Stories from Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Myron Demetrius Allen, 47, of Washington, D.C., formerly of Osceola, passed away Jan. 4, 2023, at his home. He was a program control manager for Take 2 Consultant LLC and of the Pentecostal faith. Mr. Allen was born Nov. 16, 1975, in Osceola to Melvin Allen and Jacqueline Darkins Lewis. He was preceded in death by his brother, Jasper Nalls, and his sister, Elfreda Nalls...

Hazel B. Walters Williams was born Sept. 20, 1947, to the parentage of Willie B. and A.D. Robinson in Burdette. She departed this life Jan. 19, 2023, at NEA Hospital in Jonesboro at the age of 75. She was preceded in death by her parents. She leaves to cherish her memories her daughter, Annie (Arthur) Watts of Luxora; stepsons, James Walker Walters of Osceola, Adrian Williams of Luxora; stepdaughters, Felicia Byrd of Luxora, Roshell Williams of Osceola, Connie Williams Blackwell of Pittsburg, Pa., Vivian Williams and Melanie Williams, both of Denver, Colo.; two sisters, Lena Gibson of Burdette and Rosie Robinson of Blytheville; one brother, Eugene Robinson of Blytheville; grandchildren, Alexiuse Manning Walters of Jonesboro, Latoria Grant and Alaysia Stewart, both of Blytheville, Tamika Fowler, Bruce Fowler Jr., Shamariya Depriest and Antonio Watts, all of Luxora; a host of great-grandchildren and other family members and friends.. ...

Julia Ann Box, 72, of Manila, widow of Horace Box, passed from this life Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, at the Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. Born in Washington, D.C., she was the daughter of the late Paul and Maxine Thompson Churchwell. Julia was retired from the United States Air Force and was a member of the First United Pentecostal Church in Manila. ...

Denise Weaver Lindsey was born on May 30, 1956, in Kennett, Mo., to Russell Weaver and Daisy Sharp Weaver. She passed away on Jan. 10, 2023, in Jonesboro at the age of 66. She had been employed at the Brown Shoe Factory and Randall Incorporated, both in Blytheville. She was united in marriage to Jackie Lindsey in Rives, Mo., on April 20, 1973. She was preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Daisy Weaver; one daughter, Tracy Forsythe; and one brother, Kyle Weaver...

D’Andre Whitfield of Blytheville, was born Aug. 10, 1997, to Larivva Whitfield and Jimmy Dority Jr., in Memphis, Tenn. D’Andre departed this life on Jan. 17, 2023, at Great River Hospital in Blytheville at the age of 25. He leaves to cherish his memories his mother, Larivva Whitfield, his father, Jimmy (Latricia) Dority Jr., both of Blytheville; three sons, Karter Hester of New Madrid, Mo., Taylon Holloway and Daylon Holloway, both of Blytheville; two grandmothers, Elnora Dority Warren and Linda Whitfield; great- grandmother, Luella Ross, all of Blytheville; six sisters, Savanna Whitfield, Shatiyha Luster and Adrianna Morgan, all of Blytheville, Charlene Okendu of Houston, Texas, Kelsee Walls of Bloomington, Ill., and Jemerika Williams of Conway; six brothers, Kaeson Whitfield, Julian Dority, DaShawn Dority and Adarius Williams, all of Blytheville, Jimmy Lee Dority III and Raheem Dority, both of Kassel, Germany; and a host of other family members and friends.. ...

Barbara Ann DePriest, 80, of Jonesboro, formerly of Leachville, widow of Robin DePriest, passed from this life Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born and raised in Leachville, she was the daughter of the late Kenneth and Mary Ann Beavers Garrison and a 1960 graduate of Leachville High School. ...

Garcia Dean Casey, 78, of Paragould, passed away Monday, Jan. 23, at her home. Garcia was born to Bert and Myrtle Warf Williams and was a member of Armorel Baptist Church. She was a homemaker and enjoyed painting and spending time with her grandchildren...

Oleeyer Johnson Smith of Blytheville was born June 13, 1961, to Roosevelt Johnson Sr. and Ella Mae Cole Johnson in New Madrid, Mo. She departed this life on Jan. 18, 2023, at her residence at the age of 61. She was preceded in death by her parents. She leaves to cherish her memories her husband, Minister Fred Smith Jr., of Blytheville; three sons, Fredrick Smith and Christopher Smith, both Grand Rapids, Mich., and Kendall Smith of Blytheville; six sisters, Sylvia Redmond of Blytheville, Bernice Gardner, Machelle Cox and Jacklin Black, all of Warner Robins, Ga., Ophelia Welch of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Florene Lewis of Pine Bluff; five brothers,Roosevelt Johnson Jr. ...

Lawrence Arnette Lane, 69, of Osceola passed away Jan. 21, 2023, at SMC Medical Center in Osceola. He was a transportation director for Osceola School District and worked for Chessie Jones for 25 years, was a member of Grace Temple and chairman of the Deacon Board. Mr. Lane was born March 5, 1953, in Dumas to McClinton and Mary Alice Whitfield Lane. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Lawrence Lane, Jr.; and one brother, Terrance Lane...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Manila City Council filled several positions and approved appointments for 2023 at the first meeting of the year held on Monday night. Newly elected Mayor Tracey Reinhart presided at the meeting. He and newly elected council member Bobby Tate were welcomed by council members. Returning council members include Steven Milligan, William Barnhart, Donnie Wagner, Jason Baltimore and Dale Murphy...

By Marcus McClain NEA Town Courier “Together, we will.” This was the overriding theme of the year’s first chamber luncheon with Blytheville mayor Melisa Logan as the guest speaker. Logan stated that her goal for Blytheville is to become one city with one action plan. When brainstorming the best way to express this idea, she was brought back to her time in the military in 1991. “[My drill sergeant] told me, ‘Together we will,’” Logan said...

Accompanied by legal counsel, Maleke Dority, 26, of Blytheville, surrendered to Sheriff Dale Cook on Monday morning at the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Department. Dority is represented by attorneys Zach Morrison of Lake City and Martin E. Lilly of Jonesboro...

Denise Catrice “Baby Doll” Johnson of Kennett, Mo., was born July 3, 1970, to the late George Jackson Sr. and Leella Grice Jackson in Osceola. “Baby Doll” departed this life on Jan. 16, 2023, at Pemiscot Hospital in Hayti, Mo., at the age of 52. She was preceded in death by her biological mother, Leella Grice Jackson, and her father, George Jackson Sr...