Ray Allen Nelson, age 89, of Haskell, Arkansas, passed away on Monday, March 13, 2023. He was born on January 4, 1934, in Morrilton, Arkansas, the son of Walter Nelson and Lola Mae Charton Nelson. He was the widower of Margaret Ann Young Nelson and was preceded in death by his son, Frank Allen Nelson. He was a painter and of the Missionary Baptist faith.
He is survived by his son, Bennie Steven (Faith) Nelson of Benton; daughters, Rayann (George) Barry of Little Rock and Susan (David) Hascom of Benton; thirteen grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
A graveside service will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 17, at Plummerville Cemetery with Bro. John Chapman officiating.
Bobby Lloyd Hudgens, 74, passed away peacefully March, 21, 2023.
Bobby was born in Waldo on September 10, 1948, the youngest of three children. His career started as a K-12 music teacher in Waldo and Taylor Public Schools. He served as a part-time music/youth director for Garrett Memorial in Hope, Arkansas and First Baptist Church in Taylor, Arkansas during college. He served the Lord in full time Christian ministries as a music/ education director at Trinity Missionary Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, and Temple Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas from 1975-2004.
His heart and passion was to faithfully serve God through music and discipling through Christian Education. During his 27 years at Temple Baptist Church, God allowed Bobby to serve through music, education, and business administration. He organized worship music, directed choirs for adult, youth, and children, sang solos, trained teachers, organized VBS, edited Temple Tidings (a church newsletter), and was led to restructure the five o’clock training hour to make it more effective in disciplining and ministering to others through focused study groups each quarter and starting focused recovery groups. He was involved in the International Student Ministry at UALR, was instrumental in the development and organization of the El Samaritano Medical Clinic that provided free medical/dental care for the growing Hispanic community in Little Rock, and also served as a trustee and board chairman of the BMA Moral Action committee from 2005-2010.
Bobby transitioned to Temple Baptist Church to serve at the Baptist Publishing House (Disciple Guide) as the Director of Research and Development from 2004-2013 where God used him in updating and improving BMA literature.
After his retirement from the BMA Publications Dept., he served as a part time music director for the Mandeville First Baptist Church until moving back to Benton, Arkansas in 2013.
Bobby met his wife, Donna Ferguson, in January of 1972 during his last semester of his senior year at Southern State College in Magnolia, Arkansas. They were both very active in the Association of Baptist Students at SSC. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on July 1, 2023.
Bobby had a love for music and was known to sing and hum around the house all day long. He was goofy, quick-witted, and the king of all dad jokes. He was patient and kind, always very encouraging, and well-respected for how kindly he spoke to others. He is best described as a man who had a passion for serving his Lord and spending time with his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents Louise and Harold Hudgens.
He is survived by his wife, Donna Ferguson Hudgens, his children; John Hudgens (Kristy Hudgens), Emily Price (Travis Price), Rebekah Brown (Nathan Brown), along with his sister Linda Simpson (Bill Simpson), his brother Terry Hudgens (Retha Hudgens), and 6 grandchildren; Kyle, Josie, Kinley, Camden, Eden and Ever.
Visitation and services will be held at Smith-Benton Funeral Home in Benton. Visitation is March 28,2023 from 6-8 pm and the Celebration Service on March 29,2023 from 11-12 am.
Please send any memorial contributions to the Missions Department of the Baptist Missionary Association.
Services entrusted to Smith-Benton Funeral Home. Online guestbook: www.SmithFamilyCares.com.
Billy Joe Hogue, 93, of Little Rock, Arkansas went to be with the Lord on March 22, 2023. He was born May 23, 1929 in Sardis, Arkansas to the late Arlie E. and Mattie J. (Williams) Hogue.
Billy retired after working as an accountant at the Arkansas State Health Department for 38 years. He was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church. Billy loved the Lord and studied the Bible every day. He taught Sunday School for over fifty years, until his vision became limited. Billy did not allow his blindness to become a disability or to prevent him from continuing his education. He began checking out books from the library for the blind and listened to tapes. With great determination and hard work, Billy earned a Master’s degree in accounting while living in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Family was everything to Billy and his spoiled them rotten. His girls were his sunshine. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren who affectionately call his Papaw.
Preceding Billy in death are his parents, Arlie and Mattie Hogue; brother, Odis Hogue; sisters: Willie Marie Hogue-Styles and Doris Hogue-Bradberry; and great-granddaughter, Sarah Pollitt.
Billy leaves behind to cherish his memory his loving wife of 65 years, Jimmie Hogue of Little Rock, Arkansas; daughters: Jo Ann Adams of Little Rock and Joy Pollitt of Shreveport, Louisiana; four grandchildren: Ashley Adams, Paul Pollitt and wife Cristy, Peter Pollitt, and Eli Pollitt and wife Adriann; seven great-grandchildren: Keegan, Elissa, Jonah, Tobias, Zayne, Aden, and Anistyn; sister, Jean Jackson of Lake Charles, Louisiana; and a host of family and friends who love Billy and will miss him always.
Visitation will be held from 2:00-3:00 PM, Monday, March 27th, followed by memorial service, officiated by Pastor Rick Porter, at 3:00 PM, at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, 24310 N. Sardis Road, Bauxite, Arkansas, 72011.
Services entrusted to Smith-Benton Funeral Home. Online guestbook: www.SmithFamilyCares.com.
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