Obits from Ashley Co., Arkansas (Older obits)

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FREDERICK AMOS SWITZER

Thanks to Carolyn Switzer for submitting the following!
This is from a newspaper clipping written by J. M. Workman after the death of Frederick Amos Switzer in 1908. It was entitled "A Noble Citizen."  There are some errors so I will put the correct info in (   ).  R. Earl Switzer of Dallas, TX has the original copy. Frederick Amos Switzer was buried in Macedonia Cemetery, Ashley County, AR
near Crossett, AR.  There is also a biographical sketch of F. A. Switzer in
"The History of Arkansas, Ashley County," pages 920-921.
"In the passing from this life of F. A. Switzer, a good citizen has gone to
his reward.  He was born December 29, 1829 (1828) in the Laurens
(Orangeburg) District, South Carolina.  The writer can testify to the sturdy
character of relatives in the home state.  Moving to Arkansas in 1859 he
settled on his recent homeplace Christmas week of that year.
In Christmas Week of 1845 (1853) he was happily married to Miss Julia
Drummond.  She was taken from him in August, 1905 (1904).  A long
companionship of 53 (51) years was granted them.  With what a brave spirit
he and his wife must have possessed to try their fortune in the New West.
In our thoughts we can see them planning their new home and the barn for the
faithful horses so indispensible to them at that early day.  How much alike
they must have become in thought and action during the long years.  Nine
children were born to them, six of whom are living, viz, Mrs. Thompkins of
Michigan, Mrs. Green and Miss Nettie Switzer of California, David of Little
Rock, Arkansas, Charles and Fred of Crossett, Arkansas..
Mr. Switzer united with the Baptist Church before coming to Arkansas and
became one of the charter members of Unity Church in which he lived a useful
and consistant life.  Some fifteen years he was seized with a trouble which
became more serious as he grew older.  Two days before he passed away he was
taken painfully sick and suffered much for a day.  But for the last day he
rested quietly most of the time.  A few weeks before his sickness he left
the old home and moved to the home of his son, Fred, two miles southwest of
Crossett.  There he was made comfortable and had no cares to trouble him.
In the presence of David, Charles, Fred and a few friends the spirit left
the body January 11 (8), 1908.
Sunday afternoon following a large number of friends gathered at Macedonia
to pay their tribute of sympathy.  The services were conducted by Rev.
Hollis, Pastor of Unity Church, assisted by the Reverends DeLoach and
Workman of Crossett.  Every community needs such citizens as Mr. Switzer was."

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(Special thanks to Larry White for the following)

From the "The Ashley News Observer", Crossett, AR, August 13, 1997:

Holly Dunn:  Funeral services for Holly Dumas Dunn, 26, of Wilmer, Ala. were
held Friday, August 8 at 11 p.m. at Wilmer United Methodist Church.  Burial
was at Wilmer Cemetery under the direction of Radney Funeral Home of Mobile,
Ala.
Mrs. Dunn died Wednesday, August 6, at Providence Hospital in Mobile.
Survivors include her husband Grady W. "Jody" Dunn Jr; one daughter, Tully
Hope Dunn of Wilmer; father, Elton E. Dumas of Crossett;  mother, Gloria M.
Dumas of Port St. Joe, Fla; and one sister, Edie Ousley of Tallahassee, Fla.

Shirley Harper:  Funeral services for Shirley Ann Collins Harper, 46, of
Hamburg were held Thursday, August 7, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Jones
Funeral Home of Hamburg with the Rev. Charles Pullin officiating.  Burial was
at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Eudora.
Mrs. Harper died Wednesday, August 6, at King Daughters Hospital in
Greenville, Miss.
She was a lifelong resident of Hamburg, a homemaker and a member of Gardner
Baptist Church of Hamburg.
Survivors include her husband, William "Red" Harper; one daughter, Kimberly
Ann Danner Savage of Hamburg; and two brothers, Richard Collins and Carl Ray
Collins, both of Crossett.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Jerry Wayne Collins.

Bernice Jasper:  Funeral services for Berniece Jasper, 66, of  Crossett were
held Monday, August 11, at 1 p.m. at New Bethel Baptist Church with the Rev.
Steven Conley officiating.  Burial was at Westview Cemetery under the
direction of Jones Funeral Home of Crossett.
Mrs. Jasper died Tuesday, August 5, at her residence.
She was a homemaker and a member of the Crossett Area Chamber of Commerce,
the Black History Association, served in the local hospice program as a
volunteer and was a member of Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church.
Survivors include nine sons, Glendell Moore, Bobby Jasper, Ramond Canley and
Nathaniel Jasper, all of Crossett, James Jasper of Pacoima, Calif., Robert
Jasper of Dover, Del., Napoleon Jasper of Washington, Richard Jasper and
Sammie Jasper, both of St. Louis; seven daughters, Earnestine Riley of
Chicago, Ill., Sandra Birdner, Patricia Lindsey, Jackie Woodberry, and Helen
Brown, all of Crossett, Carolyn Fisher of Norfolk, VA, Michelle Jasper of
Little Rock; mother, Mattie Moore of Pacoima, Calif.; three brothers, Rev.
James Jasper Jr. of Wichita, Kan. and Charles Moore and Richard Weekly, both
of Crossett; three sisters, Rose Marie Jacobs of Lancaster, Calif., Dorothy
Jean Burwell of Lakeview Terrace, Calif. and Betty Jean Hendrix of Pacoima,
Calif.; 48 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren and 21 great-great
grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. P. J. Jasper, a son, Charles
Edward Jasper and a sister, Dorothy Nell Moore.  
Pallbearers were Alvin Henderson, Perry Handley, Gary Hollins, Perry Johnson,
Leroy Lindsey, Frank Campbell, Edward Brown and Dewayne Hollins.
Honorary pallmearers were Glendell Moore, Raymond coley, Undra Stanley, James
Jasper, Napoleon Brown, Corey Lindsey, Gerald Brown, Ray Birdman, Patrick
Fisher, Byron Jasper and Bobby Jasper.

Earnestine Jenkins:  Funeral services for Earnestine Jenkins, 73, of Crossett
were held Tuesday, Augut 12, at 2 p.m. at the first United Methodist Church
with the Rev. Larry Williams officiating.  Burial was at Pinewood Memorial
Park Cemetery under the direction of Jones Funeral Home of Crossett.
Mrs. Jenkins died Friday, August 8.
She was a member of the First Methodist Church of Crossett.
Survivors include one son, Mike Jenkins of Crossett; one daughter, Gail
Tester, of Crossett; one brother, R. T. Breazeale of Carlsbad, Calif.; and
two grandchildren, Nolley Jenkins of Salem, N.J. and Dustin Tester of Maui,
Hawaii.
She was preceded in death by her husband, J.T. Jenkins.
Pallbears were Mike Ogden, George Carter, Bobby Miller, Gary Smith, Bobby
Jenkins and Bobby Griffin.

Stephen Murphy:  Funeral services for Stephen Edward Murphy, 37, of Hamburg
were held Monday, August 11, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Hamburg
with Dr. Bobby Pennington and the Rev. Klois Hargis officiating.  Burial was
in the Hamburg Cemetery under the direction of Jones Funeral Home of Hamburg.
Mr. Murphy died Sunday, August 3, at Ashley Memorial Hospital.
He was a life-long resident of Hamburg, a former manager of Murphy Ford Co.
in Hamburg and was a member of the First Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Billie Jean Vail Murphy of Johnsville; two sons,
Brandon and Aaron Murphy, both of Hamburg; parents, N.B. "Nap" and Maxine
James Murphy of Hamburg; one brother, Jimmy Murphy of Hamburg; one sister,
Ila Sue Campbell of Fayetteville; and six neices and nephews.
Pallbearers were Daid Maxwell, A.D. Farmer, William Floyd Harbison, Carl John
Bierbaum, Monty Gee, Ted Richardson and Willard Noble.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 32, Hamburg, AR
71646.

Charles Posey:  Funeral services for Charles W. Posey, 58, of Crossett, were
held Monday, August 11, at 10 a.m. at Egypt Baptist Church with the Rev.
Glenn Riggins officiating.  Burial was at Holly Springs Cemetery under the
direction of Jones Funeral Home of Crossett.
Mr. Posey died Saturday, August 9.
He retired from Georgia-Pacific Plywood after 31 years of service and was a
member of the West Crossett Volunteer Fire Department and a Baptist.
Survivors include his wife, Martha Posey; one son, Troy Posey; two daughters,
Teresa Sterling and Lisa Craig, all of of Crossett; mother, Gevernia Posey of
Sparkman; two step-sons, Tim Poole of Crossett and Mike Poole of Little Rock;
two sisters, Jane Reese and Dale Castleberry, both of Holly Springs, and 12
grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Tony Adcock, Billy Houston, Vaughn Barnes, Jerry Watkins,
Shawn Watkins, John David Carter and Jack Wallace.
memorials may be made to the West Crossett Fire Department.

Marvin Ramthun:  Graveside services for Marvin A. Ramthun, 68, of Hot Springs
were held Wednesday, August 6, at 1 p.m. at Crestview Cemetery in Hot Springs
with the Rev. Rex Smith officiating.  Military honors were by V. F. W. Post
#2278 and Military Order of Purple Heart.  Hot Springs Funeral Home was in
charge of arrangements.
Mr. Ramthur died Saturday, August 2, at his residence.
He was a retired carpenter and veteran of the U.S. Navy, Navy Reserves and
the U.S. Army from 1947-61.  He was one of seven survivors from Co. C 809th
Engr Bn that was involved in the battle of Pork Chop Hill in Korea.  He was
awarded the Purple Heart; Good Conduct Medal; three Bronze Stars; U.N.
Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.  He was a member of
Fountain Lake C.F.W. Post #9570; life member of Military Order of Purple
Heart and a member of DAV.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Ramthun; seven sons, Larry Ramthun of
Jonesboro, Leo Ramthum of Hot Springs, Lee Ramthun of Crossett, Loy Ramthum
of Wesley, Lowell Ramthum of DeBeque, Colo, Lyle Ramthun of Lincoln, and
Marvin Ramthun Jr. of Fayetteville; three daughters, Darla Garrison of West
Ford, Helen Mitchell of Oppelo and Barbara Huff of Colcord, Okla.; two
brothers, Elroy Ramthun of Kewaskum, Wisc. and Alfred Ramthun Jr. of
Milwaukee, Wisc.; two sisters, Betty Mae Schmitz and Patricia Antonio of
Adams, Wisc.; 18 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, and 2
great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were members of DAV.

Mattie Sedberry:  Funeral Services for Mattie Ruth Sedberry, 86, of Lindale,
Texas, were held Wednesday, Aug. 6 at 10:30 a.m. at Village Baptist Church
with the Rev. David Wood officiating.  Burial was at Memorial Park Cemetery
under the direction of Lewis Funeral Home in Magnolia.
Mrs. Sedberry died Monday, August 4, in Colonial Nursing Center in Lindale.
A native of Hamburg, she was a member of Village Baptist Church and a
lifetime member of the American Red Cross.
Survivors include one son, Lyle Sedberry of Kilgore, Texas; a daughter, Ann
Sedbrerry Ainsworth of Magnolia; two step-daughters, Fran Sedberry Hendricks
of Lindale and Mary Sedberry Raborn of Tyler, Texas; two half-sisters,
Mardell Crawford Henley of Monticello and Maedean Crawford Shivers of
Crossett; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard E. Sedberry.

Bobby Walser:  Funeral services for Bobby Michael Walser, 47, of Hamburg were
held Friday, August 8, at 10 a.m. at Unity Cemetery with the Rev. Joel
Meredith officiating.  Jones Funeral Home of Crossett was in charge of
arrangements.
Mr. Walser died Wednesday, August 6, at Ashley Memorial Hospital.
Mr. Walser was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War.
Survivors include two sons, Jeremy Michael Walser and Daniel Wayne Walser,
both of Hamburg; mother, Eva Grace Walser of Hamburg; four brothers, Jimmy
Walser of Crossett, Johnny Walser of Hamburg, Byron Walser of Modesto,
Calif., and David Walser of Hamburg; and one sister, Jeanette Kilcrease of
Hamburg.

(From White Station Community):

Sallie Gilliam Bunton died Monday of last week at Jefferson Regional Medical
Center in Pine Bluff after a lengthy illness.  Funeral services were Saturday
at Fudge Chapel Baptist Church in White Station, Rev. Jesse L. Radford Sr.,
pastor.   Rev. J. V. Johnson delivered the eulogy during the service.  
Sallie was the daughter of Ike Williams and Julia Tucker Williams, and the
wife of Treasby "T.B." Bunton.  She is survived by her daughter, Darlene
McDaniel of White Station, and four grand-children - John Westley McDaniel
Jr., and Rodney Antwine McDaniel, both of Los Angeles, Calif.; Constance
McDaniel of Bastrop, La; and Duane Emaine McDaniel of Killeen, Texas; and
four great-grandchildren.
Burial was at Ryles Community Center under the direction of Cromwell Funeral
Home.
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