Arkansas Obituaries

Seaborn Higginbotham died November 4, 1883, an old resident of Georgia Ridge in Tate county, Mississippi and well known in the area.

Word has been received here by Lewis Shutt of the death of his sister, Delia Higginbotham, at Eureka Springs, Ark., Sunday morning. Surviving are the husband, Sam; one son, Herbert; five daughters, Mrs. Mattie Kennedy of Denver, Col., Mrs. Gertrude David and Mrs. Ethel White of Eureka Springs, Ark., and Thelma and Bessie at home; one sister, Mrs. Bess Smith of Detroit, Mich.; four brothers, Lewis, Charles and James of this city, and Elza of Mundel, and 11 grandchildren. Mrs. Higginbotham was formerly a resident of Terre Haute. Burial will be made in Arkansas.

Pine Bluff Commercial 12/01/1945
Martha Jane Higginbotham Ratliff (1859-1945) GA/AR

Funeral Services for Mrs. Martha Jane Ratliff, age 86, widow of the late Ben F. Ratliff of Rison, Arkansas, who died Thursday morning, at 2:30 o'clock at the home of her daughter, Mrs. M. D. Camp, of DeWitt, were held Friday at 2:30 pm at Mt. Zion Baptist Church near Rison, burial in the family lot by the Buie Funeral Home of Rison in charge.
She was born in Rome, Georgia in 1859, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Higginbotham, pioneer residents of Georgia, coming to Arkansas when a small child.
She made her home in Cleveland County the remainder of her life.
Mrs. Ratliff was an active member of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church until her ill health detained her.
Survivors are four daughters, Mrs. Maudie Beard of Long Beach, California, Mrs. M. D. Camp of DeWitt, Arkansas, Mrs. Carrie Ross of Tacoma, Washington, and Mrs. Gertrude Williams of Rison; six sons, B. B. Ratliff of Watson Chapel, Rev. J. E. Ratliff of El Paso, Texas, J. R. Ratliff, W. R. Ratliff, and J. L. Ratliff, all of Pine Bluff, one sister, Mrs. Delia England of Parr, Texas, sixty-three grand-children, one hundred great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.

Higginbotham, Everett Owen, was born at Sparks, Okla., Aug. 4, 1908; died of cancer at Leavenworth, Wash., Nov. 9, 1964; aged 56 y. 3 m. 5 d. He grew up at Culp, Ark., where on June 17, 1929, he married Zella Cox, who survives. He became a member of the Bethel Springs Church, Culp, Ark., in May, 1947. Also surviving are 4 sons and 4 daughters (Owen, Daniel, Leon, Paul, Mrs. Doris Schumann, Mrs. Herman Krehbiel, and Carolyn; one name omitted), one brother (Russell Poole), one sister (Ada Bartow), and 16 grandchildren. While living in Oregon, since 1952, he became a member of the Sheridan Church. The last few months of his illness he spent at Leavenworth, Wash., with his wife, at the home of their son, Owen and family. Funeral services were held at the Betts Funeral Home; interment in Mountain View Cemetery, Leavenworth, Wash.

Rush Atlas Higginbotham, 73, Walla Walla, WA (Hamburg), May 4 (no obit, pg. 1)

R.V. Higginbotham (1913-1999) TX
R.V. Higginbotham, 86, of Houston, died Thursday, Dec. 23, 1999, in a Pasedina, Texas hospital.
Mr. Higginbotham was born March 26, 1913 in Minton, Texas. He was retired from Red River Army Depot, a member of the Christian Church, former member of the Maud, Texas VFW, and was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II.
Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Kenneth and Zella Higginbotham of Houston; one daughter, Caroline King of Tyler, Texas; one stepdaughter, Wanda Jinks of Sugarland, Texas; and a number of grandchildren.
Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Center Ridge Cemetery, Maud, with Doris Lytle and Charlie Tutt officiating, under direction of Texarkana Funeral Home.
Visitation will be 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Billie J. Higginbotham Bussell (1934-2000) LA/AR

Mrs. Billie Higginbotham Bussell, 66, of Lake Village, died Saturday, August 5, 2000, at the Chicot Memorial Hospital in Lake Village. Mrs. Bussell was a native of Bastrop, LA, a resident of Lake Village since 1988 and a former resident of Hamburg. She worked for 18 years for the Ashley County Ledger and the Ashley News Observer as a bookkeeper. A member of the Chicot Baptist Church in Lake Village, she was preceded in death by her parents, J. C. & Eunice Griswald Higginbotham; and a sister, Lorece Ozment Rainey. She is survived by her husband of 47 years , R. H. "Sonny" Bussell of Lake Village; a son, Randy Bussell of Lake Village; a daughter, Camille Goodell of Gillette; a sister, Helen Foote of Hamburg; three brothers, Don Higginbotham of Houston, TX, Phillip Higginbotham of Winona, TX and James Higginbotham of Crossett; and five grandchildren. Funeral services were at 2 p.m., Monday, August 7, in the chapel of Jones Funeral Home of Hamburg with Revs. James Morris & David Powers officiating. Pallbearers were Chad, Shawn & Stacy Higginbotham, Nan & Kyle Barnett, Dallas Stanberry, Brad Lott and Chris Lay. Honorary pallbearers were Shanna Lay, Donnie Goodwin, William Hankins and Frank Jenkins. Interment followed services at the Hamburg Cemetery under the direction of Jones Funeral Home of Hamburg. Memorials may be made to the Chicot Baptist Church, 744-A Lake Hall Road, Lake Village, AR 71653.

Zella Louise Koepke Higginbotham (1952-2000) TX
Zella Louise Koepke Higginbotham, 48, of Houston died Monday, Oct. 23, 2000, at her home.

Mrs. Higginbotham was born Feb. 22, 1952, in Texarkana, Texas. She was a teacher at Triple E Workshop School for the Handicapped and member of East Houston Revival Center, where she was president of the Women's Ministries.
Survivors include her husband, Kenneth W. Higginbotham of Houston; one brother and sister-in-law, Lee and Donna Koepke of Queen City, Texas; two sisters and two brothers-in-law, Ruth and Walter Park of Little Rock and Martha and Gay Deen of Texarkana; and a number of other relatives.
Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Thursday in Chapelwood Memorial Gardens with the Revs. Doris Lytle and Charlie Tutt officiating. Burial will be under direction of Texarkana Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
The family will be at 2725 S. Lake Drive.
Memorials may be made to Triple E Workshop School for the Handicapped or East Houston Revival Center Church.

Mrs. Barbara J. Higginbotham, 69, of Hamburg died Friday, September 14, 2001, at the Ashley County Medical Center in Crossett. Mrs. Higginbotham was a native of Ashley County and a lifelong resident of Hamburg, a homemaker and a member of the Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ardell & Iva Mae Hill Bates; and two brothers, Robert Howard Bates & Marvin W. Bates.

She is survived by her husband, Frank Higginbotham, Sr.; three sons, Frank Higginbotham, Jr., and wife Kathryn, Billy Ray Higginbotham, and Lamar Higginbotham and wife Janice, all of Hamburg; a daughter, Beverly Mosley and husband Wayne of Crossett; a brother, Richard Bates and wife Becky of Clarksville, TN; 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, September 16, at the Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church with Revs. Jimmy Bates, Charles Pullin, E. W. Ricks & Kenny Williams officiating. Pallbearers were Larry Smith, Luther Richardson, Daniel Grygrecyk, Dewayne Bussell, Alvin, Gene & Dale Bates. Honorary pallbearers are the deacons of Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church and Floyd Ellingburg. Interment followed services at the Trafalgar Cemetery under the direction of Jones Funeral Home of Hamburg. Memorials may be made to the Trafalgar Cemetery Association, c/o Ben Lawrence, 859 Ashley Road 105, Montrose, AR 71658 or to the Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 30, Hamburg, AR 71646.

Ashley County Ledger October 31, 2001
Willie Lee Higginbotham Etheridge (1902-2001) AR
Mrs. Willie Lee Higginbotham Etheridge, 99, of Hamburg, died Friday, October 26, 2001, at her daughter's residence in Amory, Mississippi. Mrs. Etheridge was a native of Ashley County and a life long resident of Hamburg. She was a homemaker and she worked for years in the Hamburg School lunch room and in the central supply at the Crossett Health Center. She was a member of the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church and a member of the Eastern Star Margaret Chapter 151 in Hamburg. She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Etheridge, in 1950; a son, Ruben Allen Etheridge, in 1977; a foster daughter, Lisa Maxwell in 2000; and her parents, Will & Ella Ingram Higginbotham; five brothers, Harold, Leroy, Garvin, Rush & Joe Higginbotham; and three sisters, Nellie Patterson, Edna Riley and Virdelle McDonald.
She is survived by a son, Rev. W.F. "Rick" Etheridge of Sheridan; a daughter, Nell Johnston of Amory, MS; a daughter-in-law, Merlene Etheridge of Hamburg; 13 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were at 2 p.m., Sunday, October 28, in the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church with Revs. Jackie Adams & Joey Meredith officiating. Pallbearers were Pete Higginbotham, Charles Akers, Walter Chester, Kenneth Leigh, Lynn Croswell and Doyle Sivils. Grandsons were honorary pallbearers. Interment followed services in the Hamburg Cemetery under the direction of Jones Funeral Home of Hamburg. Memorials may be made to the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, 400 W. Washington Street, Hamburg, AR 71646.

POCAHONTAS -- John Laval Higginbotham, 39, of Pocahontas died Sunday, Feb. 3, at Warm Springs. Born in Monette, he was a diesel mechanic. Survivors include one son, Derek Wayne Higginbotham of Seymour, Tenn.; his mother and stepfather, Mary and Steve Anderson of Pocahontas; his father and stepmother, Boyd and Leola Higginbotham of Pocahontas; three brothers, Steven Anderson of Imboden, Allen Higginbotham of Shreveport, La., and Mike Higginbotham of Pocahontas; and two sisters, Mary Collins of San Antonio, Texas and Susan Beede of the home. He was preceded in death by his grandparents. Graveside services are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Monday at Warm Springs Cemetery, with Gaylan Russell officiating. McNabb Funeral Home of Pocahontas is in charge of arrangements. Pallbearers will include Allen Higginbotham, Mike Higginbotham, Steven Anderson, Jeremy Gamso, Sawn Hackworth and Randy Collier. Visitation is from 1-2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Claudene Higginbotham McGee Doss (1915-2002) TX
Claudene Doss, 86, of Wake Village, Texas, died Saturday, March 2, 2002, in a local hospital.
Mrs. Doss was born Oct. 13, 1915, in Maud, Texas. She was a homemaker, past president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, member of Over 30 Club and Rose Hill Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Perry McGee and William Doss.
Survivors include two daughters and one son-in-law, Flora and Carrell Sutton of Mineral Springs, Ark., and Dr. Carol Royal of Lubbock, Texas; one son, Perry McGee of Houston; one brother, Marvin Higginbotham of Linden, Texas; three sisters, Hazel Chambers of Sapulpa, Okla., Lorene Minton of Dallas, Ruth Lewis of Redwater, Texas; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchldren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at Chapelwood Funeral Home Chapel with Tim Jones officiating. Burial will be in Redwater Cemetery.
Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.
The family will be at their home, 720 Westwood, Wake Village, Texas.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association, Greater Texarkana Chapter, P.O. Box 7812, 1012 Texas Blvd., Texarkana, Texas, 75505.

Texarkana Gazette Saturday, May 11, 2002
Betty Braumiller Higginbotham (1928-2002) AR/LA
SHREVEPORT, La.--Betty Braumiller Higginbotham, 73, of Shreveport died Wednesday, May 8, 2002, in a local hospital.
Mrs. Higginbotham was born Aug. 9, 1928, in Texarkana, Texas. She was retired from Hutches Sheet Metal and a member of Asbury Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Aubrey N. Higginbotham.
Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Blake and Julia Higginbotham of Tennessee and Karl and Nell Higginbotham of Bossier City, La.; one daughter and son-in-law, Marsha and Don Dillman of Shreveport; one sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Dale Chichester of Texarkana; one brother, Nick Braumiller of Shreveport; one brother-in-law, Randy Higginbotham; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a number of other relatives.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. today at Rose-Neath Funeral Home Bossier Chapel with Barry Hughes officiating. Graveside services will be 1 p.m. in Rose Hill Cemetery, Texarkana.

Marvin H. Higginbotham (1910-2002) TX
Marvin H. Higginbotham, 92, of Linden, Texas, died Sunday, July 14, 2002, in a Linden hospital.
Mr. Higginbotham was born May 26, 1910, in Maud, Texas. He was retired from the oil industry and was a member of the Church of Christ.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Moser Higginbotham of Linden; three sisters, Hazel Chambers of Sapulpa, Okla., Lorene Minton of Dallas and Ruth Lewis of Redwater, Texas; one special cousin, Ramona Lewis of Maud; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be 2 p.m. today in Center Ridge Cemetery with Norman Miller officiating. Burial is under direction of Chapelwood Funeral Home.
The family will be at the Higginbotham home, Linden.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association Greater Texarkana Area Chapter, P.O. Box 7812, Texarkana, Texas, 75503 or Medina Children's Home, Star Route 16, Box 75, Medina, Texas, 78055.

Ina Mae Higginbotham (1915-2002) AR
Ina Mae Higginbotham, 86, of Texarkana, Ark., died Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2002, in a local hospital.
Mrs. Higginbotham was born Dec. 13, 1915, in Doddridge, Ark. She was a Baptist. She was preceded in death by her husband, R.L. Higginbotham.
Survivors include two sons and one daughter-in-law, Richard L. Higginbotham of Texarkana and Tim and Teresa Higginbotham of Albuquerque, N.M.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Jean and Lonnie Jones of Fouke, Ark., and Judy and Larry Bowman of Texarkana; two sisters, Mable Gregory of Texarkana and Mavis King of Dallas; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Saturday in Sylverino Cemetery with the Rev. Thomas Launius officiating. Burial will be under direction of East Funeral Home, Downtown.

Marcella Gibbs Green Higginbotham (ca1940-2002) AL/AR
Marcella Higginbotham, 62, died Dec. 24, 2002, at Jeff Anderson Medical Center in Meridian.
She was born in Alabama and lived most of her life in Trumann. She had made her home in Philadelphia for about seven years. She was of the Pentecostal faith. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Lee Green, in 1993 and her parents, Henry and Vera Estellee Gibbs.
She is survived by her husband, William Higginbotham of Philadelphia; two sons, Gregory Lynn Green and Jimmy Dean Green, both of Trumann; one sister, Vera Louise Green of Trumann; two brothers, Robert Earl Gibbs of Harrisburg and Ray Gibbs of Jonesboro; one stepdaughter, Charlotte Alford of Philadelphia; two stepsons, Brad and Brian Higginbotham, both of Philadelphia and seven grandchildren.
Memorial services were Dec. 26, 2002, at the chapel of McClain-Hays Funeral Home. The Rev. David Richardson officiated the ceremony. Burial was at Trumann.

LEACHVILLE -- Mary Odessa Carter, 96, of Leachville died Saturday, March 29, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Blytheville.
Born in Ravenden Springs, she had been a Leachville resident since 1929. In 1948, she and her late husband founded the Melody Theater in Leachville. She was a longtime member of the Leachville First Baptist Church where she taught a Sunday school class and was active in the choir. She was a charter member of the Leachville Chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood and was a graduate of Jonesboro Baptist College and had taught in the Jonesboro school system in the early 1920s.
Survivors include two sons, Bill Carter of Helena and Dr. Jerry Carter of Little Rock; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, LeRoy Carter; her parents, Robert Lee and Ella Marriott Higginbotham; and one grandson.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Leachville First Baptist Church, with the Rev. Doug Applegate officiating. Burial will follow in Oaklawn Cemetery at Jonesboro under the direction of Howard Funeral Service of Leachville.
Active pallbearers will be Snowden Hawkins, Leon Swihart, Wilburn Lovelady, Jerry Lee Carter Jr., Brent Carter and Jared Zeiser.
Honorary pallbearers will include the deacons of the Leachville First Baptist Church.
Visitation will be from 5:30-8:30 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Texarkana Gazette Friday, October 23, 2004
Roy Rogers Higginbotham (1936-2004) AR
DE QUEEN, Ark.-Roy Rogers Higginbotham, 67, of De Queen died Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2004, in a local hospital.
Mr. Higginbotham was born Dec. 17, 1936, in De Queen. He was retired from the City of Los Angeles and a Marine veteran. He was preceded in death by one son, Vernon Higginbotham.
Survivors include seven sons, Rick Higginbotham, Roger Higginbotham, Rory Higginbotham, Rodney Higginbotham and Jonathan Higginbotham of Los Angeles, Erick Higginbotham of Baltimore and Gerald Higginbotham of St. Louis; four daughters, Beverly Gooch, Roxanna Higginbotham and Judy Higginbotham of Los Angeles and Evelyn Bennett of Flint, Mich.; one brother, Otis Hill of De Queen; one sister, Thelma Gilmore of Muskegon, Mich.; 22 grandchildren; and a number of other relatives.
Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at Chandler Funeral Home with the Rev. Jesse Miller officiating. The body will be cremated.
Visitation will be 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Texarkana Gazette Friday, January 30, 2004
Judy Copeland Higginbotham (1959-2004) AR
NEW BOSTON, Texas-Judy Lynn Higginbotham, 44, of New Boston died Monday, Jan. 26, 2004, in New Boston.
Mrs. Higginbotham was born Sept. 6, 1959, in Texarkana, Ark. She was a homemaker, retired from Red River Army Depot and a member of the Church of Christ.
Survivors include one son, Bobby Joe Higginbotham of New Boston; her parents, Eldean Copeland and Joe E. Copeland Sr. of Texarkana; two sisters, Elnoria Ruth of Texarkana and Normia Moore of Genoa, Ark.; one brother, Joe E. Copeland of Simms, Texas; her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Bobby and Juanita Higginbotham of New Boston; one brother-in-law, Steve Higginbotham of San Diego; and a number of other relatives.
Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church with Norman Hooten officiating. Burial will be in Daniels Chapel Cemetery under direction of Bates-Rolf Funeral Home.
The family will be at 5716 Wilshire, Texarkana, Texas.
Memorials may be made to Boles Children's Home Inc., 7065 Love, Quinlan, Texas, 75474-4609, or Shriner's Children's Hospital, 3100 Samford Ave., Shreveport, La., 71103.

Texarkana Gazette Friday, January 30, 2004
Russell Howard Higginbotham (1960-2004) TX/AR
NEW BOSTON, Texas-Russell Howard Higginbotham, 43, of New Boston died Monday, Jan. 26, 2004, in New Boston.
Mr. Higginbotham was born Feb. 5, 1960, in Texarkana, Texas. He was employed with Red River Army Depot and a member of the Church of Christ.
Survivors include one son, Bobby Joe Higginbotham of New Boston; his parents, Bobby and Juanita Higginbotham of New Boston; one brother, Steven Higginbotham of San Diego; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Eldean Copeland and Joe E. Copeland Sr. of Texarkana; one brother-in-law, Joe E. Copeland Jr. of Simms, Texas; two sisters-in-law, Elnoria Ruth of Texarkana and Normia A. Moore of Genoa, Ark.; and a number of other relatives.
Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at New Boston First Baptist Church with Norman Hooten officiating. Burial will be in Daniels Chapel Cemetery under direction of Bates-Rolf Funeral Home.
The family will be at Route 2 Box 398, Daniels Chapel Road, New Boston.
Memorials may be made to Boles Children's Home Inc., 7065 Love, Quinlan, Texas, 75474-4609, or Shriner's Children's Hospital, 3100 Samford Ave., Shreveport, La., 71103.

Texarkana Gazette Friday, January 30, 2004
Bradley Higginbotham (1982-2004) TX/AR
NEW BOSTON, Texas-Bradley Steven "Brad" Higginbotham, 21, of New Boston died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004, in Red River County, Texas.
Mr. Higginbotham was born Oct. 14, 1982, in Texarkana, Texas. He was an employee of Lear-Sigler and a member of the Church of Christ.
Survivors include one brother, Bobby Joe Higginbotham of New Boston; his grandparents, Bobby and Juanita Higginbotham of New Boston and Joe Edward Copeland Sr. and Eldean Copeland of Texarkana; two uncles, Steven Higginbotham of San Diego and Joe E. Copeland of Simms, Texas; two aunts, Elnoria Ruth of Texarkana and Normia A. Moore of Genoa, Ark.; and a number of other relatives.
Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church with Norman Hooten officiating. Burial will be in Daniels Chapel Cemetery under direction of Bates-Rolf Funeral Home.
The family will be at Route 2 Box 398, Daniels Chapel Road, New Boston.
Memorials may be made to Boles Children's Home, 7065 Love, Quinlan, Texas, 75474-4609, or Shriner's Children's Hospital, 3100 Samford Ave., Shreveport, La., 71103.

Ovia Harper Higginbotham (1917-2004) OK/AR
Ovia Harper Higginbotham, 90, of Fayetteville, Ark., died Dec. 15, 2004 at Fayetteville City Hospital Nursing Home. Born Dec. 17, 1913 in Long Grove, Okla., she was the daughter of Joseph Harden Higginbotham and Inthy Catherine Purser.
Survivors include one daughter, Ruth Elizabeth Higginbotham of Fayetteville; one granddaughter; four brothers, Raymond Higginbotham of Carson City, Nev., Carl Lee Higginbotham, J.C. Higginbotham, and Shelby Gene Higginbotham, all of Amarillo, Texas; four sisters, Maybelle Gibson of Concord, Calif., Eulila Higginbotham of Vinita, Okla., Imogene Riddle of Disney, Okla., and Jesse Hartwell of Amarillo, Texas.
Pallbearers were Mark Vickery, James McCratic, Ritchie Weaver, Dewayne Higginbotham, Bobby Rust, and Lee Graham.
Services were held Dec. 18 at Luginbuel Chapel in Prairie Grove, Ark. Burial was in Weddington Cemetery in Wedington, Ark. Arrangements were under the direction of Luginbuel Funeral Home, Prairie Grove, Ark.

Danny Wayne Higginbotham, 41, of Jonesboro died Saturday, May 1, at St. Bernard's Medical Center.
Born at Walnut Ridge, he worked as a chef.
Survivors include his mother, Yvonne Shelton of Black Rock; his stepfather, James Leon Shelton of Black Rock; one sister, Cindy Hopkins of Jonesboro; and two brothers, James Shelton of Jonesboro and Tim Shelton of Searcy.
He was preceded in death by his father, John Wayne Higginbotham.
Arrangements will be announced by Higginbotham Funeral Service of Walnut Ridge.

R.M. Higginbotham (1919-2004) AR/NM
ROSWELL, N.M.-R.M. Higginbotham, 85, of Albuquerque, N.M., died Monday, Nov. 1, 2004, in Albuquerque.
Mr. Higginbotham was born March 7, 1919, in Texarkana, Ark. He was former business manager of the Roswell Daily Record, a member of Roswell Chamber of Commerce, Redcoats, Noon Optimists, Elks and St. Thomas á Becket Episcopal Church and a World War II Navy veteran. He was preceded in death by his wife, Alma Higginbotham.
Survivors include two sons and one daughter-in-law, Ronald and Marla Higginbotham of Roswell and Richard Higginbotham of Albuquerque; one granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Kristin and Rob Hause of Ruidoso, N.M.; and three great-grandchildren, Kasey, Scott and Corey.
Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Friday in South Park Cemetery with the Rev. Bob Tally officiating. Burial with military rites will be under direction of Lagrone Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico, 200 N. Lea, Roswell, N.M., 88201.

Ruby Green Higginbotham Gerrald (1913-2005) AR
Ruby Higginbotham Gerrald, 91, of Ashdown, Ark., died Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005, in an Ashdown hospital.
Mrs. Gerald was born Aug. 3, 1913, in Miller County, Ark. She was a retired licensed practical nurse from St. Michael's Hospital. She was preceded in death by two husbands, F.M. Higginbotham, in 1956, and Bob Gerrald, in 1981.
Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Bessie Higginbotham of Ashdown; one brother, Joel B. Green of Texarkana; six grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and one nephew.
Graveside services will be 3 p.m. Friday in East Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Beth Waldrup and Dr. Herbert Wren officiating. Burial will be under direction of East Funeral Home, Downtown.
Visitation will be 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
The family will be at the home of Gary Higginbotham in Ashdown.

Philip Ronald Higginbotham, 91, of Crossett, died Wednesday, May 4, 2005, at Ashley County Medical Center. Born October 25, 1913, to James Edward and Rose Eugenia Hughes Higginbotham in West Monroe, LA. He was an active member of First Baptist Church where he served as secretary of the sixth grade Sunday School department. He retired from Georgia Pacific where he worked as a draftsman/surveyor and later as supervisor of the duplicating department. Mr. Higginbotham was on the volunteer fire department for 45 years and the Crossett Sewer Department for 40 years. He was an avid golfer and held the course record on sand greens at the Prairie Country Club, where he was member for 65 years. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Hazel Honeycutt Higginbotham of Crossett; one son, Dr. Philip Ronald Higginbotham, Jr. of Spartanburg, SC; three grandchildren, Hayley Elizabeth Higginbotham, Philip Ronald Higginbotham III and Cary Lynn Hart; two step-grandchildren, Catherine April Lerch and Justin Stephen Lerch; one great-grandchild, Hunter Bradley Hart. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and one sister.

Funeral services were at 2:00 p.m., Friday, May 6, in the Crossett First Baptist Church with Reverend Larry White officiating. Interment will follow at Pinewood Memorial Park under the direction of Jones Funeral Home of Crossett.

Elsie L. Higginbotham, 73, of Hamburg, died Monday, September 5, 2005, at the Medical Center of South Arkansas in El Dorado. A native of Holton, IN, a resident of Hamburg, for the past ten years and a former resident of Killeen, TX, she was a homemaker and a member of the Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church.

She is survived by her husband, Pete Higginbotham of Hamburg; a son, Stanley Nickleson of Fort Worth, TX; two daughters, Deborah Shiller of Killeen and Melissa Gutierrez of Corpus Christi, TX; a step-son, Carl Higginbotham of Killeen; four step-daughters, Debra Gay Smith and Karen Higginbotham of Killeen, Sonja Racher of Gatesville, TX, and Leslie Baise of Temple, TX; a brother, Sam Stickleman of Holton; a half-brother, Robert Stickleman of California; two step-sisters, Claranell Caswell of Holton and Hilda Sheets of Indianapolis, IN; 19 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; Opha and Nellie Webster Stickleman.

Funeral services were at 10 a.m., Thursday, September 8, in the Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church with Revs. Mike Reese and Charles Pullin officiating. Burial followed services at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 10, at the Killeen City Cemetery in Killeen, Texas, with Dr. Joe Rich officiating. Funeral services were by Jones-Hartshorn Funeral Home of Hamburg and Crawford and Bowers Funeral Home of Killeen. Memorials may be made to the Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church, P. O. Box 30, Hamburg, AR 71646.

Jewell "Judy" Higginbotham (1917-2005) AL/TX
HUGHES SPRINGS, Texas—Jewell “Judy” Higginbotham, 88, of Hughes Springs died Saturday, Dec. 10, 2005, in a Longview, Texas, hospital.
Mrs. Higginbotham was born July 2, 1917, in Lincoln, Ala. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Brad; one son, Roger Glenn; and one daughter, Julia K.
Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Kerry L. and Melba Baxter and Barry G. and Terri Higgenbotham of Longview; and a number of other relatives.
Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Reeder-Davis Funeral Home with Pete Leslie and Curtis Hall officiating. Burial will be in Hughes Springs Cemetery.
Visitation will be after 6 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Jack Ray Higginbotham (1930-2006) AR
JOINER -- Jack Ray Higginbotham, 75, of Joiner died Jan. 9 of brain disease at his home in Joiner.
Born May 23, 1930, at Joiner, he was a retired manager of Home Oil and was a veteran of the Army. He was a member of Joiner Methodist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Helen Hill and Loys Blaine Higginbotham.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Jo Higginbotham of Joiner; two sons, Loys Blaine Higginbotham of Monette and Joe Ray Higginbotham of Fort Smith; four granchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral service was held Wednesday in Wilson Funeral Home at Osceola. The Rev. Joe Sparks officiated. Burial followed in Ashburn Musick Cemetery at Bards Town.
Wilson Funeral Home of Osceola was in charge of arrangements.

William Thomas (W. T.) Higginbotham, 87, of Hamburg, died Monday, February, 6, 2006, at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, LA. Born in Hamburg on January 15, 1919, he was the son of the late Joe A. & Estelle White Higginbotham. A lifelong resident of Ashley County, Mr. Higginbotham was an Army Air Force veteran of World War II earning the rank of master sergeant. After returning to Hamburg, he was associated with Higginbotham Motor Company, served as Ashley County Judge for 22 years and was president of the Wilmot State Bank. In recent years, he had been engaged in farming. A member of the First Baptist Church since 1929, he had been an active deacon and a junior boys Sunday school teacher. At the time of his death, he was the oldest continuous member of the church.

He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Gardner-Timberlake Post of the American Legion and was the first World War II veteran to serve as post commander. He was a former president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club and the Ashley County Fair Association; a former director of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce and the Ashley County Sheltered Workshop, and served on the Southeast Arkansas Development Council and on the planning commission for Forest Echoes Vocational Technical School

In 1975, he received the Arkansas Community Development Exceptional Accomplishment Award for Leadership in Local Communities. In 1997, he was presented a 50 year service award by the officers of Prairie Lodge No. 465. He was also a 32nd Degree Mason and a Shriner.

An avid outdoorsman, he loved hunting and horseback riding. He was a member of H & H Deer Camp, the Kelley Place Bird Hunters and the Crossett Riding Club and a past president and 60 year member of the Prairie Country Club.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, the former Dorothy Rainwater, one daughter, Rebecca Lynn Higginbotham Murphy and husband Robert D. Murphy, Jr.; three grandchildren, Robert D. Murphy, III, Rebecca Smith Murphy and Erin Elizabeth Murphy, all of Houston, Texas; one sister, Agnes Higginbotham Wheldon of Chebeague Island, Maine; three nieces and six nephews.

In addition to his parents, a sister, Dorene Higginbotham Sherrill, and two brothers, Travis L. Higginbotham and Joe A. Higginbotham, preceded him in death.

Funeral services were at 2 p.m., Thursday, February 9, in the First Baptist Church with Dr. Bobby Pennington and Rev. Klois Hargis officiating. Burial followed services at Pinewood Memorial Park. Pallbearers were Philip and Gerald Lauhon, Shan Streeter, Dewey “Scutter” Kilcrease, Bill Norsworthy, Bill Bonds, Kirby Cockrum, Allen and Steven Wilcoxon, John Young, Joe Foote, Stanton Veazey, Travis and Emmitt Wallace, Alan and Wayne Davis, Charles “Bull” Wells and Reagan Craig.

Memorials may be made to the Hamburg High School Scholarship Fund, c/o Mrs. Polly Lochala, P. O. Box 30, Hamburg, AR 71646 or to First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 352, Hamburg, AR 71646 or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Funeral services were under the direction of Jones-Hartshorn Funeral Home.

Mary Moser Higginbotham (1912-2006) TX
Mary Moser Higginbotham, 93, formerly of Linden, Texas, died Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006, in Maud, Texas.
Mrs. Higginbotham was born Dec. 12, 1912, in Maud. She was a retired X-ray technician and a member of Linden Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Higginbotham.
Survivors include two nephews and nieces-in-law, Lowell and Barbara Carruthers of Little Rock and Giles and Rita Moser of Louisiana; one special cousin, Ramona Lewis of Maud; and a number of other relatives.
Services will be 4 p.m. Tuesday at Chapelwood Funeral Home with Doyle Martin officiating. Burial will be in Center Ridge Cemetery. Burial will be in Center Ridge Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Medina Children’s Home, Medina, Texas, 78055.

Crystal Higginbotham (1987-2006) TX
DALLAS—Crystal Higginbotham, 18, of Fort Worth, Texas, died Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006.
Ms. Higginbotham was born Feb. 21, 1987. She was preceded in death by her father, James Higginbotham.
Survivors include one son, Mason Bradley Johnson; her mother, Maggie Griffin of Emeryville, Calif.; two sisters, Aricah Johnson of Fort Worth and Charnee Higginbotham of Dallas; and three brothers, Earnest Johnson of Chico, Calif., Jarmel Higginbotham of Oakland, Calif., and Stuart Higginbotham of Mountain View, Calif.
Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at St. John Baptist Church, Texarkana, Texas. Burial will be in Chapelwood Cemetery under direction of Cooper and Wilson Funeral Directors.
Visitation will be 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at the church.

Thomas Lawson Higginbotham Jr., 78, of Rogers, Ark., died Sunday, April 16, 2006. He was born March 18, 1928, in El Dorado, Kan., to Thomas Higginbotham and Eunice Eldridge Higginbotham.
He was raised and educated in Genesee, Ill., and served in the U.S. Army. He worked for Wal-Mart. He was a chief X-ray technician. He was a member of the American Legion, the Central United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Men’s Association. He was a Boy Scout Explorer leader.
Survivors include his wife, Hattie Higginbotham; four sons and three daughters-in-law, Thomas Higginbotham III and Linda Higginbotham, David Higginbotham and Curtina Higginbotham, and Carl Higginbotham, all of Rogers, and Keith Higginbotham and Virginia Higginbotham of Centerton, Ark.; a daughter; Lisa Clark of Bella Vista, Ark.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Thursday, April 20, at the Central United Methodist Church in Rogers, with the Rev. Biff Averrt and the Rev. Jaimie Alexander. Burial was held Saturday, April 22, at the Kovar-Bretheren Cemetery in Kovar, Texas. Arrangements were by Callison-Lough Funeral Home Chapel in Rogers. Mary M. Howell.

Thedford Mackson Higginbotham (1913-2006) AL/AR
CAVE CITY -- Thedford Higginbotham, 92, of Cave City died Tuesday, July 25, 2006, at Little Rock.
He was born July 27, 1913, in Alabama. He was a United States veteran and member of Cave City Church of Christ.
Services are 10 a.m. Saturday in Qualls Funeral Home Chapel at Cave City with Dean Fugett officiating. Burial will follow in Cave City Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Qualls Funeral Home of Cave City.
Pallbearers will be Clyde Cossey, Les Kleider, Ray England, James Watson, Robert Watson and Philip Fugett.
Honorary pallbearers are Pete Ring and Eric Fugett.

Willie Higginbotham Hamlin (ca1912-2006) AR
PEACH ORCHARD -- Mrs. Willie Hamlin, 94, of Peach Orchard died Aug. 8, 2006. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Hamlin Sr.
Survivors include a son, Carl Hamlin Jr. of Brookings; daughter, Joyce Gates of Prairieville, La.; one twin brother, Henry Higginbotham of Pocahontas; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Saturday at the Ermert Funeral Home in Corning from 9-11 a.m., the time to leave for graveside services at Pirtle Cemetery at Peach Orchard.

Mark William Higginbotham (1959-2006) AR/MO
Mark William Higginbotham, 47, of Brookline Station, died at 3:32 a.m. December 25.
Mr. Higginbotham was born November 4, 1959, in Harrison, Arkansas. He was a truck driver and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Mt. Vernon.
Survivors include his parents, Eugene and Lou Woods Higginbotham of Mt. Vernon; one brother, Steve Higginbotham of Mt. Vernon; two sisters, Jennifer Smith of Mt. Vernon and Debbie Thompson of Republic; five nephews, two nieces, and two great nieces.
Private services are under the direction of Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home of Mt. Vernon Burial will be in Mt. Vernon IOOF Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. today, December 27, at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

Ethel Johnson Higginbotham, 102, of Little Rock died Monday, April 16, 2007. She was born February 13, 1905 in Moline, Illinois, where she taught kindergarten for 26 years. She grew up in a loving family of sound values dedicated to the church and community. Her mother was a wonderful cook and seamstress and her father was a bookkeeper for John Deere. Ethel had an older brother Raymond and a sister Irene. She graduated from Petalozzi Froebel College in Chicago with a degree in elementary education. Ethel was a Life Member of the Illinois Congress of Parent and Teachers Association, a 35 years member of Mary K. Hillhouse Kings Daughters where she received the Honor Pearl, and a 60 year member of the Eastern Star. She was a member of St. James United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Amanda Johnson; brother, sister, husband, Clarence Vaughn Higginbotham and a daughter, Marieta. She is survived by her daughter and husband Vaughn Pike and Dr. John; three grandchildren, Angela Otis and husband Bill, John Pike, Jr. and wife Melanie and Valerie Pike; five great-grandchildren, Tyler Otis, Kyle Otis, Maria Pike, Alexander Pike, and Gregory Walker. The family would like to thank the Staff at Presbyterian Village, Caring Hands Prayer Shawel Ministry and Richard Davis of St. James Untied Methodist Church and Arkansas Hospice for their concern and loving care. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, April 21, at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home Chapel (501)224-8300 with Reverend Fred Haustein officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Moline, Illinois. Memorials may be made to St. James United Methodist Church, 321 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 72212; Presbyterian Village, 510 Brookside Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205; or Arkansas Hospice, 5600 West 12th Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72204.

Holland (MI) Sentinel Saturday, 05/26/07
Mabel Winters Cash Bowers Higginbotham (ca1922-2007) AR
Mabel Higginbotham, 85, of Cave City, Ark., died Thursday, May 24, 2007, at the Cave City Nursing Home.
She was a retired beautician and member of the Cave City Church of Christ.
She was preceded in death by her husbands Jimmy Clint Cash, Sims Bowers and Thedford Higginbotham.
Survivors include her daughter Brenda and Ed Wendler; one grandson; one great-grandson; two stepgrandchildren; sisters Beulah Sessums of Zeeland and Thelma Eakley of Hope, Ark.; nieces and nephews.
Visitation is 2 to 3 p.m. today at Qualls Funeral Home, 326 North Main, Cave City.
Services are 3 p.m. today at the Cave City Cemetery with Dean Fugett officiating.

Kevin Carson Higginbotham, 46, of Hardy, Ark., formerly of Walnut Ridge, died Dec. 9, 2007, at Hardy. He was born on April 25, 1961, at Jonesboro, to William Carter and Mary Jo Shaver Higginbotham.
Kevin was a graduate of Walnut Ridge High School and graduated from Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in Dallas, Texas, in 1982.
He was a licensed embalmer and funeral director and was associated with his families’ business, Higginbotham Funeral Service and Higginbotham Burial Insurance Company at Walnut Ridge and Hardy.
He was the top salesman for the Higginbotham pre-need sales force for a number of years.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Walnut Ridge.
Survivors include his daughter: Rachael Lee Acord and her husband, Jacob, of Horseshoe Bend; his mother, Mary Jo Higginbotham of Hardy; one brother, Robert Lee Higginbotham, of Muskogee, Okla.; a granddaughter, Addison Acord, and many other relatives and friends.
Kevin was preceded in death by: his father, William Carter Higginbotham Sr.; a brother, William Carter Higginbotham Jr.; his paternal grandparents, Carson and Hazel Higginbotham Best; and step-grandfather, J.W. Best; and his maternal grandparents, Harland Ray and Tola Shaver.
Two funeral services were held. The first one Dec. 14 in Higginbotham Chapel in Hardy.
A second service was held on Dec. 15 at the Higginbotham Chapel in Walnut Ridge. Bro. Harold Russell and Bro. Isom Everett officiated.
Graveside followed in Lawrence Memorial Cemetery in Walnut Ridge with arrangements under the direction of the Higginbotham Funeral Service.
Serving as pallbearers were Rick Dobbins, Ernie Rose, Stan Duckworth, Mark McArthur, Mac McArthur and Ronnie Rice.

Barbara Ellen Higginbotham, 55, of Bentonville, Ark., died Thursday, April 3, 2008, at Circle of Life Hospice Home in Springdale, Ark. She was born Dec. 3, 1952, in Escanaba, Mich., to Paul A. DeGrand and Frances Jones DeGrand. She was raised and educated in Michigan. She married Walter Higginbotham on Jan. 28, 2006, in Farmington, Mich. The couple moved to Bentonville in February 2006. She was manager of Bentonville Storage. She was a competitive ballroom dancer. She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Frances DeGrand; and a brother, Michael DeGrand. Survivors include her husband, Walter Higginbotham; six brothers and two sistersin-law, Peter DeGrand and Pamela DeGrand, and Charlie DeGrand, all of Michigan, Tom DeGrand and Debbie DeGrand of Upper Peninsula, Mich., Daniel DeGrand of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Patrick DeGrand and Hang DeGrand, both of Lubbock, Texas; two sisters, Cindy De-Grand of Redford, Mich., and Darlene DeGrand of Victoria, Texas; and many nieces and nephews. No local services are planned. Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory of Bella Vista, Ark. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a memorial fund, in care of Walter Higginbotham, Arvest Bank, P. O. Box 1229, Bentonville, AR 72712. Online condolences may be made at www. funeralmation. com.

John T. Higginbotham, Jr. age 87 of Elizabeth, Arkansas passed away Monday, October 20, 2008 at his residence. He was born August 30, 1921 in Cordova, Alabama to the late John T. and Flora (Haynes) Higginbotham. Mr. Higginbotham is survived by two sons: Jerry Higginbotham of Napa, California and Ronnie Higginbotham of Waterford, California and a step-daughter: Helen Haile of Elizabeth, Arkansas. Funeral services will be private. Interment will be in Baxter Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are by Roller Funeral Home.

Gregory Michael Higginbotham, 56, of Little Rock, passed away Thursday, January 1, 2008. He was born March 30, 1952 in Blythville, Arkansas. He was a member of Geyer Springs Church of Christ. Survivors include his sister, Jo Carol of Sherwood and brother, William Higginbotham of Little Rock. He was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral services will be held Monday, January 5, 2008 at 10:00 am at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral.

Alean Truda Higginbottom, 79, Highland, Ark., died on May 18, 2009, Highland, Ark. Barker Funeral Home, Salem, Ark.

Oreece Kelley Higginbotham, 81, of Hamburg died Thursday, June 4, 2009, at her residence. A native and lifelong resident of Hamburg, she was a homemaker, a member of the First Baptist Church since 1959 where she was the secretary of the children's department, a member of the choir and Women's Missionary Union for many years, and she was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Lavon "Slick" Higginbotham of Hamburg; a son, Marion Higginbotham of Crossett; three daughters, Marilyn Chambers of Hamburg, Barbara Gifford of Crossett and Judy Pierce of North Little Rock; eight grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren and three step-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mack Kelley & Vennie Mae Wallace Higginbotham, and her grandparents that raised her, Pres & Ossie Wallace. Funeral services were at 4 p.m., Friday, June 5, in the First Baptist Church with Dr. Bobby Pennington officiating. Burial followed at the Promise Land Cemetery. Pallbearers were Jackie Lauhon, Zack Lauhon, Stuart Higginbotham, David Streeter, Jason Pierce, Ben Wood, Greg Griswould, Jon Jackson and Morris Knight. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 352, Hamburg, AR 71646 or to the Hamburg High School Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 30, Hamburg, AR 71646 Funeral arrangements were by Jones-Hartshorn Funeral Home of Hamburg. Online guest book at www.jones-hartshorn.com