Mr. Oscar "Big O" Mathews, age 72, of Palestine, died Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2003, at Methodist Central Hospital in Memphis.
Mr. Mathews was born Nov. 30, 1930, in Gill, the son of Oscar Marvin Mathews and Myrtle Shafer Mathews. He lived in the Palestine area for all of his life, was retired from Yale Industries and was a member and Deacon of the Palestine First Baptist Church.
Mr. Mathews married Wilma Dean Burton in 1952 and she survives him along with two daughters, Becky Dunn and Renee Jumper, both of Palestine; a brother, Jerry Mathews of Palestine; two sisters Ruby Hill of Nesbitt, Miss., and Marlene Colvin of Italy, Texas; and 10 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother Terrell Mathews in 1989.
Visitation for Mr. Mathews will be held on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2003, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Palestine First Baptist Church. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Oct. 24, 2003, at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Palestine. Burial will follow in Bell Cemetery. Stevens Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.
The family requests that memorials be made to the Palestine
First Baptist Church.
Mr. Willie James Venson, age 35, of Dallas, Texas, died Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2003.
Mr. Venson was born Feb. 28, 1968, in Marianna, the son of Willie James Venson Sr., and Rosie McBee Venson Calloway. He is survived by his parents, both of Little Rock; one daughter, Shanique Williams of Little Rock; four sisters, Brenda McBee, Tammy Settles, Erica Abron and Lesa Stubblefield, all of Little Rock; four brothers, Coydale Venson and Marcus Venson both of Little Rock, Joseph Venson of Houston, Texas, and John Venson of Brickeys.
Visitation for Mr. Venson will be held on Friday, Oct. 23, 2003, at Woodhouse Mortuary from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2003, at 1 p.m. at Mount City M.B. Church with Rev. Jewell Witters officiating. Burial will follow in Mount City Cemetery.