Obituaries
Notice of Passing
ORA B. MILES
Ora Bell Miles, 90, of El Dorado, died Thursday, Nov. 16,2017 at Timberlane Health and Rehab.
Arrangements will be announced by Andrews Funeral Home.
Reminder of Services
BENJAMIN W. COOK Services for Benjamin Wesley “Ben” Cook, 33, of El Dorado, will be at 2 p.m. today, with visitation at 1 p.m. today, both at Perry’s Funeral Chapels.
BENJAMIN DANIEL Funeral for Benjamin L. Daniel will be at 11 a.m. today at First St. James Baptist Church with the Rev. Roy C. Aaron, eulogist. Interment will be at Rest Haven Cemetery under the direction of Sims Mortuary.
CHARLES R. GRIGSBY Funeral for Charles Ray Grigsby, 61, will be held at 2 p.m. today at the Christ Centered Ministries Church in Farmerville, Louisiana, with the Rev. Michael Singleton, pastor, and the Rev. George Grigsby, officiating. Interment will follow at the Community Memorial Garden (City) Cemetery in Farmerville, under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home of Farmerville.
EARLINE C. HENDERSON Funeral for Earline C. Henderson, 91, of Emerson, will be held at 11 a.m. today at Columbia Baptist District Center, Youngblood Auditorium, Magnolia, with the Rev. Donald Crawford officiating.
Burial will follow in Pine Hill Cemetery, Emerson, under the direction of Henderson Funeral Service. There will be a family reception/repast at the Sweet Home Fellowship Hall following the interment service.
ALAN JOHNSON Memorial services for Alan “Peanut” Johnson, 61, of Spearsville, Louisiana will be held at 10 a.m. today at Farrar Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Marty Black officiating, under the direction of Farrar Funeral Home in Farmerville, Louisiana. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until time of service Saturday.
JULIA A. SMITH Memorial service for Julia Ann Smith, 60, will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at the Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Homer, Louisiana, under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home of Farmerville, Louisiana.
Obituaries
CONNIE E. DOWNS Connie Elaine Gatheright Downs, 66, went home to be with her Lord and Savior after a lengthy illness on Nov.
15, 2017.
She resided in Norphlet with her loving husband of 50 years, Beryl Downs, the love of her life.
She was cared for by her husband and children.
Connie was born Feb.
18, 1951, in El Dorado to
Virgil B. and Bobbie R. Gatheright, who preceded her in death. She was one of three children, one brother, Ronnie (Eloise) Gatheright of Smackover and Tonya (Marvin) Martin of Batesville.
Connie attended Norphlet High School and worked and retired from Prescolite in El Dorado.
She was of the Baptist faith and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.
She and Beryl had three children, Beryl (Teresa) Downs of Chipley, Florida, Shonda (Wade) Roberts of Norphlet, and Blake (Breana) Downs, also of Norphlet; grandchildren, Donnie (Janelle) Downs, Tracie Downs, all of Chipley, Florida, Kolby Gay and Dacey Gay, all of Norphlet; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She will be greatly loved and missed.
Visitation will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, at Young’s. Cremation services were entrusted to Young’s Funeral Directors.
An online guest registry will be available at www.youngsfuneralhome.com.
JACKIE STRINGER JR. Jackie Stringer Jr., 69, of Spearsville, Louisiana, passed away Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017 at Life Touch’s John
R. Williamson Hospice
House.
Born on Jan. 13, 1948 in El Dorado, he was the son of Ezra Jackson Stringer Sr. and Mary
Louise Paxton Stringer.
Jackie retired from DelTin after a career as a mill wright with Willamette Industries.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He graduated from Ouachita Technical College in Malvern.
For 53 years Jackie was an active member of Pilgrims Rest Baptist where he served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher.
Jackie was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Matt Stringer; and his wife of 53 years, Vergie Green Stringer.
Survivors are sons, Mark Stringer (Karen) of El Dorado and Jack Stringer III (Tina) of Mount Holly; sisters, Patricia Thurmon and Carolyn Pennington, all of Spearsville; and a brother, Bobby L. Stringer of Spearsville. He is also survived by grandchildren Cody Stringer (Candace) of Little Rock, Drew Stringer and Clay Stringer, both of Mount Holly, and Mallory Stringer and Hunter Stringer, both of El Dorado.
Funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017 at Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist Church with the Rev. Rubin Weaver and the Rev. Marty Black officiating.
Burial will follow at Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist Church Cemetery at Spearsville.
Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. today at Young’s Funeral Directors.
Memorials may be made to Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist Church, 902 Pilgrim’s Rest Church Road, Spearsville, LA 71277.
JAMES E. SWEET JR. James Edward “Jimmy” Sweet Jr. age 58 of Junction City passed away Thursday, November 16, 2017 at his residence.
Jimmy was born on November 24, 1958 in
Union County to the late
Theo Waller Sweet and
James Edward Sweet
Sr. Jimmy was a charter member of Corney Creek
Baptist Church and was loved by everyone who knew him. Jimmy loved to travel and especially loved going to Branson.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Gwynneth Peterson; niece, April Payne and a nephew, Arthur “Boo” Thurmon.
Survivors include; two sisters, Barbara Sweet, and Jill Rodgers and husband Keith all of Junction City; three brothers, Randall Sweet and wife Vickie, Jackie Sweet and wife Dianne and Gregory Sweet and wife Trina of Dewitt, AR; special Cousin, Billie Sue Hanson along with many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Visitation will begin at 12:00 noon on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at Corney Creek Baptist Church, followed by funeral services at 2:00 pm with Bro. Ernest McAdams and Bro. Rusty Dison officiating.
Burial will follow at Jolley Cemetery under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Brad Sweet, Ric, Sweet, Casey Sweet, Ryne Sweet, Larry Holder and Lin Moss.
Please sign our online guestbook at www.baileyfuneralhome.net.
GERALDINE M. THURLKILL Geraldine McKnight Thurlkill age 86 of El Dorado passed away on Thursday, November 16, 2017 at the John R. Williamson Hospice
House in El Dorado. Geraldine was born on
June 10, 1931 in Union County, AR to the late Carmon Bryant McKnight and Walter Columbus McKnight.
She was a member of
Iron Mountain Baptist
Church and was a collector of dolls, wind chimes and Roosters.
She loved flower gardening and was a funny and feisty lady.
Geraldine was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Edmund Thurlkill; one son, Jackie Thurlkill; six sisters and one brother.
Survivors include; two daughters, Connie Courtney and husband Ronnie of El Dorado and Mary Thurlkill of Oxford, MS; three sons, Bruce Thurlkill of El Dorado, Robert Thurlkill and wife Bobbie Sue of Spearsville and Billy Thurlkill and wife Laura of El Dorado; sister in law, Patsy McKnight of El Dorado; twelve grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 5-7 pm on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at Bailey Funeral Home in El Dorado.
Funeral service will be at 2:00 pm on Sunday, November 19, 2017 at Iron Mountain Baptist Church with Bro. Allen Grimmett officiating.
Burial will follow at Smyrna Cemetery under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home of El Dorado.
Please sign our online guestbook at www.baileyfuneralhome.net.
(The deadline for full obituaries for the next day’s newspaper is 4 p.m. The deadline for death notices is 5 p.m. the day prior to publication. Obituaries submitted after these deadlines will not be published the next day, but will run in the following day’s newspaper. For more information about costs of obituaries and photos, call 870-862-6611).