Mr. Donald S. Oates, age 50, of Forrest City, died Friday, April 16, 2004 at the Baptist East Hospital in Memphis. He had been in poor health for the past three years and in the hospital for the past week and a half.
Mr. Oates was born September 24, 1953, in Memphis, Tennessee, and was the son of Jarvis C. Oates and Joan Richardson Oates. He live in Forrest City most of his life, was an electrician, a Veteran of the Navy Reserve, a member of the I.B.E.W., the V.F.W. and was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene.
Mr. Oates married Cathy Bailey in 1999, and she survives him along with two daughters; LeAnn Oates of Little Rock, and Allison Burger of New Orleans, three step-daughters; Marla Danehower of Memphis, Beth Lansford and Cara Lansford, both of Palestine, his mother, Mrs. Joan Oats of Forrest City, two sisters; Mrs. Judy Machen and Mrs. Susan Massey, both of Forrest City, two grandchildren; Mikayla Jenkins and Mason Burger, and three step-grandchildren.
Services for Mr. Oates were held at the First Church of the Nazarene, 3:00 p.m., today, April 19, 2004 with burial in Hughes Cemetery. Visitation was held Sunday evening, April 18, 2004, 6:00 p.m. till 9:00 p.m. at Stevens Funeral Home with Stevens Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Thedrel C. Cureton, age 87, of Forrest City, died Sunday, April 18, 2004, at her home.
Mrs. Cureton was born July 25, 1916, in Pontotoc, Miss., the daughter of Gary M. Conlee and Mary Caroline Foster Conlee. She worked in the Child Nutrition Program with the Forrest City Public Schools for several years and was a member of the First Baptist Church.
Mrs. Cureton married Ellis Cureton in 1958 and he preceded her in death in 1992. She is survived by a son, Manning Cureton of Forrest City; a brother, Dennis Conlee of Marion; one sister, Melba Garron of Little Rock; and three grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by a son, Mike Cureton, in 1986.
Visitation for Mrs. Cureton will be held on Monday, April 19, 2004, from 6 to 7 p.m., at Stevens Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 20, 2004, at 11 a.m., at First Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Forrest Park Cemetery.
Mrs. Lorene Marcella Whitehead Mathews, age 77, of Forrest City, died Friday, April 16, 2004, at Methodist Hospital Central in Memphis.
Mrs. Mathews was born May 11, 1926, in Alpine, the daughter of Tom Whitehead and Sarah Moore Whitehead. She was a cafeteria worker at Whitten Elementary School in Marianna before moving to Forrest City in 1984.
Mrs. Mathews married Ernest E. Mathews in 1944, and he preceded her in death in 1959. She is survived by five sons, Ernest Mathews and Michael Mathews both of Haughton, La., Leroy Mathews of Marianna, Marvin Mathews of West Helena and Charles Mathews of Conyers, Ga. She is also survived by three daughters, Marcelle Jackson of Indian Bay, Ruthie Mathews of Forrest City and Joanna Luttrell of Earle; 17 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Mathews was also preceded in death two daughters, Martha Mathews and Wanda Wilson and a brother, Kenneth Whitehead.
Graveside services were held today, April 19, 2004, at 2 p.m., at Turner Cemetery in Turner. Bob Neal & Sons Funeral Home in Marvell was in charge of all arrangements.