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Melvin Proctor Spann
Melvin Proctor Spann, Broadcasting Pioneer, ago 87, of Stuttgart and Casscoe, died Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2003 at Stuttgart Regional Medical Center after a brief illness. He was born Jan. 17, 1916 at Cato, Faulkner County, Arkansas, the only child of Beulah Elizabeth Proctor and Oma Jaggers Spann.
He received his elementary and secondary education at Olmstead, Bayou Meto, and Jacksonville, and finished his senior year at Beebe Abbington Junior College, now ASU Beebe.
Broadcast Radio was his ambition. While obtaining his electrical engineering degree from Arkansas Tech College, he also received his diploma from the electronics School of Radio in Kansas City and his first class radio-telephone-television license from the FCC.
In 1938 he joined the engineering staff at radio KARK in Little Rock. In 1942, shortly after Pearl Harbor, he was called to teach a Signal Corps class at Little Rock Trade School. Soon after he became manager/engineer at KWFC radio in Hot Springs. Later he accepted an engineering position with WLW Radio in Cincinnati, Ohio; however, passing through Little Rock en route to Ohio, he volunteered for 
military duty.
In World War II, he was assigned to the U.S. Army Signal Corps, setting up new communications systems in Western and Southern China. He was discharged on February 3, 1946 as Staff Sergeant at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas.
Shortly after the war, Spann joined forces with three Little Rock businessmen in building radio stations in various parts of the state including North Little Rock, Harrison, West Memphis, and Stuttgart. In the fall of 1946, while he was serving as the manager/chief engineer at KXLR in North Little Rock, he set up what was the first statewide sports network for broadcast of Arkansas Razorback Football. He produced and directed the broadcast for two years until the University took over the program itself.
In 1948, Spann brought local radio to the Arkansas Grand Prairie with KWAK radio in Stuttgart where he stayed until he sold the station and retired in 1986.
Spann was a charter member of the Arkansas Broadcasters Association, serving many years on the Board of Directors and as President in 1956. In 1972 he received the Broadcasting Pioneer Award. He was a member of the National Association of Broadcasters and was a supporter of American Women in Radio and Television.
He was a member of First Baptist Church of Stuttgart, a 55-year member and past-President of the Stuttgart Lions Club and in 2002 received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award in Lionism. He served several years on the Board of Directors of both the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce and the Stuttgart Country Club, of which he was a charter member. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and was Commander of the Razorback Basha of Arkansas, China-Burma-India Veterans Association at the time of his death. As a Mason, he was a 50-year member of Western Star Lodge #2 in Little Rock, Euclid Lodge #130 in Stuttgart, Scottish Rites and Sahara Shrine in Pine Bluff.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, the former Meryl June Sabo; one son, Tom Spann and wife Mary of Stuttgart; and one daughter, Nancy and husband Frank L. Chudy of Carlisle; ten grandchildren: Katy Shalmy (Billy) Ferguson of Carlisle, AR; Mike Shalmy (Kathy) of Las Vegas, NV; Amanda Chudy of Santiago, Chile; Michael (Karla) Chudy and Allison Chudy Stiles of Woodland, CA; Debbie Spann (Charlie) Schanen of Beevillc, TX; Cathi Spann (Frank) Smith of Aberdeen, Scotland; Christina Spann (Joe) Perez of Portland, TX; Kim (Rick) Selig of Bryant, AR; and Staci (Bart) Freeman of Dallas, TX; and fourteen great-grandchildren: Aaron Schanen; Joey, Jake & Jessica Perez; Erica & Kendall Selig; Kaley and Emma Ferguson; Kyle & Kori Shalmy; Hannah & Megan Chudy; Alex Stiles; and Megan Smith.
A celebration of his life was held Saturday, Dec. 27 at First Baptist Church, 2115 S. Prairie Street in Stuttgart with Dr. Sam Roberts and Rev. Fred Hunter officiating. Honorary Pall Bearers were members of the Stuttgart Lions Club, Stuttgart Amici Club and Razorback Basha, CBIVA.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie, the Stuttgart Public Library, the Arts Center of the Grand Prairie, the Stuttgart First Baptist Church building fund, the Lions World Services for the Blind, the Cato United Methodist Church, or charity of choice.
Dr. Jack Barnwell dies December 23
Dr. Jack Barnwell, a member of one of Cabot’s founding families, died on Tuesday, Dec. 23, of natural causes, the family announced. It would be very difficult to find any longtime Cabot resident who did not know his father, through either his medical practice or the practice of his faith at church, his son Joe Allen Barnwell said. A memorial service for “Dr. Jack,” was held Monday at Cabot United Methodist Church.
“He was the smartest man I knew; he could have done anything, but he did what he wanted to do — practice medicine in Cabot. It’s what he wanted to do,” Joe Allen Barnwell recalled.
Though medicine was his desire, it took more than 40 years for Jack Barnwell to achieve his dream of a medical practice. Barnwell was one of three children, born to Jack and Neva T. Barnwell. Brother William Thompson “Thomp” Barnwell and sister Genevieve Barnwell were his siblings.
The Baileys, from [wife Geneva Bailey’s] side of the family were very influential, too,” Barnwell said. At one point a Bailey was mayor of Cabot, Jacksonville and Lonoke, at the same time, he said.
However, for “Dad,” graduation from Hendrix was just a beginning. He returned to Cabot where he was appointed principal of the high school. After two or three years he went to the University of Colorado, then to the University of Arkansas for two master’s degrees, followed by more education at the University of Illinois, Barnwell said. “He lacked only his thesis for his doctorate, but he was offered a position at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, then at Columbia, and he just didn’t have the time,” Barnwell said.
World War II intervened, and, opened the way for admission to medical school, Barnwell said. “I remember the Sunday when one of Dad’s friends came running in, shouting, ‘Jack, the Japs have bombed Pearl Harbor,’” he recalled.
The Navy offered him the grade of Lt. (jg) if he would take a teaching position for them. “He was stationed at Washington, then Hawaii, then Okinawa by the time the war ended. He got out, and used the GI Bill to go to medical school,” Barnwell said.
“Dad was 38 when he started medical school, it was four years and then two one-year internships before he could start his own practice,” Barnwell said. “His office was downtown, next to where the fire station is, and there was always someone in the waiting room. No air conditioning, just open windows, dusty, but it was his office,” he recalled.
There were a few bad times, such as when someone would break into the office in a search for drugs, Barnwell said. “He didn’t keep [narcotic] around. Someone even came [to the house] and tied [the Barnwells] up while they looked here, but they didn’t find any,” he said.
Dr. Barnwell is survived by his son Joe Allen, grandchildren Joe Allen Barnwell Jr., Bartly Williams Barnwell and Blake Elizabeth Barnwell; great-grandchildren Bronwyn Allyn Barnwell, Merritt Margaret Barnwell and Alexandra Frances Barnwell.
Willie Lee Wright
Willie Lee Wright, age 86, of North Little Rock, died Friday, Sept. 5, 2003.
She was a member of Lynch View Missionary Baptist Church and was a retired cashier.
She is survived by her son, Rick Wright of Cabot; her daughter, Nina Jones of Sherwood; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and sisters, Alice Opal New and Alleen Ridgeway, both of Maumelle.
A graveside service was Sept. 9, in Quitman Cemetery
at Quitman, with arrangements by Roller-Drummond Funeral Home Southwest.
Arles Goodnight
Arles Goodnight, 64, died Saturday.
Survived by spouse, Emma Wahl; children, Tammy Campbell, Cabot and Billy Goodnight, Prim; step-son, William Wahl, US Army in Iraq; sisters, Dorothy and Louise; and two grandchildren.
Memorial services were by Olmstead Funeral Home.
William W. Reasoner
William W. “Bill” Reasoner, 61, of Clarksville died Aug. 30, 2003.
He was retired from Whitson-Morgan Motor Co. in Clarksville, after having worked as a service manager in Bozeman, Mont., over 21 years. He was past president of the Jaycees in Cabot, a former member of the Civil Defense Team and the Volunteer Fire Dept. in Cabot. He was a member of the United Methodist Church.
Survivors are his wife, Glynda (Carroll) Reasoner; a son, William Stephen Reasoner of Bozeman, Mont.; a daughter, Lisa Adams of Hampton, Ga.; a brother, Jim Reasoner of Clarksville; a sister, Ann Cowan of Stockton, Calif.; and eight grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Sept. 8 at the First United Methodist Church in Clarksville, with burial in Graves Cemetery
near Delaware by Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville.
Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes. Assoc., Arkansas Affiliate Inc., 212 Natural Resources Dr., Little Rock, 72205-1573.
Carlos C. Glover
Carlos C. Glover of Little Rock died Sept. 2, 2003.
He was born in Lonoke County, and was a member of Geyer Springs First Baptist Church. He was a former employee of ABF.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Reba Glover; daughters, Carolyn Hirby and Connie Breeding; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral was Sept. 5 at North Little Rock Funeral Home Chapel, with burial in Glover Cemetery, Lonoke.
Memorials may be made to the building fund of Geyer Springs First Baptist Church, 12400 Interstate 30, Little Rock, 72209.
Nina Alice H. White
Nina Alice Hackney White, age 84 of Carlisle passed away September 7, 2003. She was born August 29, 1919, the youngest of 12 children. Mrs. White was a retired state employee after 26 years with the Revenue Dept. in Little Rock. Her first husband, Joe Elwyn Hackney, Sr. preceded her in death in 1984. She is survived by her husband of 8 years, Cecil White, and his sons, Greg Creek and Charles White of Illinois and Russell White of Quitman; her son, Joe Elwyn Hackney, Jr. and his wife Judy of Stuttgart; the pride and joy of her life, two granddaughters, Meghan Lucille and Diana Kay Hackney; a sister, Lelia Kendall of Michigan and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
Funeral Services were Wednesday at Boyd Funeral Home, Lonoke with burial in Carlisle Cemetery. Visitation was Tuesday, at the funeral home. Arrangements by Boyd Funeral Home, Lonoke.
Henry N. Roberts
Henry Nathan Roberts of Carlisle died Sept. 6, 2003 at the age of 87. He is survived by his wife, Edna Roberts, his brother Ray Roberts of England. Henry is also survived by is six children Earl Roberts of Mena, Elizabeth Kildoo of Rusk, Texas, Wayne Roberts of Tuscon, AZ, Charles Roberts of Benton, Janet Lopez of Avondale, AZ, and John Roberts of England, 21 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday Sep. 11, 2003 at Hamilton Cemetery, Carlisle.
Rickey Allen Hawkins
Rickey Allen Hawkins, 49, of Jacksonville, died Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2003.
He is survived by his wife, Brinda Hawkins of the home; mother, Willene Hawkins of Jacksonville; son, Shannon Hawkins of Wynne; daughters, Mindy and Nicki Hawkins of Jacksonville; sisters, Sue Laws of Forrest City, Linda Kennedy of Jacksonville, Vicki Browder of Hamburg, Rosie Nichols of West Memphis, Carolyn Eslick of North Little Rock; brother, Dewayne Hawkins of Cabot.
Visitation was Thursday and funeral was at Cabot Funeral Home, Cabot, Friday, Sept. 5, with interment at Old Austin Cemetery. Arrangements by Cabot Funeral Home.
Charles W. Buckner
Charles Wesley Buckner, 74, of Hot Springs, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, September 2, 2003. He was born in Moulton, AL on January 17, 1929 to Ira Russel & Frances Rebbecca (Goode) Buckner.
Charlie was retired from Joy Manufacturing Company after 30 years as a Machinist in Michigan City, IN. He then retired to Hot Springs in 1990.
He is predeceased by his parents, his first wife- Ruby Pickens Buckner, son- Armil Buckner and brothers- Floyd, James, Leonard and Ira Buckner.
Survivors include his loving wife- Shirley Jean Buckner of Hot Springs; four sons- Danny, Charlie, Dale and Floyd Buckner; daughters- Linda & Pat; brothers- J.C. Buckner and John Buckner; sisters- Ann, Laura & Betty of Cabot, AR; 10 grandchildren & 6 great grandchildren; a son-in-law, daughters-in-law, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and close friends who will miss him dearly.
Visitation was Thursday, September 4, 2003 at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home.
Memorial services were Friday, September 5, 2003 at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Leroy Hill and Coleman Alexander, Jr. officiating.
Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery, Michigan City, IN by Carlisle Funeral Home.
