OBITUARIES
Arkadelphia and Camden Obituaries
Local obituaries for Arkadelphia and Camden, AR area
Elwood Newborn
Apr 2, 2014
Elwood Newborn was born on New Year’s Eve, 1929 in “Lick Skillet” a suburb of the Witherspoon Community, as he would jokingly recall. His parents were Jesse Paul Newborn and Joe Willie Hill. He grew up hunting, fishing and living from the land. Elwood was taught as young man the value of hard work and that a “good name” would carry...
Karen Smith Block
Mar 19, 2014
…I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician, in his work, and devote myself to the welfare...
Ruth Goshen Holland
Mar 18, 2014
Ruth Holland, 80, of Gurdon, passed on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 in Curtis, Arkansas. She was born to Robert and Lucy Goshen Laster on August 17, 1933 in Chidester, Arkansas. Ruth grew up in Camden, Arkansas and was a Baptist. She was a graduate of Lincoln High School and worked several years for the Camden School District. Ruth always knew...
Floyd Ray Murphy
Mar 10, 2014
Floyd Ray Murphy began his life’s journey on October 28, 1945, at Carthage, Arkansas as the son of Louie R. Murphy and Henrietta O’Hara Murphy. Floyd was a graduate of Carthage Colored School in Carthage, Arkansas. He grew up to be a handsome and intelligent young man. In 1965 at the age of twenty he enlisted into the United States...
Mattie Sue Ross-Jamison
Feb 27, 2014
Mattie Sue Ross Jamison was born on August 20, 1930 in Wright City, Oklahoma to John and Daisy Jones Ross. Mattie, her sister Lillie R. and her brothers Johnny D. and Roy L., were blessed to be nurtured by loving and caring parents who were highly respected among friends and neighbors in the community. Mattie was baptized and joined Pleasant...
Willie Reed Goza, Jr.
Feb 22, 2014
Willie Reed Goza, Jr., was born into time on July 28, 1933 in Curtis, Arkansas to Willie Reed, Sr., and Florene Mitchell Goza. Willie was a graduate of Peake High School and a member of Mt. Friendship Baptist Church in Curtis, Arkansas. On August 27, 1953 at the age of 20 he enlisted in the United States Army and was...
Melissa "Lish" Holliman
Feb 15, 2014
Melissa Smith began her journey through life on May 11, 1927 in Clark County, Arkansas. “Lish” as she was known to many was the last surviving child of Gaston and Pearline Johnson Smith. She accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at an early age and united with Pleasant Hill AME Church where she was a lifelong member. “Lish”...
Jimmy Burks
Feb 11, 2014
Jimmy began his life’s journey on October 15, 1949, at Manning, Arkansas the son of Jim Green and Appatine King Burks. He accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Savior at an early age and united with Harmony Missionary Baptist Church. Jimmy was educated in Sparkman and was a 1968 graduate of the Sparkman Training School. There he excelled as...
Shirley Knox
Feb 9, 2014
The home going celebration and tribute to the life of Shirley Knox will be shared at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 15th at Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. Dr. Lewis A. Shepherd, Jr., will officiate. The interment will be in Helms Cemetery. Public visitation will be held on Friday, February 14th from 1:30 until 4:30 p.m. at the funeral home....
Shelly Maurice Hendrix
Feb 7, 2014
For Shelly M. Hendrix being a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, friend and servant were all honorable. The late Shelly M. Hendrix was born to the late Rosboro and Emma Hendrix, Sr. on September 29, 1953 in Malvern, Arkansas. He confessed his faith in Christ at a tender age when he united with New Director Baptist Church of Perla,...
Ozella Bernice Leeper
Feb 2, 2014
Ozella Bernice Lee Leeper was born into this world on March 11, 1927 in Antoine, Arkansas, to the union of Freeman and Exxie Jones Lee. At a tender age she confessed her faith in Christ and was baptized. She was a graduate of Nevada County Boarding School in Rosston, Arkansas and attended beauty school in Little Rock. She was a...
John "Duck" Wallace Leeper, Jr.
Jan 25, 2014
John Wallace Leeper Jr. “Duck” was born on October 17, 1959, in Los Angeles, California to the late John Wallace Leeper, Tressie Mae Leeper who preceded him in death along with a sister Anne Jewell and his maternal and paternal grandparents. He departed this life for his home in glory on January 25, 2014 at Advance Care Hospital, Hot Springs,...
Jayden Malik Blakely
Jan 24, 2014
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? He who has clean hands and a pure heart. Psalm 24:3-4 On May 26, 2009, Joshua Blakely and Cleshawna Henderson welcomed the birth of a bouncing brown bubble of joy they named Jayden Malik Blakely. Jayden was a happy baby who brought added joy to lives of those he touched. Smiling was...
Holman Johnson
Jan 24, 2014
Holman began his life’s journey on September 14, 1931, at Vaden, Arkansas as the son of Edward, Sr., and Annie Bell Pigg Johnson. He accepted Christ as his Lord and personal Savior at a young age and united with Church of the Living God Pillar of Ground and Truth in Vaden, Arkansas. Holman attended of Bell High School in Gurdon,...
Etha Mae "Sue Girl" Bunn
Jan 21, 2014
Etha Mae Bunn was born into this world on March 3, 1937 in Whelen Springs, Arkansas to the loving parentage of Reggie and Loree Dowell Johnson. She was the second child of nine children born into a home that was filled with love. She moved to Cotton Valley, Louisiana and finally made her home in Gurdon, Arkansas. She joined Mt....
Rosetta Thomas
Jan 15, 2014
And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. Psalm 55:6 Rosetta Richardson Thomas was born into this world on May 12, 1938 in Delight, Arkansas, to Foy and May Lee Gentry Richardson. Rosetta was raised with the nurturing and loving care of her grandparents Bone and Sylvia...

Esther Laverne Bailey
Jan 10, 2014
Esther Laverne Williams was born into this world on October 31, 1943 in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, to Sammie Leon and Mary Taylor Williams. At a tender age Esther confessed her faith in Christ and was baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost at Tate Temple COGIC. She later united with Baring Cross COGIC where she served as Church Mother, Secretary, and...
Emma Angeline Hendrix
Jan 2, 2014
…I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician, in his work, and devote myself to the welfare...
Ozie Page
Jan 1, 2014
Ozie Page was born into time on December 10, 1931 to Deacon Samuel “Sam” and Effie Snider Page in Willisville, Arkansas. His parents were widely respected in Willisville and taught all of their children the values of an honest living and self respect. Ozie confessed his faith in Christ at a young age. He was a member of Pleasant Grove...
Joe Albert Bailey
Jan 1, 2014
….while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. II Corinthians 4:18 Joe Albert Bailey was born into this world on November 17, 1930, in the Holly Grove Community of Okolona, Arkansas. He...