Irving Freck
Irving Eugene Freck, 62, of Cabot died Dec. 21.
He was born Aug. 3, 1945 in Jackson, Mich., to the late Robert John and Erma Skinkle Freck.
He was a truck driver and a member of Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church as well as the Army National Guard.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister.
Survivors include his wife, Joann Vande Ville Freck of Cabot; two children, Michelle Freck of Cabot and Bob Freck of Sherwood, as well as four siblings including Robert Freck and wife Pat, of Jackson, Mich., and Marilyn Booth and husband Sharon, of Cabot; five grandchildren, Zachary, Christopher and Nathan Gates and Joseph and Katherine Freck.
A memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30 at Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church in Jacksonville. Funeral arrangements are by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Katie Ingram
Katie Bledsoe Ingram, 87, passed away Dec. 20.
She is survived by her husband Earnest Ingram; sons, Louis and wife Linda Trimble, Earnest and wife Darlene Ingram, Jr., and Ulyssis and wife Rita Ingram of Allport; daughters, Gertha Dodson and Mildred and husband Levorn Brown of Lonoke, Lorraine and husband James Bradley of Los Angeles, Calif., Onetha Webb of Seaton, Linda and husband Columbus Moss of Pine Bluff and Sandra and husband Eddie Robinson of Allport; 21 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; brothers, Joseph Bledsoe and Preston Bledsoe of Keo and Lawrence Bledsoe of Lonoke; sisters, Veria Dodson and Alice and husband Virlee Ingram of Allport and numerous other relatives.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29 at Allport Community Fellowship Church. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens in Lonoke. Funeral arrangements by Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke.
A special thanks to Dr. Tommy Love, his staff and St. Vincent Infirmary; and caretakers, Annie Armstrong and Jackie William.
Floyd Gage
Floyd “Buster” Gage, 94, of McRae departed this life on Dec. 24. He is survived by his sister, Deana Keith of McRae and a host of nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind two special friends, Lottie and Bill Walters.
A memorial service will be held at Westbrook Funeral Home of Beebe at 2 p.m. Jan. 11.
Flora Whalin
Flora Merle Whalin, 84, of Jacksonville passed away Dec. 21.
She was born Sept. 21, 1923 in Hoxie.
In addition to her parents, her husband, William Maston Whalin, one brother and her grandparents preceded her in death.
She volunteered and worked as a “Gray Lady” at the Air Force base hospital during the Second World War and taught at the United Methodist Day Care for over 20 years. She was a member of First United Meth-odist Church in Jacksonville.
She is survived by two children, William Maston Whalin III of Brewer, Mich., and Charles Evan Whalin of Cabot; one sister, Wanda Lea Matelinas of Hunlock Creek, Penn.; adopted children, Nancy and Dean Wilborn; three grandchildren, Robyne Smith of Marietta, Ga., Cory Whalin of Cabot and Wendy Whalin of Michigan and two great-grandchildren, Logan and Layne Smith.
Funeral services were Dec. 24 at First United Methodist Church in Jacksonville. Burial was in Rest Hills Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Jacksonville’s youth fund. Funeral arrangements were by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Jewel Williamson
Jewel “Judy” Williamson, 90, formerly of Cabot, died Dec. 24 in Duluth, Ga. Born in 1917 in Fulton, Mississippi, to Lillie Killingsworth and William Thomas Benson, she moved to Washington, D.C. in the mid 1940’s.
She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend.
She got a job in the War Department, where she was part of the Refugee Food Program. Cleverly using her initial to conceal her gender, J. Benson was able to direct ships with crucial supplies to ports around the world, reaching populations in desperate need.
She married Louis Woodrow “Woody” Williamson of the Navy in 1947, in Washington, D.C., Moving to San Diego, they had their first child, Lynn Arthur in 1949. Moving to San Francisco, their next child, Kathleen Denise, was born in 1952.
Relocating again to Los Angeles, they had David Lee in 1956. She generously volunteered for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and the P.T.A., and later, she worked in the Glendale Human Development Department. After having raised three children in Los Angeles, she and “Woody” – with David - moved to Cabot for their retirement.
After her husband’s passing in 1999, she moved to Buford, Ga., to be close to her children.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Louis Woodrow Williamson.
She leaves behind her three children; and her beloved grandchildren, Matthew, Brad and Sarah; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, and of course, cherished friends.
The family wishes to thank Vista Care and Peachtree Christian Hospice in Duluth for their compassionate and generous care of our mother. Funeral services were held at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Cabot Dec. 28. Burial followed at Sumner Cemetery in Cabot.
Donald Crandell
Donald Louis Crandell, 80, of Ward passed away November 21.
He was a retired school teacher having taught in Arkansas and Indiana for 36 years. He received his Bachelor’s degree at University of Central Arkansas in Conway and Masters at University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
He is survived by his sister, Frances and husband Billy Joe Bailey of Ward; nieces and nephew, Deborah and husband Ed Balentine of Ward, Lynette and husband Wayne Farnsworth of Ward and Danny Crandell of Damascus; four great-nieces and one great-great-niece.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Wilma Crandell and a brother, Roy Crandell.
Service will be private by West-brook Funeral Home of Beebe.
Ronnie Dill
Ronnie Dean Dill, 45, of Ward died Dec. 24. He was born July 20, 1962, at Searcy to Sydney Ann and the late J.C. Dill.
An avid horseman his entire life, he was also an auctioneer throughout the state, selling autos and livestock. He attended Harrison Chapel Baptist Church.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, William and Myrtle Dill and Sid and Lorene Guyot.
He is survived by his mother, Sydney Ann Dill Blakemore and husband John of Beebe and many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Funeral services were Dec. 27 at Westbrook Funeral Home of Beebe with burial in Sylvania Cemetery of Ward.
William Brewer
William “Bill” Nicholas Brewer, 87, of Jacksonville passed away Dec. 23. He was born July 20, 1920 in Lonoke County to the late Carl S. and Emma Johnson Brewer.
After his retirement from Mississippi Chemical Co. he avidly pursued his interest in genealogy and local history. He was a lifelong Baptist and a consistent Christian.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Daphene Chamblee Brewer; his parents; two sisters, Martha Brewer and Helen Hubbard; and two brothers, Jack and Bobby Brewer.
Survivors include a daughter, Vickie E. Soles and husband George of Cordova, Tenn.; a son, William N. Brewer, Jr. and wife Becky of Jacksonville; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a sister, Maridelle Wright of Lancaster, Calif.; and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.
Graveside services and burial were Dec. 28 at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Cabot. Funeral arrangements were by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
William Burlison
William Ellis Burlison, 40, of Amarillo, Texas, went home to be with the Lord Dec. 24. He was born April 17, 1967 in Little Rock.
He is survived by his wife, Tracey and two step-daughters, Megan and Holly Larson of Amarillo, Texas; parents, Danny and Sula Eaker of Jacksonville; father and step-mother, Mike and Gina Burlison of Lonoke; brother, Jeremy and wife Amanda Eaker; sister, Dawn and husband Randy Peeples; and sister, Suzie Baxter all of Jacksonville; four nieces, one nephew and a host of extended family.
Graveside services were Dec. 28 at Rest Hills Memorial Park Cemetery in North Little Rock.
Funeral arrangements were by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Nancy Gullick
Nancy Mae Gullick, 68, of Jacksonville passed away Dec. 21. She was born Oct. 23, 1939 in St. Louis, Mo., to Monroe and Rokie Ritter Hulen.
She is survived by four children, Shane and Charlie Mallonee both of Jacksonville, Melody Wherry of St. Louis, Mo., and Kelly Davis of Jacksonville; one sister, Janet Mullen of Soloman, Kan.; 10 grandchildren; Roy Davis, Jonathon Mallonee, Craig and Michael Mallonee, Brandie Lucena, Courtney Jones, Shannon Thomas, Jessie Whemy, and Christopher and Mercedes Mallonee and 12 great-grandchildren, Joshua Mallonee, Caitie Lucena, Emma Lucena, “J” Jones and Logan Jones, Jacob and Michael Whemy, Laryn Thomas, Matthew and Madison Whemy, Carson Lucena and Jadyn Jones.
A memorial service was held Dec. 26 at the chapel of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Alfreda Gregory
Alfreda May Rea Gregory, 92, of Ward died Dec. 26 at Searcy. She was born Nov. 10, 1915, to William Andrew Rea and Anna Holden Rea at Van, Penn.
She married Thomas B. Gregory August 6, 1934, at the home of her parents at Cyclone, Penn. She moved from Limestone, New York in 1952 to Hobbs, New Mexico, then the family was transferred to Lovington, New Mexico. She was society editor for the Lovington Daily Leader and correspondent for the Hobbs News Sun and the Lubbock Avalanche Journal.
She worked for B & J Drug for 11 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas; a son, Lawrence; her parents and four brothers and four sisters.
She is survived by a son, James L. Gregory and wife Gladys of Midland, Texas; a daughter, Judy Gore and husband J.W. of Ward; daughter-in-law Herriet Gregory of Hobbs, New Mexico; seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Burial will be in Lovington Cemetery at Lovington, New Mexico, by Stevens Funeral Home. Local arrangements by Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe.
