Stories from Tuesday, March 9, 2004

BY CARIN MCCLUNG, Democrat News Staff Spring is almost here, and in Trumann that means it is time for Spring Fest 2004. The Trumann Chamber of Commerce will host Spring Fest on Saturday, April 3, at the Sports Complex on Pecan Grove Road. The main event, as in years past, is the Chili Cook-off. ...

Delores Irene "Dee" Barnes, 68, of Trumann died Sunday, Feb. 29, at Regional Medical Center of NEA. Born in Olathe, Kan., she had lived in Dinuba, Calif., before moving to Trumann in 1991. She was a housewife and a member of Faith Baptist Church in Tulot...

Funeral services for Violet Cornelia Benson, 82, of Lunsford, who died Sunday, March 7, at her residence, have been scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at First Assembly of God in Trumann. The Rev. Kenneth Doke will officiate, and burial will follow in Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery. Gregg Funeral Home of Jonesboro is in charge of arrangements...

Roland R.G. Taylor, 77, of Trumann died March 7 at his residence of natural causes. He was born in Nelsonville and had lived in Trumann since 1962. He was formerly of Poughkeepsie. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, a retired truck driver for Taylor, a member of the Little Springs Baptist Church in Poughkeepsie and a Mason...

Olamaye Armstrong Kennedy, 93 of Ripley, Miss., died March 1 at Tippah County Hospital in Ripley. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rufus Henry Kennedy; one daughter, Elsie Helen Smith; one son, Reford Ray Kennedy; two sons-in-law, Robert Vanderford and Alfred Dees, and her parents, Andrew and Molly Nolan Armstrong...

Mary Frances "Frankie" Underwood, 79, of Trumann died Tuesday, March 2, at Trumann Health and Rehab in Trumann. Born in Marianna, she had lived in Trumann for most of her life. She was a homemaker and a member of First General Baptist Church near Trumann...

Jimmie Doss Dunlap, 83, of Marked Tree died Tuesday, March 2, at his residence. He was a World War II veteran, had worked for Arkansas Power and Light and was of the Church of Christ belief. Survivors include his wife, Flora Jean Dunlap of Marked Tree; four sons, Tommy Doss Dunlap and Jim G. ...

Carol Sexton has served Trumann School District as the English as a Second Language and Migrant students instructor. Each year there is an increase in the number of children enrolling in Trumann schools with English as their second language. Some are fluent in English, while some speak very limited English to non-English speakers...

A meeting for Wilson Cemetery is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, March 12, at the Campbell Community House on Campbell Street in Trumann. Citizens concerned about the cemetery need to attend the meeting. Anyone that has relatives or friends buried in the cemetery is asked to attend the meeting...

BY CARIN MCCLUNG, Democrat News Staff Charity Grieco and James Hertzog presented a program to the Trumann Lions Club on volunteer work they do through Student Volunteers in Optometric Service to Humanity (SVOSH). Each year the organization travels to different countries, where medical treatments, such as eye exams, are not the norm. Last year Grieco and Hertzog traveled to Costa Rica -- this year they will be traveling to Belize...

Debbie DeRossitte stays busy working for the people of Poinsett County. She serves as a cooperative extension agent of family and consumer sciences for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. DeRossitte, 51, grew up in the Pine Bluff area. She has one daughter, Susanne Belk of Jonesboro. and one son, Jay DeRossitte. Her two grandsons -- Jayson, 5, and Aaron, 2, live in Jonesboro...

Archie Lee Smith, Sr., 81, died of natural causes Tuesday, March 2, at White River Medical Center in Batesville. Smith was born in Savannah, Tenn., and had lived in Batesville for the past 24 years. He was formerly of Jonesboro and a retired factory worker of the Baptist faith...