Mr. Lloyd Bates, age 59, of Forrest City, died Sunday, Jan. 13, 2002, at his home.
Mr. Bates was a machine operator and a member of the Rising Sun M.B. Church.
He is survived by five daughters, Denise Beasley of Jonesboro, Toni Bates Toles, Felicia Bates McGlown and Melissa Bates, all of Memphis, and Kristy Lay of Forrest City; four sisters, Mae Nobors and Marva Garrett, both of Forrest City, Patricia Miles of Los Angeles, Calif., and Pamela Jackson of Dallas, Texas; six brothers, Richard Bates of Leighton, Ala., Lawrence Williams of Madison, Ala., Ruben Johnson and Lanell Johnson, both of Forrest City, Harvey Johnson of Hammon, Ind., and Willie Johnson of Chicago, Ill.; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Visitation for Mr. Bates will be Thursday, Jan. 17, 2002, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Kennedy Chapel Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted Friday, Jan. 18, 2002, at 1 p.m., at Rising Sun M.B. Church, with Rev. Strong officiating the service. Burial will follow in Casteel Cemetery under the direction of Kennedy Funeral Home.
Mr. Lonnie M. Davis, age 78, of Little Rock, died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002.
Mr. Davis was born Feb. 2, 1923 in Somerville, Tenn., and was the son of Mack and Mable Edwards Davis. He was raised in St. Francis County, was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, a retired Air Force captain, a member of the Oak Forest United Methodist Church, and many clubs and organizations.
Mr. Davis was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Raymond Davis, all of Forrest City.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Mary Louise Davis; one son, Harry Davis; one brother, Thomas Davis of Crystal River, Fla.; one sister, Martha Ann Fox of Little Rock; and one granddaughter.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Jan. 12, 2002, at Oak Forest United Methodist Church in Little Rock, with Rev. Jim Foster officiating the service. Burial followed in Forest Hills Memorial Park in Alexander under the direction of Griffin, Leggett, Healey and Roth Funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be sent to the Oak Forest United Methodist Church.
Mr. Thomas B. Rankin, Sr., age 89, of Trenton, Ill. formerly of Forrest City, died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2002, at his residence.
Mr. Rankin was born Feb. 14, 1912, in Tupelo, Miss., and was the son of Ethelbert Rutledge and Ida Lee Winders Rankin. He was a retired owner of a lumber mill, was a member of West Gate Baptist Church in Trenton, Ill and a Mason of Eupora, Miss.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby Page Rankin in May of 2000; a brother, Elkin Rankin; and sisters, Venola Page and Vera Nell "Polly" Davies.
Mr. Rankin is survived by two sons, James R. Rankin of Highland, Ill. and Thomas B. Rankin, Jr. of Trenton, Ill.; four grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Visitation for Mr. Rankin will be held Friday, Jan. 18, 2002, from 4 to 8 p.m., and again on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2002, from 8 to 10:45 a.m., at the Moss Funeral Home in Trenton, Ill. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2002, at 11 a.m., at West Gate Baptist Church in Trenton, Ill., with Rev. Thomas Rankin, Jr., Michael May and Rob Davis officiating the service. Burial will follow in Wisetown Cemetery, under the direction of Moss Funeral Home.
The family requests memorials be made to West Gate Baptist Church and Wisetown Baptist Church, and will be received at the funeral home.
Miss Josephine Stidum, age 43, of Brinkley, died Thursday, Jan. 10, 2002, at Crittenden Memorial Hospital in West Memphis.
Miss Stidum, formerly of Forrest City, was born Sept. 23, 1958.
She is survived by her brother, Johnnie L. Stidum Jr., of Palestine and four sisters, Ida Mae Terrel of Brinkley, Bettye Rooks of Memphis and Vernell Stidum and Gloria Smith, both of Little Rock.
Funeral services for Miss Stidum will be conducted Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2002, at 11 a.m., at St. Luke A.M.E. Church, with Rev. E.J. Outley officiating the service. Burial will follow in Casteel Cemetery under the direction of Clay Funeral Home.