GEORGE EDWARD MASSEY JR.,
79, of Jacksonville passed away Sunday, March 1, 2020. He was born May 12, 1940 in Little Rock, Arkansas to the late George and Willie Massey. Mr. Massey retired from the United States Air Force after 30 years of service, and also after 16 years with the State of Arkansas.
In addition to his parents, George was preceded in death by his wife of over 43 years, Clara Mae Massey, the love of his life with whom he has gone home to meet. Survivors include his children, Sean Massey, Pamela (Jason) Peters, and Sandra Prater; and grandchildren, Walter Conley, Ashley (Dango) Kumwenda, and Michael Conley Jr.
Funeral services are 2 p.m., Thursday, March 5, 2020 at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home. Entombment will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Park. Visitation will be prior to the service beginning at 12 noon. Memorials may be made to the Arkansas Children’s Foundation, P.O. Box 2222, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-9984. Arrangements by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home. (501) 982-2136. www.mooresjacksonvillefuneralhome.com.
It is with great sadness that the children of BARBARA JOAN MATTHEWS (nee Boyd) announce her passing on February 28, 2020. Joan, in her 85th year, was surrounded at her home by her loving children and grandchildren.
Joan was born in Ontario, Canada and was the eldest of 4 children of Dorothy and Howard Boyd. After graduating from nursing school in London, Ontario, she moved to the southern states where she fell in love and married Dr. Robert Ramsey Matthews.
Joan survived her husband’s passing in 1992 and remained living in Little Rock, Arkansas which she proudly called ‘home’ and where her children, Boyd, Brett, Marcia and Bobby were raised. She was preceded in death by her sister, Patricia Powell.
Joan will be forever remembered by her children, Boyd (Alyson) Matthews and their two daughters, Rebecca (Zach) Holt, Victoria (James) Gould and their daughter, Emy; Brett (Jhanvave) Matthews and their three children, Madison, Ryan and Colin Matthews; Marcia (Garfield) Liddon and their son, Benjamin; Bobby (Virginia) Matthews and their two daughters, Janie and Rosie. Joan will also be remembered by her sister, Jan Boyd, her brother James Boyd and other family members who reside in Ontario as well as her cousins, Joyce Coons and Sandra McIntosh with whom she enjoyed a close and fun-loving relationship.
Joan remained active in nursing for many years and never found the time to stop and ‘take it easy.’ Joan was a go-getter and believed in keeping busy. Joan had many friends and was known as a steadfast friend for life.
She found considerable comfort in her church where she studied and continued to explore her relationship with God and through this expanded her generosity and faith by providing companionship and the sacrament to housebound adults.
A special thanks to the Rt. Rev. Larry Benfield who was a spiritual leader to Joan and was an unfaltering support.
Joan’s funeral service will be held on March 6 at St. Mark’s Church, 1000 N Mississippi, Little Rock at 11 a.m., where she will be interned followed by a celebration of her life in the Parish Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be mailed to St. Francis House at 2701 S. Elm, Little Rock, Ark. 72204 or online at stfrancishouselr.org. Dear Mom, you are a child of God and taught us well. You deserve rest and peace and we will always hold you dear in our hearts and souls until we meet again. Your loving children and family.