Nella Dean Smith, age 89, of Traskwood, passed away Friday, March 10, 2023. She was born July 7, 1933 in Traskwood, Arkansas. Nella Dean retired from the Benton Service Center where she was a Dietician. She was a member of First Missionary Baptist Church in Traskwood and the Woodman of the World Lodge 168. Nella Dean is preceded in death by her parents, Clavis & Lear Martin; husband, Swain Smith; son, Tracy Smith; brother, Thomas Martin; and two sisters, Florence Moseley and Faye Riggan.
She is survived by her son, Michael Smith; sister, Patsy Gosvenor; three grandchildren, Benny Smith, Tiffany Francis (Jake), and B. J. Smith (Alayna); three great-grandsons, Connor, Carter, and Forrest; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 14 at Ashby Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 15 at First Missionary Baptist Church in Traskwood with burial at Mt. Harmony Cemetery. Bro. Stan Allen will be officiating.
Memorials may be made to First Missionary Baptist Church in Traskwood.
Shirley Melba Bryant, 86 of Conway, formally of Bauxite , passed away on March 8, 2023. She was born on September 14, 1936 in Bauxite, Arkansas to the late Jesse and Mary Buffington Collins. Melba worked at Ed and Kays Restaurant for many years.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Walter D. Bryant, brothers, L.N. Collins, J.D. Collins and Walter Collins, sisters, Mildred Burdett, Wanda Mahan, Colleen Bruce and Anita Garner.
Melba is survived by her son, Leonard D. Bryant, daughters, Kathy Nethercutt and Janet McBride, brothers, James Collins and Mike Collins, sister, Carolyn Atteberry; grandchildren, Richard Harrison, Amanda Harrison, Denver Harrison, Derek Nethercutt, Keith Goeman, Crystal Bryant, Larry Bryant, Bradley Nethercutt, Spencer Nethercutt and Tanner Salmon; several great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
Chapel services by Ashby Funeral Home will be 2:00 p.m. on Monday with Bro. Carlton Brown officiating. Burial will follow at Hicks Cemetery in Benton.
Visitation will be at Ashbys, 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. before services on Monday.
Ella Ruth Alley, 79 of Bryant, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2023 and is now in the presence of her Lord and Savior.
Ella, was born on January 12, 1944 , grew up in Sardis, AR, and graduated from Sheridan High School. She went on to earn her bachelor of Nursing degree at UALR, and ultimately found her calling as a Neurology RN at UAMS. She retired in 2003. After retirement, wanting to continue serving others, she worked for Arkansas Hospice, and also spent many hours doing volunteer activities within her community.
At the age of 18, she married Ronald N Alley, and went on to have 2 children. She and “Ronny” loved fishing, working in the yard, and traveling across the United States. They were active in their home church – First Southern Baptist in Bryant, AR.
Ella was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years Ronald, and her parents Dan and Alma Corrigan.
She is survived by her brother Carroll Corrigan, and her children, Jody Alley
(Michelle) and Katrina Campbell (Gregory) and her grandson Brandon Campbell, plus a host of family and friends.
A Memorial service will be held on March 17th at Ashby Funeral Home in Benton at 11:00 a.m.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Friday before services.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Arkansas Hospice, as this organization was important to her.
Online guestbook at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com
Bill T. Brown, age 69, of Benton, passed away Saturday, March 11, 2023. He was born on November 22, 1953 in Duncan, Oklahoma to Bill Tillman Brown Sr. and Doris Rita Wick Brown. Bill worked for AT&T as a foreman. He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Scott Brown; and a granddaughter, Sophia Brown.
He is survived by his wife, Laura Brown; five sons and daughters-in-law, Sam Brown (Kathleen), Jim Brown, Andy Brown (Shandy), Eric Brown (Heather), Ben Brown (Madison); brother, Les Brown (Diane Brown); sister-in-law, Debbie Baldwin Connell; twelve grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Private memorial services will be held at a later date.
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