Donald Bruce Taylor, 60 of Benton, passed away on Thursday, March 9, 2023. He was born on July 20, 1962 in little Rock, Arkansas to Dondle and Ruth Lewis Taylor. After graduation, he joined the United States Army where he served for 28 years. During his years of service, he was in Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Persian Gulf War, Iraqi Freedom, went to Germany after AIT and two tours in Iraqi after 9-11
Donald was a member of Victory Baptist Church in Benton.
He was preceded in death by his mother.
Donald is survived by his father, Dondle Taylor, sons, Timothy Taylor, Jacob Taylor and Warren Taylor all of Benton, daughters, Olivia Taylor and Diana Taylor, both of Benton, sisters, Sheila (Charles Herndon, Becky (Greg) Archer, brother, Raymond (Bethany) Taylor, Donald’s girlfriend, Sherry Lattis and many of his military friends.
Church services by Ashby Funeral Home will be 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 18th at Victory Baptist Church with Dr. J.D. Wedio officiating. Burial will follow with Military Honors at Fairplay Cemetery in Benton.
Visitation will be Friday at Ashbys, 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Jerry Jackson “Jackie” Deen, 76, of Benton, Arkansas went to be with our Heavenly Father on March 11, 2023.
Jerry was born December 1, 1946 in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas to the late Henry Deen and Inez Renfro.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Deen and Inez Renfro along with two brothers Farron Renfro and Carrol Deen; three sisters: Donna Deen, Brenda Whitmire, and Linda Pope.
Jerry is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Kathy Deen; two daughters: Marla Glover (Stevie) of Sheridan, Arkansas and Trina Deen of Benton, Arkansas; four granddaughters: Brittany Rainwater (Pear), Hannah Crutchfield (James), Notie Cotton (Keith), Emily Bodiker (Rustin); eight great-grandchildren; sister, Rosemary Bell (Mike); five brothers: Carl Deen (Rita), Jeffrey Deen (Tina), Oral Renfro, Aaron Renfro (Teresa), and Bo Renfro (Terri); and many nieces and nephews who he loved with all his heart.
Jerry was a District Manager for Pizza Inn of Arkansas for 27 years and loved all his managers and their teams.
Jerry loved working at Target and talking with all the customers and loving on all the children. He loved sitting around the fire pit with all his family eating hot dogs and marshmallows. His favorite place to be was sitting on the front porch every morning with his wife drinking coffee, planning out their day, or just watching the birds. This made him the happiest.
He will be GREATLY missed!
Visitation will be held from 11:00 AM to Noon, Friday, March 17, followed by funeral service at Noon, at Smith-Benton Funeral Home, 322 N. Market Street, Benton, Arkansas. Burial to follow at Fairplay Cemetery.
Services entrusted to Smith-Benton Funeral Home. Online guestbook: www.SmithFamilyCares.com.
Virginia Doris White, 95, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her loved ones on March 12, 2023.
Doris was born in Heidelberg, Mississippi on July 8, 1927, the third of eight siblings, to parents George Edward and Irma Green. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and in her later years attended the First Lutheran Church with her daughter.
Doris was predeceased by her parents; husbands: Wilson Gresham and Doyle White; brothers: Johnny, William, George Jr., Marion, and Mack Green; and sister, Hilda Ruth Griffis.
She is survived by her sister, Sylvia Johnson of West Monroe, Louisiana; and her daughters: Susie (Curtis) Wright of Hot Springs, Bernice Burchfield of Benton, and Kay (Howell) Hill, of Benton. “Gran” is also survived by grandchildren: Courtney (John) Wolf of Pineville, LA, J. Tom (Meghan) Wright of Towanda, Kansas, Amber Nichols of Benton, Arkansas, and Morgan (Conley) Sims of Benton, Arkansas; and great-grandchildren: Emily, Joseph, and Abigail “Chippy” Wolf, Lexie, Max, Ila, Coralie, and Boone Wright, Ethan and Eric Nichols, and Myra and Kase Sims.
Doris loved being outdoors gardening and working in her yard, tending to her flowers, clearing brush, and trimming trees. At the age of 88, she was hard at work planting over 500 tree seedlings in the woods around her home. When cold weather forced her inside, up would go the wooden quilting frame built for her by Doyle and she stayed busy piecing new top patterns and quilting them much to the delight of her family who were the lucky recipients. At 94, her latest venture was teaching her sister to make a baby quilt. When she did venture away from home her happy place was the Outer Banks, NC where she loved to go crabbing and ride the waves.
Graveside service will be held at 1:00 PM, March 18, 2023 at Kilbourne Cemetery in Kilbourne, Louisiana. Visitation will be held at the cemetery thirty minutes prior to the service. Memorials in Doris’ memory may be made to Kilbourne Cemetery, P.O. Box 87, Kilbourne, LA 71253.
Services entrusted to Smith-Benton Funeral Home. Online guestbook: www.SmithFamilyCares.com.
Annette Maddox, 58, of Bauxite, was born in Benton, Arkansas on October 26, 1964, to Tommy and Beverly Henry Maddox. When her earthly duties as “Queen Annette” were fulfilled, she received her eternal crown on March 9, 2023.
Annette was an exemplary daughter, sister, friend, and “mother” to decades worth of students that were privileged to be introduced to her knowledge and leadership. She was a 1983 graduate of Benton High School and obtained her bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education in Social Studies from Henderson State University in 1989, where she was a sorority sister with Alpha Sigma Alpha and served as President for two years. She was also a member of the Arkansas Education Association. Her teaching career began with an internship at Glen Rose High School, and there she found a family of teachers, staff, and a total of 25 years’ worth of students that she would immerse herself in and dedicate her time and knowledge to, until her retirement in 2014. She was voted “Who’s Who Best Personality,” a contest among teachers, for several years in a row. Annette was outgoing, to say the least. Whether it was a person, dog, or even a cat, she would talk to it. Her smile was infectious, and her wit and humor could pull anyone out of a funk. Her intelligence and soft heart combined made her easy to trust. Anyone could pour their heart out to her, and she would have nothing but hope and encouragement to offer. Her charming personality could convince you that she deserved anything she requested, but just as equally, made her a strong advocate for children, the elderly, and animals. Her relationship with her sister, her “Adorable, Adoring, Sissy Dine,” Lisa, was nothing short of a lifetime of having each other’s backs and making sure one another were always encouraged and emboldened to take on whatever life threw at them. Being only nine months apart, they were often mistaken for being twins, but the bond they shared was like no other.
If you were around Annette for any length of time, you would know very quickly that she had many loves- the color purple, George Strait, the Razorbacks, dolphins, absolutely anything imaginable about the history, genealogy, and current events surrounding The Royal Family, and anything blingy or sparkly that drew attention to her dazzling personality, but above those, there were many things to love about her; confident, yet selfless; proud, yet humble; strength beyond measure, with a heart of mush. There is a saying that goes, “to know her is to love her,” but if you knew her, you’d know just how deep that went. She will be missed, but her memory will be deeply cherished, and her legacy will continue through those who loved and cared for her, and through those she loved and cared for.
She was preceded in death by her “Precious Daddy-Man,” Tommy R. Maddox Sr., and her uncles and aunts, Pat Mason, James Henry, Phyllis Henry, Pam Ivy, and Rodney Henry.
Annette is survived by “The Queen Mom,” Beverly Maddox; her “Adorable, Adoring, Sissy Dine,” Lisa, and fiancé, Tamberley Stearman; her “Terrific Baby Brother, Tuck,” Tommy R. Maddox II, and wife, Laurel; uncles and aunts, Dorothy O’Kelley, Eddie O’Kelley, Patsy Murray, Tommy Murray, Glenda Jenkins, Roger Henry, Deb Henry and Mike Ivy; special family friend, Judy Matsuoka; many nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and nephews; lifelong friends, Karen Ragsdale and Denise Mitchell, and many other extended family members and friends of her family.
Special thanks to Alexis Tadlock for assisting in all the funeral details as well as being there as a much-needed friend. We highly recommend her in dealing with such matters. She is excellent, professional, and thorough. Thank you for everything.
A Funeral Service will be Tuesday, March 14, 2023, 12:00 p.m., at Dial & Dudley Funeral Home; 4212 AR-5, Bryant, AR 72022. Visitation will be Monday, March 13, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., also at the funeral home. Burial will follow the service in New Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Jeff House, Shawn Mathis, Cory Mathis, Kyle Overton, Steve Waddell, and Justin Jenkins.
The family requests memorial donations be made in Annette’s name to The Humane Society of Saline County; 7600 Bauxite Highway, Bauxite, AR 72011.
Paul Melvin Hamby, 86, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. with his loving and devoted son, Mark Hamby, by his side at Arbor Oaks Health Care & Rehab in Malvern, AR.
Paul was born on Monday, November 9, 1936, to parents, William Harrison Hamby and Georgia Belle Hamby, in Orange, California. Later, his family moved back to Arkansas where Paul attended Fayetteville High School through the eleventh grade. He then joined The United State Air Force where he earned his GED while he honorably served our country. While serving, he was based in Wyoming, Tennessee, and North Africa.
After being honorably discharged from the Air Force, Paul was married in 1961 to Mildred Elaine Fields of Fayetteville, Arkansas for 49 years. They had two children, Mark Aaron Hamby and Raechel Elaine Hamby.
Paul had a long career spanning 34 years at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville as a warehouse clerk and custodian. He retired in 2010 after three decades plus years of service. He enjoyed exercising, staying active, coaching his son in basketball, working in his garden, and when he wasn’t working or enjoying his hobbies, he loved reading, studying his Bible and attending church. He also enjoyed spending time with his wife and family.
Paul is preceded in death by his wife, Mildred Elaine Hamby; his father, William Harrison Hamby; his mother, Georgia Belle Hamby; and his brother, Richard Keith Hamby. He leaves behind his son, Mark Aaron Hamby and daughter-in-law, Terri Hamby of Malvern; AR; daughter, Raechel Elaine Mabry of Franklin, TN; grandson, Aaron Paul Hamby and wife Kaylinn Hamby from Hot Springs, AR; granddaughter, Lyndsey Annette Hamby Franklin and husband Brian Franklin of Benton, AR; granddaughter, Olivia Elaine Hamby of Malvern, AR; grandson, Cole Mabry and granddaughter, Emma Mabry of Franklin, TN; and other family members and caring friends.
Your family you left in this world hates that you are gone, but we are happy that you are in heaven with our Lord and Savior free and painless. We will always love and miss you until we can meet again in glory!
Celebration of life and visitation will be held at Dial and Dudley Funeral Home on Thursday, March 16th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in Bryant, AR. A memorial service will be held at the National Cemetery in Fayetteville, AR at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, March 17th.
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