Read below for the obituaries of Luther Jack Burnett, Gladys Bell Witham, Alan Dwight Morris, Larry Allan Hunthrop, Mary Hoffmann, Buddy Brock, and Mack Sides.
Luther Jack Burnett, 95 of Alexander, passed away on March 4, 2021. He was born on September 25, 1925 in Nevada County, Arkansas to the late John Luther and Bessie Olivia Neimeyer Burnett. Luther was a member of Avilla Missionary Baptist Church for over 50 years, serving as deacon and bookkeeper. He graduated from Prescott High School in 1942 and joined the Navy in 1943, serving in part of WW II and the Korean War as a communications technician. Luther worked for the Swift and Company in California and Chicago, Allied Telephone Company for 23 years and Hollis & Company as well as ABC Block Co. Luther was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, William and John Burnett. Luther is survived by his sons, Fred (Karla) Burnett and their children, Lisa Burnett (Troy) Schulte and child, Emmett; Meridee Burnett, Ron (Ann) Burnett and their children, Allen Burnett, his children, Samantha and Elliott; Jeremy (Autumn) Burnett Reaves and their children, Paisley and Augustus; Michael (Kimber) Burnett Reaves and their children, Kinsley and Hollis; five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Chapel services by Ashby Funeral Home will be 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 15th with Bro. Kirby Caple and Bro. Charles Shepard officiating. Burial will follow at the Arkansas Veteran’s Cemetery in North Little Rock. Visitation will be 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 14th at Ashby Funeral Home Chapel.
Gladys Bell Witham, 86, of Hot Springs, Arkansas passed away March 7, 2021. She was born March 7, 1935 in Mount Ida, Arkansas to the late Jessie and Maddie (Ward) Meredith. Preceding Gladys in death are her husband, Walter Earl Witham; and two daughters: Diane Witham and Glenda Turney. She leaves to cherish her memory her sons: Johnny Witham of Benton, Arkansas and Denver Witham and wife Juanita of Mountain Pine, Arkansas; daughters: Jane Beasley of Conway, Arkansas, Jackie Bodiford of Benton, Arkansas, and Kathy Cordell of Bauxite, Arkansas; fifteen grandchildren; thirty-two great-grandchildren, nine great-great grandchildren; brother, Dale Meredith and wife Bonnie of Little Rock, Arkansas; sister, Eledree Holt and her husband Robert of Sheridan, Arkansas; and many family members and friends who love Gladys and will miss her always. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM, Wednesday, March 10, at Smith-Benton Funeral Home, 322 N. Market Street, Benton, Arkansas. Graveside service will be held at 1:00 PM, Thursday, March 11 at Smith-Rosemont Cemetery, 1010 Military Road, Benton, Arkansas. Assisting as pallbearers are Preston Benjamin, Luis Benjamin, Jacob Lewis, Joshua Wilson, Earl Bodiford, and Daniel Lewis. Honorary pallbearers are James Wilson, Greg Turney, Jace Beasley, and Dewayne Witham. COVID-19 Directives include masks are required and social distancing maintained. Services entrusted to Smith-Benton Funeral Home. Online guestbook: www.SmithFamilyCares.com.
Alan Dwight Morris, Sr, 74 of Benton, Arkansas husband to Ann Sanders Morris, born July 5, 1946 in Terra Haute, Indiana, and left this world on March 5, 2021. He had many names given to him by those he loved most, he was known as Honey, Dad, Daddy, Pawpaw, Big Al, & Uncle Alan. He was proud to have served in the USMC for 2 years. Alan was loved by many and definitely left this world a better place than he found it. He was always willing to help anyone in need, by sitting at their home waiting for repair people, changing a tire or offering financial assistance. Those who knew him are thankful to have crossed his path. He graduated from Oakhaven High School, Memphis, Tennessee, and Memphis State University. Even though he had lived in Arkansas since 1973, he was still a devoted Tiger and managed to miss very few games of football or basketball if on TV. He was elated when his beloved Dodgers won the 2020 World Series. Alan loved his family unconditionally, and he is survived by his wife of 53 years Ann Sanders Morris, daughter Alana Dawn Morris, son Alan Dwight Morris Jr and Daughter in law Deanna Taylor Morris and grandchildren Jordan Leighann Tackett, Chandler Scott Tackett & Wife Anastasia Mills Tackett, Avery Elizabeth Tackett, and Dawson Taylor Morris. He will also be missed by his sister Becky Davis & husband Richard Davis, nieces and nephew Richie Davis, Shannon Durhan, Julie & husband Nick Carson and a host of great nieces and nephews. Alan was the son of the late Norris “Tony” Morris and Francis Elizabeth Allen Morris. Friday nights will be different without Big Al at the table with his crew and his travel buddies of the last 25-40 years. His long standing friendships with the guys and the Aclins made him a better man according to him. Alan also cherished his involvement at First Church of God starting in 1973 and continuing until recently at Community Park Church of God. Alan & Ann have attended these churches close to 50 years and are thankful for their relationship with Jesus Christ and those they met at these churches. Visitation will be on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at 6:00 pm at Dial & Dudley Funeral Home, 4212 AR Hwy 5, Bryant, AR. The Memorial Service will be Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at 2:00 pm Community Park Church 4630 South Shobe Road, Bryant, AR. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Abba Charities in Benton, https://p2p.onecause.com/givehope or Wounded Warrior Project, https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org
Larry Allan Hunthrop (1946-2021) passed away peacefully last week at his home in Redfield, Arkansas. He was 74 years old. A true patriot, Larry was a member of the Marine Corps reserves. He worked for over forty years for Entergy and became one of the plant operators at the White Bluff Power Plant. He is survived by his brother and sister, his many cousins, nieces and nephews, as well as the many people whose lives he touched every single day with his generosity, his quiet humor, and his stalwart faith in his savior, Jesus Christ. A graveside service will be held on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 12:00 at Augusta Cemetery. To sign online guestbook, visit www.dialanddudleyfuneralhome.com.
Mary Hoffmann (Alexander, Arkansas), born in North Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away at the age of 90, on March 7, 2021. Family and friends can light a candle as a loving gesture for their loved one. Leave a sympathy message to the family in the guestbook on this memorial page of Mary Hoffmann to show support. She was predeceased by : her parents, Max B. Malachowski and Loretta Malachowski; her husband Henry Hoffmann, Jr.; and her sister Pat Evans. She is survived by : her grandchildren, Steve Hoffmann (Norma) of Little Rock, Linda Hoffmann and Dr. Tom Hoffmann (Susan) of Frisco; her step-grandchildren, Dr. Carson Hoffmann (Kaitlyn), Christy Hoffmann-Graham (Dan), Bryan Hoffmann, Leslie Carpenter and Tam Ransom (David); her great grandchildren, TJ Shelton, Leslie Cloar, Kinley Potter (Jacob) and Casey Bradfield (Jeremy); her step-great-grandchildren, Gannon Morris, Lance Morris, Bryana Hoffmann, Allyssa Hoffmann, Nick Hoffmann, Laurel Carpenter, Cole Carpenter, Ryan Ransom and Reece Ransom; and her niece Patti Evans Isaacs of New York. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 10th 2021 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at the Garden Room at Roller Chenal Funeral Home (13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, AR 72211). A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, March 10th 2021 at 12:00 PM at the Pinecrest Memorial Park (7401 AR-5, Alexander, AR 72002). In Lieu of flowers, please send donations to Mount St. Mary’s Academy, 3224 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205.
Edward ”Buddy” C. Brock, of Benton, AR, 84, passed into the loving arms of his Savior on March 7, 2021. He was born September 27, 1936 in LaGrange, AR. He was a proud Veteran, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Buddy loved his church family at New Life Baptist Church in Alexander, AR. He was a loyal Mason, Iron Springs Lodge #342, an accomplished Master Gardener, and enjoyed spending time outdoors. Buddy was preceded in death by his parents, Curtis and Robert R. Brock, sister, Joyce Sparks, brother, Bobby Brock, and great-granddaughter, Kathryn Drew Brothers. He is survived by wife, Allyn Jean Brock, daughters, Pam (Jacky) Cochran and Tonya Noto, sister, Martha ”Sue” Crews, grandchildren, Jay (Sarah) Brothers, Jaclyn (Robbie) Williams, Jerad (Lauren) Brothers, Justin (Blair) Cochran, and thirteen great-grandchildren. Buddy leaves behind many other relatives and friends, to include his coffee drinking buddies. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. Visitation will be held Tuesday, March 9, 2021, 10:00am, Roller-Drummond Southwest, 10900 Interstate 30, Little Rock, AR. The funeral service will follow at 11:00am. Masks must be worn, thank you! Lasting memorials may be made to New Life Baptist Church at 10765 Samples Road, Alexander, AR 72002 or The ALS Association (www.als.org).
MACK GLENNON SIDES was called by his savior, Jesus Christ, to reside in Heaven on the morning of March 6, 2021. He passed away from heart complications at age of 81. Mack Sides is survived by his wife of 50 years, Kathleen Yates Sides. He is also survived by his only child, daughter, Diana D. Smithson, and one loving grandson Eric S. Smithson. Mack is also survived by sisters, Edna McNeil and Geneva Patton, nephews Alan Broadway, Kenneth Broadway, Lynn Witham, nieces Theresa Leslie, Shirley Paige, Belinda Conklin, Lisa Thorton, and Vicki Witham. A host of many great nephews and nieces from both the Sides and Yates family. The Yates family was very dear to Mack Sides and he enjoyed the years of fellowship with all the Yates family members. He is preceded in death by his parents, William and Nettie Sides, brothers Freddy and Bobby Sides, all of Benton, Arkansas. Born in 1939 in Houston, Arkansas, Mack was raised in the rural countryside of Perry County. During this time of his youth, the family also moved to Helena, Arkansas. Times were challenging for the family and Mack learned to work hard to provide for his family in any way possible. At around age nine, the family settled in Benton, Arkansas on Shady Lane. The family land was mowed by Mack Sides for many years and he enjoyed keeping the homestead looking good. Mack attended Bauxite school. Mack was employed many years at Holicer Jones Sawmill and suffered a major work injury in 1973. He suffered severe burns to his entire body and after recovery, he would maintain a natural tan for the rest of his entire life. The injury didn’t deter his work ethic and he returned to sawmill life to provide a good home life for his wife, Kathleen, and daughter, Diana. Mack knew how to work with his hands and he used those skills to join the Arkansas Highway Department in 1975. He worked many years side by side with father in law, Gilbert “Rowdy” Yates. Mack become an experienced heavy equipment operator and retired after a 30 year career with AHTD. He made many dear friends during this time, especially with Joe Bagley, Ferrel McNeil, and Nick Nichols. Mack enjoyed retirement days by fishing, mowing, watching westerns and CSpan, and discussing politics. Many of you in Benton know him as the small framed man that carried the tall walking stick. He really liked to walk shirtless to keep his tan going but law enforcement asked him to kindly wear a shirt. If you know Mackie well, you know how he felt about this issue. Often times, folks would stop and offer to give him a ride… that made him mad too! He would say, “No, I don’t want no ride, I’m walking to keep my health, mind your own business”. He loved to pick pecans from courthouse square and fill up the pockets of his cargo shorts. Conversation at the coffee shop was always interesting with Mack Sides at the table. Mack passed the work passion for heavy equipment operation to his loving grandson, Eric S. Smithson. The 35 years spent with Eric were some of Mack’s best times and memories. The two of them also argued a lot, mainly over politics, but, it was always good banter for both of them. The love of bulldozers and moving dirt was shared by both of them! Eric loved his PaPa dearly and that bond will never break! Mack was a Baptist by faith and attended his neighborhood church on Hicks Road, Benton, Arkansas as a youngster. Mack, Kathleen, and Diana also lived on Hick Road for several years. There is family story that Mack got mad once and made a plate of food for dinner and ate it while sitting in his car at the cemetery. If you were around him much, two words that start with letter P would also ignite his tongue: politics and preachers! If you took the bait of conversation with him about either of these subjects, you still remember it today! He would continue to talk until he felt he had “won” the conversation. Mack was quiet for the last few years of life due to dementia and heart and heart issues. He enjoyed visits from family members at his home, watching lots of Clint Eastwood and John Wayne, walking his dog Abraham, and sitting under his large magnolia tree. With God’s mercy, Mack passed peacefully into Heaven, and the family is truly blessed that he went to heaven in his own home with his wife by his side. A private family memorial service will be held March 9. 2021 at the home of Mack and Kathleen Sides, Benton, Arkansas. Thanks to Ashby Funeral home for assisting with Mack’s request for cremation. In lieu of flowers, please send a memorial donation to either charity listed below: Women & Children First, P.O. Box 1954, Little Rock, AR 72203 Ronald McDonald House, 1501 W 10th, Little Rock, AR 72202 Both of these nonprofits are special to daughter Diana Smithson and Mack was proud of her work in the community to help others that needed a hand “up”. If you asked him for help, he helped you, always! Whether you knew him as husband, father, PawPaw, Uncle Mackie, or just as a friend…… he made a lasting impression and he will be missed! I know him as Daddy. I love you, Daddy and I will see you again! I will take care of Mom and Abraham for you! – authored by Diana Smithson