. Please share your memories of Donnie with his family online at www.griffinleggettresthills.com.
–––––❖––––– WILLIE ANN LAWRENCE, 68, of North Little Rock went home to be with the Lord on Thursday.
She leaves to remember her love, sisters: Pearlene and
Earlene Williams and Betty
Hornes all of Arkansas. And a host of other relatives and friends. Services today at 11:30 a.m. at Samaritan Hill Baptist Church, 924 E 14th St., North Little Rock. Kelly Smith Funeral & Cremation Services (8424 Kanis Road, 501-612-5607) will be serving the Lawrence families. For more information, sign online guest register, send flowers/ condolences/photos and light an “In Loving Memory Of” candle at www.kellysmithfunerals@gmail. com.
–––––❖––––– SHIRLEY JEAN PERKINS, age 75, of Mabelvale, passed away Thursday, July
26, 2018. She was born April
12, 1943, in Little Rock, Arkansas. Shirley was retired from the
Bryant School District. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert
Thomas Grundy and Eura Lee Grundy; husband, Charles Kenneth Perkins; daughter, Gina Lisa Poole; brother, Warren Bruce Grundy and two sisters, Mary Jane Davis and Patsy Laverne Taylor.
She is survived by a daughter, Paula Kay Malone; two brothers, Thomas David Grundy and Ronald Lee Grundy; sister, Zelphy Willene Tyra; five grandchildren, Jordan Palmer (Jeremy), Courtney Remsing (Zach), Mark Svetina (Kelly), Cody Svetina and Nikki Svetina; ten great-grandchildren, Jayden, Maddox, Brinley, Reagan, Austin, Kaitlyn, Cayden, Cade, Ryan and Wesley and many extended family and friends.
Visitation will be 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 29 at Ashby Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday, July 30 at Ashby Funeral Home with burial at Pine Crest Memorial Park. Online guest book at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com.