Mrs. Magnolia Barton, age 80, of Palestine, died Sunday, Dec. 19, 2004, at her home.
Mrs. Barton was born Sept. 19, 1924, in Palestine. She was a homemaker and is survived by six sons, Odis L. Barton, Alvin Barton and Grover L. Barton all of Forrest City, Robert Barton Jr. and Cledis Barton both of Palestine and Ralph Edward Barton of Orlando, Fla.; and five daughters, Shirley McKissick of Marion, Ind., Helen Cotton of Orlando, Fla., Lula McKissick of Forrest City, Hattie M. Phillips of Widener and Ersenia Wymes of Little Rock. She is also survived by two sisters, Fannie Winston of St. Louis, Mo. and Florida Culler of Forrest City; 29 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Visitation for Mrs. Barton will be held on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2004, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Clay Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at Williams Temple Church of God in Christ on Friday, Dec. 24, 2004, at 11 a.m. with Elder Ransom Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Casteel Cemetery.
Mr. Willie James "Big Willie" Brandon Jr., age 66, died on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2004, at his home.
Mr. Brandon, born June 23, 1938, was the son of Willie James Brandon Sr. and Mable McCraney Brandon. He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Christine Cheers; six sons, Willie James Brandon Jr., Larry Brandon and Eric Brandon, all of Forrest City, Ricky Brandon of Millington, Tenn., and Corey Cheers and Antonio Cheers, both of Marianna; seven daughters, Juantina Brandon and Nicole Cheers, both of Marianna, Tammy Smith of Misaw Air Force Base in Japan, Patricia Copeland of Oceanside, Calif., Felicia Fields and Felisa Robinson, both of Forrest City and Charlotte Wright of Nashville, Tenn.; 31 grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.
Visitation for Mr. Brandon will be held on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2004, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Marianna Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Dec. 24, 2004, at 11 a.m. at New Bethel M.B. Church in Marianna.
Mrs. Peggy Ruth Taylor, age 60, of Forrest City, died Sunday,
Dec. 19, 2004 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Forrest City.
Mrs. Taylor was the daughter of Lloyd and Carrie Gustavus,
a pharmacy tech at Harvest Foods in Forrest City for over 15 years,
where she was loved by all customers and co-workers. She was a
member of the Good Hope Baptist Church. She is survived by her
husband, Larry E. Taylor of Forrest City; one daughter, Cathy
Criss of Palestine; three sons, Billy BaileyJr. of Colt, Larry
Wayne Taylor of Bono and Terry Taylor of Caldwell; three sisters,
Elizabeth Chrestman of
Byhalia, Miss., Mary Killingsworth of Caldwell and Betty Kucera
of Sealy, Texas; three brothers, Tommy Gustavus of Rogers, James
Gustavus and Freddie Gustavus both of West Memphis; six grandchildren;
and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a daughter,
Kimberly Bailey; a sister, Johnnie Gustavus and a brother, Henry
Gustavus.
Visitation for Mrs. Taylor was held Tuesday, Dec. 21 at Roller Citizens Funeral Home in West Memphis. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004, at 2 p.m. at the Good Hope Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Hughes Cemetery.