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Wayne Ray McElrath
NEWPORT — Wayne Ray McElrath of Newport died Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at Central Arkansas Vet Health System in Little Rock; he was 76 years old.
He was born Sept. 23, 1933, in Lawrence County to the late Ray and Hazel Burns McElrath. He was a graduate of Egypt High School and Arkansas State University, which he attended on a baseball scholarship, earning a master’s degree in mathematics. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in Germany.
He taught math at Raney and Central High schools. He entered the road machinery sales business and was associated with Rushing and Mason Equipment Co. and J.A. Riggs-Caterpillar, later owning his own business, American Equipment Sales.
Mr. McElrath was an avid outdoorsman; he enjoyed hunting, fishing and raising a garden. He lived in the Walnut Ridge and Sheridan communities.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, Julie Ann McElrath; and two brothers, Lonnie Edward and Bill W. McElrath.
Mr. McElrath is survived by his son, Bradley Wayne McElrath of Little Rock; a sister and brother-in-law, Marlene and John Chronister of Newport; and brother, Jerry McElrath of Walnut Ridge. Nieces, nephews and other relatives also survive him.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today in Higginbotham Funeral Chapel. Ministers Glenn Knabe and Ryan Wilson will officiate. Interment will follow in Lawrence Memorial Park.
Visitation was held Friday.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Higginbotham Funeral Service, 401 West Main St., Walnut Ridge.
Bobbie Nesbitt
PARKIN — Bobbie A. Nesbitt, 77, of Parkin died Monday, March 8, 2010, at St. Bernards Medical Center.
Survivors include her husband, Jim Nesbitt; children, Larry Hughey of North Fork, Va., Freddie Hughey of Pine Bluff, Randy Hughey of Earle, Diana Todd of Little Rock, Donna Marrs, Carol Gates and Gwendolyn Davis, all of Parkin; sisters, Linda Weaver of Parkin and Mary Wilson of Akron, Ohio; 23 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Christ Fellowship Church at Parkin with burial in Paradise Garden at Edmondson, directed by Woodard Funeral Service of Wynne.
James Thompson
O’KEAN — James Darrell Thompson, 76, passed away Thursday, March 11.
The son of Fred and Maude Thompson, he was preceded in death by his parents and one sister.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley Thompson of the home; five daughters, Debra Reed of Norman, Okla., Judy Thompson of Atascadero, Calif., Terry Morris of Delaplaine, Joann Thompson of Pocahontas and Sandra Morris of O’Kean; two brothers, Bill Thompson of Kentucky and Decaluis Cobb of Missouri; two sisters, Betty Alred of Missouri and Sherry Autel of Indiana; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 1-5 p.m. Sunday in McNabb Funeral Home Chapel.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Delaplaine Baptist Church with Adam Burton officiating. Burial will follow in Jones Ridge Cemetery
with 
military honors by Promberger Traw Post 4556.
Charley A. Armstrong
AURORA — Charley A. Armstrong, 67, of Aurora passed away on Thursday, March 18, 2010 at home.
He was born on Aug. 29, 1942, at Hardy, the son of the late Alvin and Alzadia Break Armstrong.
He is survived by his wife, Wendy Oestreicher Armstrong; children, Michael Armstrong and Sarah (Gustavo) Coronilla; granddaughter, Amaya Coronilla; siblings, Goldie Lohr, Elizabeth Canady, Lucy Swims and William (Joyce) Armstrong; father-in-law, Dwight Oestreicher; sisters-in-law, Kay Dittmann and Vicky (Scott) Tyree; and brother-in-law, Steven Oestreicher.
Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Lewis, James and Mary. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6-8 at Higginbotham Funeral Service in Hardy. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Higginbotham Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow in Baker Cemetery
near Hardy.
Jose Antonio Barajas
LEACHVILLE — Jose Antonio Barajas, 33, of Leachville, died Saturday near Senath, Mo., from injuries received in an auto accident.
Born at San Benito, Texas, he was a former Harlingen, Texas, resident and had lived in Leachville since 1990. He was a construction worker and attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Blytheville. Tony was a loving husband, son, father, brother and uncle. He was a friend to all and loved by everyone.
Survivors include his wife, Alma Casas Barajas of the home; two sons, Luis Saldivar and Jose Antonio Barajas Jr., both of the home; and one daughter, Jasmine Caroline Barajas of the home. He also leaves his parents, Reynaldo and Ramona Cruz Barajas of Leachville; three brothers, Reynaldo Barajas Jr. and his wife Sylvia of Harlingen, George Barajas and his wife Charlotte, and Johnny Barajas, all of Leachville; four sisters, Janie Ibanez and her husband Clayton, and Isabel Barajas, all of Leachville, Josie Valencia and her husband Jaime, and Missy Tamez and her husband Roberto, all of Paragould
He also leaves eight nieces, 13 nephews, two great-nieces and six great-nephews.
Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Howard Funeral Service Chapel at Manila. Burial will follow in Leachville Cemetery.
The family will receive visitors Wednesday evening from 6-8 at the funeral home.
Naomi Blackwood
JONESBORO — Naomi Blackwood, 92, of Jonesboro died Sunday, March 21, 2010, at St. Bernards Medical Center.
Born in Bono, Naomi lived much of her life in Lorado before moving to Jonesboro in 2003. She worked several years for General Electric in Jonesboro and was a member of Family Fellowship Baptist Church, where she was a member of the Senior Adult Ladies Sunday school class and was active in the Lydia Mission Group of the Women’s Missionary Union.
Naomi was a member of the NEA Baptist Medical Center Auxiliary, for which she had received a service pin for 5,000 volunteer hours. She was involved in sewing for different projects, including Christmas stockings for use in the nursery for the newborns at Christmas time. Naomi was a long-time member of Mount Zion Baptist Church near Walcott, where she served as a Sunday school teacher and church clerk and was a member of the Lorado Quilters Club.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis Blackwood; a brother, the Rev. Everett Patton; and a sister, Vivian Woods.
Survivors include one daughter, Kay Brewer of Jonesboro; one son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Diane Blackwood of Jonesboro; three grandsons and spouses, Patrick and Janna Brewer of Mountain Home, James Blackwood of St. Louis and Jeff Blackwood of Columbia, Mo.; and two great-grandsons, Brett Brewer and Connor Brewer of Mountain Home.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Emerson Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Mike Martin and the Rev. Harold Ray officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Zion Cemetery.
Active pallbearers include David Klingensmith, Dale Klingensmith, Ronald Coleman, Patrick Brewer, James Blackwood and Jeff Blackwood. Honorary pallbearers include members of NEA Baptist Auxiliary and the senior adult ladies and senior adult men’s Sunday school class at Family Fellowship Baptist Church.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. today at Emerson Funeral Home.
For lasting memorials, the family asks that consideration be given to the Family Fellowship Baptist Church Building Fund, 2505 Davis Drive, Jonesboro 72401.
Alvin Jerry Burrow
POCAHONTAS — Alvin Jerry Burrow, 97, a lifelong resident of Randolph County, died Saturday, March 20, 2010, at Pocahontas Health Care and Rehabilitation Center.
He was born at Warm Springs to Jerry Marlinden and Julia Ellen Ator Burrow. He was known as Jerry Burrow to all in Randolph County, because of his involvement in city, county and state government.
He served as mayor of Pocahontas for many years, as well as county judge and state representative. He was active in many phases of the development of Pocahontas and always took an interest in the betterment of the city. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Pocahontas.
He is survived by his wife, Avis Virginia Spencer Burrow of Galveston, Texas; three nephews, Kern Burrow of Pocahontas, Ephraim Jerry Burrow of Lawton, Okla., and Ronald Burrow of Little Rock; two nieces, Betty Burrow Halpenny of Olive Branch, Miss., and Patsy Bray of Malvern; along with many great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his former wife, Jean Hanley Burrow; his mother and father; seven brothers; and five sisters.
Visitation will be held from 8-10 a.m. Wednesday in McNabb Funeral Home Chapel. Services will follow at 10 with Randy Scott officiating. Burial will be in Masonic Cemetery.
Harvie L. Collins
JONESBORO — Harvie L. Collins, 90, of Jonesboro died Sunday at St. Bernards Village, where he resided with his wife, Lela Barker Collins.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by Emerson Funeral Home.
Shannon Z. Emery
NEWPORT — Mrs. Shannon Z. Emery, 38, of Newport died Sunday.
Mrs. Emery is survived by her husband, Marcus Emery III; one son, Damon Burnworth of Oklahoma City; three daughters, Tegan Emery, Haley Emery and Katrine Emery, all of Newport; her parents, James and Michelle Balir; one brother, Sean Blair of Oklahoma City; her mother and father-in-law, Mark and Sheba Emery of Newport; and a special friend, Glenda Gates.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be in Sandhill Cemetery.
Visitation will be noon until service time Wednesday.
Arrangements are by Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home.
Allen Gardner
WALLS, Miss. — Allen Gardner, 88, of Walls, Miss., departed life Sunday at his home.
He was born June 10, 1921, at Chaffee, Mo., to Fred and India Parkinson Gardner.
Preceding him in death were his parents, one son, one brother and one granddaughter.
Survivors include his wife, Marie Smith Gardner; one son; two daughters; one brother; three sisters; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Thompson-Wilson Wynne Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Loughridge Cemetery.
Visitation will be tonight from 6-8.
