Archive - 2012
April 3rd
Ella Louise Gatlin, 79, of Traskwood passed away Friday March 30, 2012.
She was born January 30, 1933 in Lake Village, Ark. Ella was a retired shift coordinator for the Alexander Human Development Center and a member of Traskwood Assembly of God Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ardell and Ethel Melton Williams; husband, Houston Gatlin; and a son, Ricky Gatlin.
Charles “C.W.” Cockman, 81, resident of Mayflower, passed away Friday, March 30, 2012.
He was born February 5, 1931 in Mountain Valley, Ark. to the late Charles Augusta Cockman, and the late Opal Lee Graves Cockman.
Mr. Cockman served in the U.S. Marines. He was a veteran of the Korean War, and earned medals in National Defense Service, Korean Service, and United Nations Service. Mr. Cockman was a telephone technician for Southwestern Bell Telephone for 38 years. He was proud of being a music director for many churches in the area.Â
Kenneth Rae Ball, 62, of Alexander, passed away March 31, 2012 at his home.Â
He was born June 5, 1949 in Huntington, West Virginia to the late Lowell and Roberta Ball.
Kenneth was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and retired from the Department of Veterans Affairs in Little Rock in 2007 after working many years as a Safety and Occupational Health Manager.
Kenneth is survived by his wife, Janis Ball; son, Joshua Ball of Bryant; daughter, Anna Jones of Huntington, West Virginia; sisters, Nancy Messinger of California and Evelyn Fae Damron of West Virginia.
John Miller McGinness, 70, of Little Rock, died Thursday, March 29, 2012 at St. Vincents Medical Center in Little Rock. He was born November 5, 1941 in Little Rock the son of the late John and Neva Miller McGinness. He was retired from Maurice Sporting Goods and had served in the United States Air Force from 1960-1966. He was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Paul McGinness.
Virginia Elizabeth Dale Lawrence, 80, of Benton passed away Wednesday, March 28, at Saline Memorial Hospital. She was born Sept. 20, 1931, in Detonti to the late Robert Huey Dale and Eliza Geraldine Spurrier.Â
Mrs. Lawrence was a loving wife and mother, a member of New Friendship Missionary Baptist Church and a retired store manager of the Jack 'N Jill children’s shop in Benton. She will be greatly missed.
The Saline County Striders will host its third annual Run with the Dogs 5K at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 21, in the Hurricane Lake Estates subdivision of Benton.
A one-mile Dog and Jog will follow at 9 a.m.; all proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Saline County.
"This is a great partnership we have with the Humane Society because we are able to get the word out, and they can use the funds the best way they see fit to help the animals of Saline County," said Jayme Butts-Hall, Strider and race co-director.
Highly decorated Korean War veteran Walter Rhodes of Saline County is now serving as the chaplain for the Military Order of the Purple Heart Association of Arkansas.
Rhodes recently spoke about his military experiences for a meeting of Provincia de la Sal Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.
He retired with the rank of lieutenant after serving in Korean and Germany.
March 31st
Few, if any, who knew the late Lorene Shaver would have thought her to be a wealthy woman.
That was the impression of Benton resident Marvin Gay, who recently has settled the estate for Mrs. Shaver.
"Most people didn't know she had anything," Gay said.
He recalled receiving a phone call from the woman in which she asked him to "take care of things for me when I die."
According to Gay, she meant that she wanted him to pay any bills she owed and to make certain that her estate would benefit certain institutions, including Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia.
March 30th
By
Special to the Courier
HOT SPRINGS – The Bryant ninth-grade boys earned their second win in a row Tuesday at the Lakeside Relays in Hot Springs. The Jr. Hornets scored a total of 155 points to dominate the field, finishing 41 points ahead of runner-up White Hall.Â
BENTON - Saline County is home to one of the hottest high school softball teams in the state so far this season. The Benton Lady Panthers are now 10-1 and are riding a 10-game winning streak after a dazzling performance against Sheridan, winning 7-1 on Thursday.
