Mrs. Ruthie Mae Swift Williams Bradford, age 78, of Manteca, Calif., died Thursday, Jan. 16, 2003, at Doctors Hospital in Manteca, Calif.
Mrs. Bradford, born March 17, 1924, in Hughes, was the daughter of John and Texella Gordon Swift. She lived in Forrest City for many years and was an employee of The Fabric Center, Sanyo Manufacturing and East Central. In 1976, Mrs. Bradford married L.D. Bradford and moved to Memphis. She was a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Memphis.
Mrs. Bradford is survived by five sons, L.C. Poole of Las Vegas, Nev., Joe Williams of Forrest City, John Williams and Glen Williams, both of Memphis, Charles Williams of Manteca, Calif.; two brothers, Rev. William Swift of Detroit, Mich., and James Swift of Memphis, 21 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and a number of other relatives and friends. Mrs. Bradford was preceded in death by two sons, Leslie Williams and Roosevelt Williams Jr.; three brothers and three sisters.
Funeral services for Mrs. Bradford will be held on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2003, in Stockton, Calif.
Mrs. Juanita Valdez Peña, age 91, of Marianna, died Friday, Jan. 17, 2003, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City.
Mrs. Peña, born July 12, 1911, was the daughter of Gregorous and Juanita Morales Valdez. She was a homemaker and a Catholic.
Mrs. Peña, is survived by five sons, Eddie Peña and Jessie Peña, both of Marianna, Richard Peña and David Peña, both of Texas and Raymond Peña of West Memphis; three daughters, Teresa Peña of Marianna, Eva Bedwell of Amagon, and Victoria Cowling of Lockesburg; 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Eddie Neal Sr. and two daughters.
Rosary services for Mrs. Peña will be held on Monday, Jan. 20, 2003, at 7 p.m. at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Marianna. Mass will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2003, at 10 a.m. at St. Andrews Catholic Church with Father Ed Graves officiating. Burial will follow at Marianna Memorial Park under the direction of Morgan Funeral Home.
Mr. Paul Wyers Jr., age 65, of Heth, died Friday, Jan. 17, 2003, in Jonesboro.
Mr. Wyers, a retired farmer, is survived by a his wife, Vernell Wyers, of the home; a son, William Wyers of Marianna; one daughter, Evelyn Mannis of Marked Tree; six sisters, Sally Rice of Yuma, Ariz., Diane Hoakason of New Castle, Wyo., Betsy Pendley of Hot Springs, Elaine Palmer of Okaman, Ala., and Louise Hodge and Patricia McClaness, both of Jasper, Ala., and nine grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Wyers were held on Monday, Jan. 20, 2003, at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of Roller-Citizens Funeral Home in West Memphis. Burial followed in Parkin Cemetery in Parkin.