MONTICELLO — Garnett Wilkes,

age 77, of Monticello, passed away Monday, August 23, 2021, at Baptist Health in Conway, Ark. He was born April 14, 1944, in Monticello, Ark., to the late Smedia Wilkes, Sr. and Mary Lee Wilkes.

He was retired from Chicago Transit and a Christian. He was a man of God, a strong, kind man, who loved gardening, working, hunting and fishing. He was always the life of the party, and a man of great wisdom and integrity. He was also a man who lived to add joy, laughter and good food to every life he touched. He was incomparable, undeniable, unbelievable, and absolutely unforgettable. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his wife, Tonia Wilkes; brothers, Smedia Wilkes, Jr. and Vance Wilkes; sisters, Linda Kay Wilkes and Dorothy Lee “Dot” Wilkes.

Survivors include his four loving daughters, Kim of Fremont, Calif., Monique of Madison, Wis., Veliscia (Darnell) of Homewood, Illinois, and Tonette of Fayetteville, Ark.; four devoted sons, Vareck (Cynthia) of Hillside, Illinois, Mario (Masika) of Olympia Fields, Illnois, Garnett (Sara) of Lyon, Illinois, and Devario of Monticello, Ark.; four brothers, Cleolen “Cleo” of Oak Park, IL, Leonard (Sonya) of Lynwood, IL and Timothy “Tim” of Monticello, AR; four sisters, Mary of Monticello, AR, Bennie of Belleville, Illinois,, Patricia “Pat” of Monticello, AR, and Shirley (Geneo) of Sherwood, AR; and a host of loving grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends all around the country.

There will be a virtual funeral service at 4 p.m., Sunday, September 5, 2021, in the Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Chapel. Online guestbook at www.stephensondearman.com.