Obituaries

ABNER DODEN KING, JR.

Jesse Lee Adams, age 92 of DeKalb, Texas passed away Wednesday, August 15, 2018 in a local nursing facility.  Mr. Adams was born November 2, 1925 in Emory, Texas.  He was retired from the Oil Field, a self employed Beekeeper, member of the First Baptist Church, New Boston and was known as the ‘Honey Man’.
Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Bobbie Jo Adams of New Boston, Texas, three sons and two daughters in law, Stephen J (Doc) and Andrea Adams of Simms, Texas, James H. and Judith Adams of Tenaha, Texas, Rickey L. Adams of DeKalb, Texas, one brother, Pete Adams of Spring, Texas, two sisters, Effie Daniels of Oklahoma, Mary Childers of Campbell, Texas 11 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild and a number of other relatives and friends. 

Betty Simpson, age 85 of New Boston, Texas passed away Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at her residence.  Mrs. Simpson was born December 10, 1932 in Bryans Mill, Texas.  She was a Baptist, homemaker and is preceded in death by her husband Buddy Simpson and a son, Thomas Simpson.
Survivors include two sons and daughters in law, Robert and Sue Simpson of Hooks, Texas, Corbett and Glenda Simpson of New Boston, Texas, 6 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild and a number of other relatives and friends.
Graveside Services will be held 10:00 A.M., Saturday, August 18, 2018 in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Bryans Mill, Texas with Bro. Tuffy Williams officiating.  Interment is under the direction of Bates Rolf Funeral Home, New Boston, Texas.   Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M., Friday, August 17, 2018 at the funeral home.
Online registration may be made at www.batesrolffuneralhome.com.

Mary Granberry, age 85 of Simms, Texas passed away Thursday, August 16, 2018.  Mrs. Granberry was born March 14, 1933 in Henderson, Texas.  She was retired from Farmers Market, and was of the Holiness faith.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Travis Granberry.
Survivors include two daughters, Ann Agan of Texarkana, Arkansas, Bonnie Lewis of New Boston, Texas, one son and daughter in law, Randall and Sheila Granberry of New Boston, Texas, one brother and sister in law, Eugene and Sue Love of DeKalb, Texas, one sister and brother in law, Rosie and Clyde Roberts of DeKalb, Texas, one sister in law, Edith Granberry of Rockwall, Texas, six grandchildren, Lacey DeBerry, Chad Cardwell, Taylor Granberry, Ty Granberry, Johnny Agan, Mandy McNatt, five great grandchildren, Zane DeBerry, Ace DeBerry, Falcon DeBerry, Travis Cardwell, Reagan McNatt and a host of other friends and relatives.

Jeremy O’Bryan Hawkins passed away Monday, August 13, 2018 at a Texarkana, Texas hospital. He was 40.
Jeremy was born September 18, 1977, in Naples, Texas to Jerry Otis Hawkins and Anita Smith Mayes. He was a former employee at Cooper Tire, the State Highway Department and a Civil Service employee at Red River Army Depot. He was a Charter Member of the Sons of American Legion Post #488 and a member of American Blue Cattle Breeders, Inc.
He was preceded in death by his stepfather and “Daddy”, Stephen F. Mayes; his maternal grandfather, Curtis Smith; and his paternal grandparents, Otis and Marie Hawkins.

Joyce Ann Freeman, age 63 of Maud, Texas passed away Wednesday, August 15, 2018 in a local hospital.  Mrs. Freeman was born March 10, 1955 in Mineral Wells, Texas.  She was a Homemaker and member of God’s Little Acre Church, Simms. She is preceded in death by her parents, 4 sisters and 2 brothers.
Survivors include her husband, Rodger Freeman of Maud, Texas, three sons and daughters in law, Steelie and Amy McCuller of Maud, Texas, Joshua Bristow and Mary Ann Burrow of Genoa, Arkansas, Brian and Rachel Freeman of Avery, Texas, 3 brothers and 2 sisters in law, Sherman Crabtree of Simms, Texas, Royce and Velma Crabtree of Simms, Texas, Charlie and Gladys Crabtree of Yantis, Texas,  19 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and a number of other relatives and friends. 

Peggy Lou Culpepper, age 78, of Dallas, Texas, passed away on Aug. 11, following a short battle with cancer. 

Peggy was born April 1, 1940, in Carlsbad, N.M., and graduated from W.W. Samuell High School in Dallas. She worked at General Electric in Mesquite and retired as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell in Texarkana. She lived most of her life in Dallas, moved to New Boston for a few years, and then moved back to Dallas.

Peggy had a deep faith in God. She was unable to attend church after becoming blind in her later years. 

She is preceded in death by a sister, Mary Yvonne Smith; brother, Davon Martin; and niece, Kim Smallwood.

William Thomas (Bill) Porterfield, 79, passed away on August 6, 2018. 
Bill was born on April 19, 1939 in Nashville, Arkansas. He began his career in the trucking/freight industry after graduation from New Boston High School in 1957 and retired in 2004; he spent 29 ½ years at Humboldt Express and retired from Volunteer Express. 
He was an active member of many committees such as, Southern Motor Carriers Rate Conference; Tennessee Intrastate Committee, served eight years as chairman; and National Motor Freight Classification Committee. Bill was a member of Sam Davis Masonic Lodge #661, Life Member York rite association of Middle TN, Jere Baxter Royal Arch Mason Chapter 117, Cryptic Masons Nashville Council #1, Knights Templar Commandery #1, (Life Sponsor Certificate). Bill enjoyed golfing, bowling, fishing, Dixie Flyers Hockey, and Vanderbilt basketball games. 
Bill was an active member of the Giles Creek Baptist Church in Smyrna, TN. 

Surrounded by her loving family, Mildred “Sis” Tidwell Lewis left this earth to join Jesus and her husband in Heaven on August 8, 2018.  She was born to Earl and Maud Tidwell in Siloam, TX.  She graduated at the age of 16 from James Bowie High School and married Burl Elwood Lewis, just 1 week after she turned 18.  
Sis, as she was known to family and friends, retired from Civil Service after 35 years having worked at both Red River Army Depot and Webb Air Force Base in Big Spring, TX.  She and her husband, Elwood, were Charter Members of Siloam Baptist Church where she was instrumental in planning and decorating the Prophet’s Room, in getting the church parking lot paved, and always picking up the fried chicken from Brookshire’s for Church dinners.

Barney LeRoy Fannin, age 83 of Hooks, Texas passed away June 6, 2018 in an Atlanta, Texas Nursing Facility.  Mr. Fannin was born March 1, 1935 in San Pedro, California.  He was Retired from Red River Army Depot, a member of Chapel of Light Church , a United States Air Force Veteran  and a Master Mason.  
Survivors include his wife, Pauletta Fannin of Hooks, Texas, three sons, Kriss Fannin of Florida, Kenneth Fannin of Queen City, Texas, Kyle Fannin of Hooks, Texas, one daughter, Karen Daniel McMillen of Texarkana, Texas, one step daughter, Angela Sladovnik of Royce City, Texas, eleven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and a number of other relatives and friends.
Memorial Services will be held  at a later date.   Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Bates Rolf Funeral Home, New Boston.
Online registration may be made at www.batesrolffuneralhome.com.