Mr. Tommy L. Bridgeforth, age 45, of Palestine, died Thursday, Feb. 6, 2003, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Forrest City.
Mr. Bridgeforth was born July 16, 1957, in Hughes, the son of James Gardner and Minnie Garner. He is survived by his parents, of Forrest City; a daughter, Brandy Bridgeforth of Jacksonville; one son, Robert Bridgeforth of Jacksonville; four brothers, Harold Shannon Sr. of Cotton Plant, Anthony Shannon of Flint, Mich., Maurice Shannon of San Diego, Calif. and James Gardner Jr. of Atlanta, Ga.; one sister, Pamela Gardner of Palestine; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Bridgeforth will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2003, at 2 p.m. at Antioch M.B. Church in Palestine with Rev. Harold Shannon officiating. Burial will follow in Goodwin Cemetery in Goodwin. Marianna Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
Mrs. Lillie Belle Jumper, age 104, of Palestine, died Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2003, at her home.
Mrs. Jumper, born Aug. 16, 1898, in Selmar, Tenn., was the daughter of Martin Cooper and Dosie Bridges Cooper. She lived in St. Francis County for most of her life and was a housewife and a member of the Twin Assembly of God Church in Palestine.
Mrs. Jumper married Claude Jumper in 1912 and he preceded her in death in 1952. She is survived by eight sons, Clovis Jumper, Dester Jumper, Homer Jumper and Avan Jumper, all of Palestine, Joel Jumper of West Helena, Rev. Vance Jumper of Madison, Rev. Derwood Jumper of Atlanta, Texas and Wayne Jumper of Forrest City; one daughter, Claudie Belle Jones of Palestine; 38 grandchildren; 72 great-grandchildren; 53 great-great-grandchildren and three great-great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death in 1990 by one son, Gerald Jumper.
Visitation services for Mrs. Jumper will be held on Friday evening at Twin Assembly of God Church in Palestine. Funeral services for Mrs. Jumper will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2003, at 2 p.m. at Twin Assembly of God Church. Burial will follow in Bell Cemetery under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.
Mr. Wilber "Leon" Hughes, age 77, of Caldwell, died Thursday, Feb. 13, 2003, at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis.
Mr. Hughes was born Dec. 31, 1925, in Caldwell, the son of Jessie Preston Hughes and Claudie Bell Trimue Hughes. He lived in Caldwell for most of his life and was a retired employee of Yale Hoist of 27 years. He was a veteran of the United States Navy where he earned the medals of Victory, American Theatre and Asian Pacific. He was also a member of the Caldwell Baptist Church.
Mr. Hughes married Janie Sue Britton in 1950 and she preceded him in death in 2002. He is survived by one son, Gary Hughes of Caldwell; two daughters, Pam Speer of Caldwell and Debbie Robertson of Pocola, Okla.; one sister, Robbie Skelton of Forrest City and six grandchildren. He also had six brothers and sisters that proceeded him in death, Elmer Hughes, Elsworth Hughes, Joe Hughes, Johnnie Smalley, Marie Clark and Claudine Hill.
Visitation for Mr. Hughes will be held on Friday, Feb. 14, 2003, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Stevens Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2003, at 10 a.m. in the Chapel of Stevens Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Hughes Cemetery.
The family requests that memorials be made to Caldwell Baptist Church.
Mr. Melvin Jones, age 87, of Forrest City, died Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2003, at Baptist Memorial Hospital Forrest City.
Mr. Jones, born Oct. 14, 1915, in Mullins, Tenn., was a retired laborer with Wagner Electric Co. in St. Louis, Mo. He is survived by two sisters, Earnestine Howard of Parkin and Ardesta Jones of Chicago, Ill.
Visitation services for Mr. Jones will be held on Friday, Feb. 14, 2003, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Clay Funeral Home. Funeral services for Mr. Jones will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2003, at 1 p.m. at Riverside Baptist Church with Rev. Marland Brown officiating. Burial will follow in Casteel Cemetery.