Stories from Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Clinton Eugene Foster, 33, of Blytheville, passed away Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. Born in Watertown, S.D., Clinton was a metallurgist for Nucor-Yamato Steel. He was very intelligent and was the valedictorian of his senior class at Clark High School. He could do anything he set his mind to. ...

Cathey Jean McDaniel Byrd, 61, of Gosnell, passed from this life on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, at the NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. She was born to Johnnie and Lillian Lavern (York) McDaniel in Blytheville, where she was a lifelong resident. Cathey was the office manager for the Mississippi County Road Department and a member of the Lone Oak Baptist Church, along with being a member of Mary’s Chapel Baptist Church for many years prior...

Carmelita Fennell of Sherwood was born Dec. 26, 1956, in St. Louis, Mo., to the late Sammie Moore and the late Sarah Lee Hill Woodruff. She was a factory worker as well as a member of New Life of Faith Apostle Ministries in Little Rock. Ms. Fennell passed away Aug. 12, 2021, at Baptist Health Medical Center in North Little Rock at the age of 64. She was preceded in death by her father, Sammie Moore; mother, Sarah Lee Hill Woodruff; one brother, Sunny Moore, Jr.; and two sisters...

John Berton Mayes, 79, of Blytheville, passed away Friday, Aug. 13, 2021 at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born in Palestine, Ark., to John and Ruth Collier Mayes, he graduated from Blytheville High School in 1959. After graduation he received his bachelors of Business Administration and Marketing from the University of Arkansas in 1963. ...

Sunny Moore Jr. of Sherwood was born Nov. 27, 1952, at No. 9, Ark., to the late Sammie Moore, and the late Sarah Lee Hill Woodruff. He was a meat packer and a member of New Life of Faith in Little Rock. Mr. Moore passed away Aug. 5, 2021, at Baptist Health Medical Center in North Little Rock at the age of 68. He was preceded in death by his father, Sammie Moore; his mother, Sarah Lee Hill Woodruff; and two sisters...

Tommie Walton of Osceola was born May 19, 1954, in Luxora to the late Earlene. He was a factory worker. Mr. Walton passed away Aug. 14, 2021, at Harris Healthcare in Osceola at the age of 67. He was preceded in death by his mother Earlene. He is survived by his son, Geoffery Davenport of Blytheville; one brother and four sisters...

Betty Mae Wilkins, 85, of Osceola, died Aug. 12, 2021 at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. She was a retired press worker from Quality Cleaners and a member of Bethlehem M.B. Church in Osceola. Ms. Wilkins was born Nov. 3, 1935 in Mississippi to Rosetta Crockett. She was preceded in death by her mother; her husband, Willie Wilkins Sr.; three stepdaughters, Naomi Harris, Larceanie Spinks and Gloria Jean Wilkins...

Though the World Paralympic Games were canceled because of Covid-19, U.S. Paralympic team member Anthony Smith of Blytheville has been busy with martial arts. Smith was recently elected to two Halls of Fame. In Atlantic City, he was inducted into the Masters Hall of Fame, and in Puerto Rico, he was enshrined into the Master Student Hall of Fame...

Roderick Jamel Hale, Jr. of Osceola died Aug. 9, 2021, in Jonesboro. He was a student and of the Baptist faith. Roderick was born Aug. 19, 2002, in Blytheville to Roderick Hale Sr. of Texarkana, Ark., and Shakonda Thomas Hale of Osceola. He is also survived by one daughter, Rami Hale of Blytheville; one brother, Shadondre Black of Osceola; one sister, Rodriunna Hale of Osceola; grandparents, Deborah Jefferson Collins of Osceola, Charles Thomas of Lepanto and Wiley B. ...

Gertrude Sharp Gann "Half Pint", 77, of Proctor, died Aug. 17, 2021, at Baptist Memorial in Memphis, Tenn. She was retired from housekeeping and of the Pentecostal faith. Ms. Gann was born Dec. 3, 1943, in Luxora to Elmer and Cora Whitaker Sharp. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Charles Gann; one son; five brothers and one sister...