All Obituaries

Martha Strother Ricks, 85, of Snyder, died Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at the Lake Village Rehabilitation and Care Center in Lake Village. Mrs. Ricks was a native of Portland and a resident of Ashley County for most of her life. She was a member of Aulds Baptist Church, a homemaker, and worked as a Seamstress at the Lake Village and Hamburg Shirt Factories for many years. Mrs. Ricks was an avid reader, enjoyed painting and fishing, but being outside working in her flowers and gardening is what...

Reba Lawrence White, 93, of Portland, died Thursday, April 4, 2024, at Audrey’s Special Home in Hamburg. Mrs. White was a native of Beekman, Louisiana and grew up in the Dry Bayou Community just east of Wilmot, and was a former resident of Montrose. She was a resident of Portland since 1949, a 1949 graduate of Portland High School, and a member of the Portland Baptist Church. Mrs. White worked for the Portland Gin Company as a Secretary for over 31 years, having retired in 1995. She...

Jonita René Wiggins Bowles, 57, of Crossett, died Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Montrose as the result of an automobile accident. Mrs. Bowles was a native of West Monroe, Louisiana, a resident of Crossett for the past six years, and a former resident of Hamburg and Ruston, Louisiana. She was a homemaker, a volunteer at the Ashley County Skilled Workshop and was very active in “Autism Speaks” in Hamburg and Crossett. Mrs. Bowles enjoyed making wreaths and flower arrangements...

Kristy Pauline Bowles, 39, of Crossett, died Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Montrose as the result of an automobile accident. Kristy was a native of Shreveport, Louisiana; a resident of Crossett for the past six years; a former resident of Hamburg for several years and a 2002 graduate of Hamburg High School. She volunteered at the Ashley County Skilled Workcenter. Kristy was an avid reader and a loving daughter. Kristy’s mother, Jonita René Wiggins Bowles and her brother,...

William Christopher Bowles, 12, of Crossett, died Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Montrose as the result of an automobile accident.  Christopher was a resident of Crossett for the past six years and a former resident of Hamburg. He was a sixth-grade student at Crossett Middle School and participated in Special Olympics, specifically basketball and track. He loved animals, especially dogs, and any musical instrument he could get his hands on. He is preceded in death by his father, William...

Maxwell Dean Hill, 79, of Hamburg, died Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at his residence. Mr. Hill was a native of Crossett and had been a resident of Hamburg for over 40 years. He was a Veteran of the United States Army, having been stationed in Germany during the Vietnam Conflict. Mr. Hill was a 32nd-degree Mason, a member of the Hamburg Praire Masonic Lodge #465, a former member of the Bethany Baptist Church in Snellville, Georgia, a member of the First Baptist Church in Hamburg, and had...

Evelyn “Sue” Cossey, 89, of Parkdale, died Thursday, March 21, 2024, at the Ozark Health and Rehabilitation Center in Ozark. Mrs. Cossey was a native of Parkdale and a resident of Parkdale for most of her life, a resident of Ozark for the past month, a former resident of Fountain Hill for eight years. She was a substitute teacher and cafeteria worker for many years and was affectionately and respectfully called “Mrs. Sue” by all the students she had. Mrs. Cossey was...

Johnny Walthall, 72, of Fairfield Bay, died Saturday, March 9, 2024, at CHI St. Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock. Mr. Walthall was a native of Tallulah, Louisiana, and has been a resident of Fairfield Bay for the past eight years. He was a 1970 graduate of Fountain Hill High School, a former resident of Fountain Hill for 22 years, and served as Mayor of Fountain Hill for four years. He was also a former resident of Crossett for 21 years, where he worked as a Winder Operator for the...

William F. “Bill” Sutton, 93, of Bastrop, Louisiana, died Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at his home. Mr. Sutton was a native and lifelong resident of Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, a 1948 graduate of Bastrop High School and a member of the Meridian Baptist Church. He worked as a Logging Contractor for Georgia-Pacific Corporation until his retirement. Mr. Sutton was an avid outdoorsman, and in his younger years, he enjoyed hunting deer, turkey, and quail. While he took great pride in...

James Thompson, 63, of Hamburg, died Friday, March 1, 2024, at Baptist Health Medical Center Drew County in Monticello. Mr. Thompson was a lifelong resident of Hamburg and a 1979 graduate of Hamburg High School. He began working in highway construction in 1979, for his father at R. Thompson, Inc. and later worked alongside his brother and sons until his retirement in 2019. He was an ordained Minister having pastored North Main Baptist Church for over five years, and was a member of Calvary...

Susan Kay Swan, 68, of Hamburg, died Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at her son’s residence in Longview, Texas. Mrs. Swan was a native of Ashley County and a resident of the Pine Hill Community outside of Crossett for many years. She worked as a draftsman and lived overseas in China while training her colleagues to use drafting software. After she moved back from overseas, she lived in Longview, Texas for several years until she moved back to her home place in the Pine Hill Community. Mrs....

William T. “Bill” Frazer, 80, of Portland, died Friday, February 23, 2024, at the Delta Regional Medical Center in Greenville, Mississippi. Mr. Frazer was a native of Boydell, a resident of Portland since 1972, and a former resident of Montrose and Hamburg. He was a 1961 graduate of Portland High School and attended the Nashville Auto Diesel College. Mr. Frazer was the owner and operator of Bill’s Garage from 1970 until he retired in 2013. He was a Fireman for the Portland...

Sybil Graves, 96, of Crossett, died Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at the Nightingale at Crossett Health and Rehabilitation Center. Mrs. Graves was a native of Leaksville, Mississippi, a resident of Crossett for the past eight years, and a former resident of Hamburg and Fountain Hill for many years. She took on the role of the head of her household at an early age, raising her children and working at a boat factory and as a Machine Operator at the Hamburg Shirt Factory. Mrs. Graves was a member...

Nancy Hargrave Gwin, 81, of Hamburg, died Sunday, February 18, 2024, at the Springs of El Dorado Health and Rehabilitation Center. Mrs. Gwin was born in Bradley County, was a resident of Hamburg since 1981 and had been a former resident of Warren for many years. She graduated from Warren High School in 1960. Mrs. Gwin was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church. She enjoyed making wreaths, cooking holiday meals, and spending time with her family. She was an exceptional mother,...

Ethel M. Woods, 83, of Hamburg, died Sunday, February 18, 2024 at Nightingale at Crossett.  Mrs. Woods was a native and lifelong resident of Hamburg.  She enjoyed the fellowship of her friends and church families of both Martinville Baptist Church and Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Robert Woods in 2000; a daughter, Charlotte Woods in 2015; her parents, Andrew and Evangeline McCurdy Kelley; a brother, Harrol Lee Kelley and a...

John David Varnell, 71, of Crossett, died Monday, February 12, 2024, at Audrey’s Special Home in Hamburg. Mr. Varnell was a native and former resident of Crossett, a former resident of Alverado, Texas for ten years having moved back to Crossett six years ago. He was a 1970 graduate of Crossett High School. Mr. Varnell worked as a welder and pipefitter for 40 years having retired in 2012 and was a member of the Local 706. He enjoyed welding, riding motorcycles, being on the water...

Vicki Burns Mixon, age 70, of Montrose passed away on Monday, February 12, 2024 at the Nightingale at Crossett. She served the city of Montrose as Recorder/Treasurer for nine years. Before that she helped in Cricket’s Restaurant and was the proud owner and hairstylist of Hair Fair in Lake Village. She was preceded in death by her husband, Franklin Joseph “Franky” Mixon in 2022; her daughter, Jena Christine “Chrissy” Hester in 2017; a grandson, Aubryn Thomas...

James Jeffers, 73, of Hamburg, died Saturday, January 27, 2024, at his residence. Mr. Jeffers was a native and lifelong resident of Hamburg, and a 1968 graduate of Fountain Hill High School. He worked in the garment industry in the cutting department, having retired from S.E.A.M.S. in 2010. Mr. Jeffers enjoyed attending church and was a faithful member of the Eden Baptist Church. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, and working in his yard. He is preceded in death by...

Mary K. Otwell, 74, of Wilmot, died Thursday, January 25, 2024 at her residence. Mrs. Otwell was born in Munich, Germany, and has been a resident of Wilmot since 1967. She worked as a Nursing Home Administrator at the Wilmot Nursing Home for several years before becoming a Rural Mail Carrier for the United States Postal Service in Wilmot until she retired. Mrs. Otwell was a faithful member of the Wilmot Methodist Church. She had a generous heart, was always willing to help others, and put...

Carl David Martin, 80, of Hamburg, died Monday, January 22, 2024, at the VA Hospital in Little Rock. Mr. Martin was a native of Monroe, Louisiana, a resident of Hamburg for several years, and a former resident of California for many years. After high school, Mr. Martin enlisted in the United States Air Force where he proudly served his country during the Vietnam Era and later worked as an automotive mechanic for many years. Mr. Martin enjoyed hunting, playing shuffleboard, and bowling. He...

Phillip Wayne Johnson, 67, of Fountain Hill, died Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at his residence.  Mr. Johnson has been a resident of Fountain Hill since 1998.  He worked as a T.V. repairman and satellite installer for many years.  Mr. Johnson was an outdoorsman and enjoyed deer hunting, fishing, being outside watching nature, gardening, and tending to his chickens.  He had a kind heart and was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. He is preceded in...

Janice Marie Leigh, 80, of Hamburg, went to be with her Lord, Friday, January 12, 2024, at the Hospice Comfort Care Center in Little Rock. Mrs. Leigh was a native of Monticello, a resident of Hamburg since 1960 and a former resident of Little Rock. She worked throughout Ashley County for many years and retired from the restaurant industry. Mrs. Leigh was a faithful member of the Fountain Hill First Baptist Church and enjoyed being active with her church family. She was a devoted wife,...

Allen Crawford Hogan, 85, of Hamburg, passed away on Saturday, January 6, 2024. Mr. Hogan was born in Jones, Louisiana on January 22, 1938.  He had been a resident of Douglasville, Georgia for the past eight months and was a resident of Hamburg and Fountain Hill for most of his life. Mr. Hogan owned and operated his sawmill for many years before becoming a truck driver and retiring in 1999. He was of the Baptist faith, and his favorite pastimes were hunting and fishing. Mr. Hogan...

John Doyle Richardson, 82, of Hamburg, died Saturday, January 6, 2024 at his residence. Mr. Richardson was a native of Herbine, Arkansas, a resident of the Milo Community, outside of Hamburg, for the past 58 years, and a former resident of Pine Bluff. He was a 1958 graduate of Woodlawn High School and a member of the Arkansas National Guard for six years. Mr. Richardson worked at the Georgia-Pacific Corporation Paper Mill for 42 years and had retired from the Comp 1 room. He was a humble...

Janet D. Clifton, 74, of Wilmot, died Monday, January 1, 2024, at Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas in Rogers. Mrs. Clifton was born in Fayetteville, having grown up in Joiner, and she has been a resident of Wilmot for the past 55 years. She graduated from Shawnee High School in 1967. She worked as an Office Manager for Wells-Pugh Gin for 17 years, Wilmot State Bank (Delta Trust) for several years, and was an Office Manager for SouthArk Equipment Company until she retired in 2018. Mrs....

Brandi East Sullivan, 36, of Hamburg, died Monday, January 1, 2024, at her residence. Mrs. Sullivan was a native of Marshall, Missouri, a resident of Hamburg for the past 11 years, and a former resident of Fordyce, Monticello, and Pilot Point, Texas. She was a 2005 graduate of Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Texas. Mrs. Sullivan was a homemaker and enjoyed sewing, cooking, and swimming. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother. She is preceded in death by her father, Ray Charles...

Deborah “Debbie” Grubb, 65, of Hamburg, died Thursday, December 28, 2023, at the Ashley County Medical Center in Crossett. Mrs. Grubb was a native of Lepanto, a resident of Hamburg since 1982 and a former resident of Eudora. She graduated in 1976 from Eudora High School. She had worked for Footes Drug, the Little Pig Restaurant, and the Ashley County Housing Authority for 31 years before she retired. Mrs. Grubb was a member of the Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church and was...

Carol Acosta, 54, of Eudora, died Sunday, December 24, 2023, at the Conway Regional Medical Center in Conway. Mrs. Acosta was a native of Dermott, a resident of Eudora for the past five years, and a former resident of Wilmot for two years and Little Rock for several years.  She was a 1987 graduate of Parkdale High School, a homemaker, and she attended the Parkdale Baptist Church. Mrs. Acosta loved her family and was a loving mother, sister, fiancé and aunt. She is preceded in...

Adrian Ramos-Loredo, 65, of Hamburg, died Thursday, December 21, 2023 at his residence. Mr. Ramos-Loredo was a native of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, having moved to Ashley County in 1985 and has been a resident of Hamburg for the past 29 years. He worked as a Logger for most of his life and was employed by Larry Stanley for the majority of his career. He was a member of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Hamburg. Mr. Ramos-Loredo enjoyed drinking coffee, eating spicy food, and watching soccer....

Robert Dean “Bob” Pugh, 94, died peacefully on December 18, 2023, in Little Rock, where he had happily resided for the past 11 years. He was a native of Portland, Arkansas, the son of Robert Dean Pugh and Louise McLeod Pugh Nash, members of pioneer families in Ashley and Bradley counties. Bob attended the Citadel (1946-1948) and served two years as an Infantry Lieutenant during the Korean Conflict (1950-1952). After he proudly served his country, he obtained a Bachelor of...

Larry L. Stanley, 78, of Hamburg, died Sunday, December 17, 2023 at his residence. Mr. Stanley was a native of Fountain Hill and a lifelong resident of Hamburg. He left school in the 9th grade to work on the family farm until he was old enough to start working for the Georgia-Pacific Corporation Plywood Mill as a lay operator and later accepted a Supervisor Position. After several years, he went to work for himself. He bought a pair of large gray mules and began logging. He worked in the...

Joyce Gladden Ethridge, 84, of Lake Village, died Saturday, December 16, 2023, at the House of Three in Little Rock. Mrs. Ethridge was a native of Montrose, a resident of Little Rock for the past two years, and a former resident of Lake Village for over 60 years. She was a member of the Oak Grove Free Will Baptist Church.  Mrs. Ethridge worked as a seamstress at the Wells Lamont Glove Factory in Dermott, having retired after 30 years, and she was the caretaker for her mother for over...

E.W. Ricks, 92, of Hamburg, died Saturday, December 16, 2023, at his residence. Mr. Ricks was a native of Ashley County, a resident of Hamburg for over 60 years, and a former resident of Portland and Montrose. He was a veteran, and served his country in the United States Army. He worked as a Farm Manager for Tom Pugh until 1968 and was a Diesel Mechanic for John Deere in Portland until his retirement in 1989. He became an ordained Minister in 1982 and was the Pastor at Boydell Baptist Church...

John Tipton “Tip” Pugh, 73, of Portland (Ashley County) and Roland (Pulaski County), Arkansas, died of natural causes in his beloved Portland on Friday, December 15, 2023. A native of McGehee, Arkansas, Tip was born to Mary Dean Naff and John Hampton Pugh on August 12, 1950, in Greenville, Mississippi. He began his schooling at McGehee Elementary, continued his education at The Webb Academy in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, and completed his secondary education at Oxford Academy, then...

Bro. Jerry Carter, 87, of Hamburg, died Thursday, December 14, 2023, at the Nightingale at Stonegate Health and Rehabilitation Center in Crossett. Bro. Carter was a native of Hamburg, a 1954 graduate of Hamburg High School and had attended the University of Arkansas. He worked as a Substitute Teacher for several years in Banks. Bro. Carter surrendered to preach on the last Sunday of September in 1958.  He was a Missionary Baptist Minister for over 65 years and began his ministry at...

Bessie M. Mormon Pierce, 93, of Crossett, died Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at her son’s residence in Crossett. Mrs. Pierce was a native of Parkdale, a resident of Crossett for the past three years, and a former resident of Hamburg for most of her life. She was a homemaker and a member of the North Main Baptist Church. Mrs. Pierce had a green thumb and enjoyed working with flowers and in her yard. She was a wonderful cook and loved spending time with her children, grandchildren,...

Joyce Nell Pope Lawson, 88, of Parkdale, died Sunday, December 10, 2023, at Nightingale at Stonegate Health and Rehabilitation Center in Crossett. Mrs. Lawson was a lifelong resident of Parkdale and had attended Parkdale Baptist Church. She was a homemaker and loved spending time with her family.  She always had a cup of coffee in hand everytime her family came to visit. She is preceded in death by her husband, Junior Faye Lawson in 2000; four daughters, Deborah Hughes, Shirley Allen,...

David Lynn, 69, of Portland, died Friday, December 8, 2023, at his home. Mr. Lynn was a lifelong resident of Lynn Road in Portland and a 1972 graduate of Lakeside High School. He was a cotton, soybean, and rice farmer and participated in the Arkansas Boll Weevil Eradication Program for over 10 years. Mr. Lynn enjoyed being a proud member of the Ashley-Chicot Electric Cooperative Board of Directors for 34 years and was a former Justice of the Peace for Chicot County. He was an avid hunter and...

Laura Amanda Dell Courtney, 64, of Crossett, died Thursday, December 7, 2023 at her home. Mrs. Courtney was a native of New York City, New York, a resident of Crossett for the past 24 years, and a former resident of New Jersey for many years. She had worked as a Cosmetologist for ten years and was a homemaker. She was an avid New York Yankees fan and enjoyed cooking for her family. Mrs. Courtney loved her children, her grandbabies, and her pets. She is preceded in death by her father and...

Willie M. Carpenter, 72, of Hamburg, died Thursday, December 7, 2023, at the Arkansas Heart Hospital Encore Medical Center in Bryant. Mr. Carpenter was a native of Drew County and a resident of Hamburg for most of his life. He graduated in 1969 from Hamburg High School, where he played football and held records in Weight Lifting, Track, and Shot Put. Mr. Carpenter worked as an Iron hand in the Steel Building industry and with Smith Steel in Dumas, retiring after 20 years. His passion was...

Johnny Foster, 67, of White Hall, formerly of Hamburg, died Sunday, December 3, 2023, at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. Mr. Foster was a native of Bastrop, Louisiana, a resident of White Hall for the past 20 years, a former resident of Bastrop for 10 years, and Hamburg for 37 years. He was a 1975 graduate of Hamburg High School, a member of the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, and was baptized in Peacocks Pond. He was a salesman at Core & Main, having...

Beth Ann Fragala Brown, 54, of Wilmot, died Friday, December 1, 2023, at the Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria, Louisiana. Mrs. Brown was a native of Lake Village, a resident of Wilmot for most of her life, and a former resident of LaPorte, Texas. She was a 1986 graduate of LaPorte High School and in 1990, she graduated from Southern Arkansas University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Mrs. Brown was a Registered Nurse for 28 years having worked in the OB department...

George Elias Cruz, 66, of Pico Rivera, California, formerly of Hamburg, entered his eternal rest on October 11, 2023. He was born July 27, 1957, in Aguascalientes, Mexico, to Elias Cruz and Maria Serna Cruz. After moving to America in 1969, Mr. Cruz grew up in California, and in 1975, at the age of 18, he enlisted in the United States Army and served as Private First Class. In 1981, He was stationed in Arkansas, where he decided to plant his roots in the Martinville Community and became an...

Sammie “Sambo” Walters, 69, of Hamburg, died Sunday, November 19, 2023 at his residence. Mr. Walters was a native and lifelong resident of Hamburg and a member of the Martinville Baptist Church. He was a truck driver and heavy equipment operator until his retirement in 2016. Mr. Walters was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed going to the deer camp, hunting, fishing and camping. He is preceded in death by his wife of 25 years, Mary Helen Pamplin Walters in 2020; his parents, Wesley...

Brenda Joyce Bolin, 79, of Hamburg, died Saturday, November 18, 2023, at the Drew Memorial Hospital in Monticello. Mrs. Bolin was a native of Crossett; a former resident of Blytheville for several years and resident of Hamburg for most of her life. After she attended Fountain Hill High School, she graduated from Juanita’s School of Cosmetology.  She was a homemaker and volunteered at the Blytheville Nursing Home for several years. She enjoyed working in her yard, growing beautiful...

Susan Annette Pill, 51, of Crossett, died Friday, November 10, 2023 at her residence. Ms. Pill was born in El Dorado, a resident of Crossett for most of her life, and a 1990 graduate of Crossett High School. She was a homemaker and enjoyed music, playing the piano, and being outdoors, especially to go fishing. Ms. Pill loved animals and was a caring person. She is preceded in death by her parents, Robert J. & Carolyn Ann Key Pill; her maternal grandparents, Tom and Noda Key and her...

Ronnie Frank Livingston, 70, of Hamburg, died Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at the Countryside Assisted Living Center. Mr. Livingston was a native and lifelong resident of the Milo Community outside of Hamburg. He was an Operator for the Georgia-Pacific Paper Mill for many years and a member of the Egypt Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Livingston was an avid outdoorsman and a lifelong fox hunter. He never met a stranger and was a friend to everyone in the community. He is preceded in death by...

Donald “Duck” Martin, 73, of Hamburg, died Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Mr. Martin was a native of Hamburg, a resident of the Martinville Community outside of Hamburg for many years, and a 1968 graduate of Hamburg High School. He was a veteran of the United States Army, having served during the Vietnam Era. Mr. Martin was a clamp truck operator for the Georgia-Pacific Corporation in Crossett for over 35 years. He enjoyed watching sports, was an avid Arkansas Razorback fan, and...

Bobby Jeffers, 70, of Hamburg, died Monday, October 30, 2023 at his home. Mr. Jeffers was a native and resident of Crossett for over 50 years, a 1971 graduate of Hamburg High School and he worked for the Georgia-Pacific Paper Mill in the Ink Department until 2012. Mr. Jeffers was a Christian and had asked Jesus into his heart in 2015.  For the last seven years, he battled with Multiple Sclerosis but was always happy, had a smile on his face, and never complained. He lived his life to...

Linda Moses Donaldson, 79, of Hamburg, passed away Friday, October 20, 2023, at the Countryside Assisted Living Center. Mrs. Donaldson was a native of Montgomery, Alabama and a resident of the Milo Community outside of Hamburg for most of her life. She was a 1962 graduate of Hamburg High School and a member of the Egypt Missionary Baptist Church. Mrs. Donaldson was a homemaker, loved to cook, and was a member of the Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed...