Greene County, Arkansas

Description

The history of the community and people of Greene County, Arkansas.

Sujets

• Histoire
• History of Arkansas
• Greene County
• History
• Comté de Greene
• Arkansas

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 02 août 2002
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781681621753
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 7 Mo

Extrait

Greene County, Arkansas Highways
Greene County, Arkansas Townships
Greene County, Arkansas

History and Families
T URNER P UBLISHING C OMPANY Publishers of America s History
Book Commitee Chairman: Claire Jenkins Publishing Consultant: Douglas W. Sikes Book Designer: Emily K. Sikes
Copyright MMI All rights reserved. Publishing Rights: Turner Publishing Company
Library of Congress Catalog No.: 2001097436
ISBN: 978-1-56311-739-8
Limited Edition, First Printing 2002 A.D. Additional copies may be purchased from Turner Publishing Company and the Greene County Historical and Genealogical Society.
This book or any part thereof may not be reproduced by any means, mechanical or electronic, without the prior written consent of the Greene County Historical and Genealogical Society and Turner Publishing Company. This publication was produced using available information. The Publisher regrets it cannot assume responsibility for errors or omissions.
C ONTENTS
Dedication
Book Committee
History of Greene County
Communities
Local Government
Businesses
Organizations
Churches
Schools
Historic Homes
Memorials
Family Histories
Index
D EDICATION

Francis Bland
A person who was very instrumental in the publication of this book, Francis Bland, has given more to this community than anyone we know.
Bland was born Aug 25, 1918 to Herbert and Alvina Bland and now lives one block from where he was born. He graduated from Paragould High School in 1936 and from Hendrix College, Conway, in 1940, with a degree in chemistry.
It is said, behind every successful man, stands a good woman, which is certainly true of the mate whom Francis married, Winnie Landrum, on July 9, 1941. Winnie has been a great support to Francis in all his endeavors. They are the proud parents of four children: Donna, Herbert Francis III, John, and Denise.
Some of his achievements include:
Started a Little League program in 1951 and was the first coach
Started a Babe Ruth program in 1954
Rotary Club Citizen of the Year in 1954
President, Paragould Rotary Club 1954-1955
Paragould School Board 1954-1964 and was board president
President, Arkansas Soft Drink Association 1956
Dr Pepper Company Marketing Award Advisory Board 1964-1975
Chairman of the Eight-Mile Creek flood control program since 1974
Greene and Clay County Bar Association Liberty Bell award in 1976
Paragould Centennial King 1983
Spirit of America award winner from Crowley s Ridge College in 1983
Kiwanis Club Citizen of the Year 1989
American Legion Community Award 1993
Greene County Historical and Genealogical Society President 1994-1995
Grand Marshal, Paragould Annual Christmas Parade 1995
Paragould-Greene County Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Member award 1996
American Legion award for contributions to American Legion Baseball
Dr Pepper Bottlers Association Board of Directors
Parks and Recreation Commission Founding Member and Chairman
Sunday School teacher and board member of First United Methodist Church
United Way volunteer
Francis is presently the President and Chairman of the Board of Dr Pepper Bottling Company of Paragould, AR.
Eight-mile creek was re-named Francis Bland Floodway in November 1999 and Civitan Club dedicated the Francis Bland Floodway sign
Bland was voted into the Babe Ruth Hall of Fame in January 2000
He is state president of Babe Ruth Baseball
He helped raise funds and build new baseball and softball parks in Paragould, with the parks being named Francis Bland Community Baseball Parks
In Bland s spare time you will find him at the Lipscomb History and Genealogy room of the Greene County Library, assisting anyone who needs help with family history research.
Francis, we love you and it is with much love and affection that we dedicate this Greene County History Book to you.
Greene County Historical and Genealogical Society
B OOK C OMMITTEE

Francis Bland
I, Francis Bland, was born and have lived all my life in Paragould, AR. I, along with my family and my business, have attempted to help make our community a better place because we have been here. I have been active in the Greene County History and Genealogical Society for many years. We have 300 members, many who give of themselves to make our organization helpful to people living in our community and to others from all over the country who had lived here or their families who had at one time lived in Greene County. I am a member of the Greene County Book Committee. Here s hoping you will find the book gives you information that will be of help to you.

Catherine Gerdes
Catherine Gerdes is a native of Greene County. She graduated from LafeHigh School in 1948 and Arkansas State University in 1953. She taught elementary school for 30 years, most of the years at Bono (Westside) in Craighead County, AR.
She and her husband, Edward G. have two sons Randall and Mark. The entire family has been interested in history and genealogy.

Edward G. Gerdes
Edward G. Gerdes grew up in the northern Greene/Southern Clay county area in the Lafe community. Ed is a graduate of Arkansas State University, a WWII USCG veteran and a military retiree having completed his military service as an administrative technician with the Army National Guard. He has done extensive research into the Civil War units and personnel.

Bettye Sparks Busby
Bettye Sparks Busby was born and reared in Dunklin County, MO 12 miles from Paragould, AR. After six years at the University of Missouri she returned to Kennett, MO. In 1963 she married Ethan Busby, a Greene County native and moved to Paragould. She has always been a history buff and is now classified as a genealogy nut . Bettye works in the Lipscomb room, Greene County Library. She has served as President, Treasurer, Vice President, program chairman and many other offices in the Greene County Historical Society. Bettye and Ethan have six children and 13 grandchildren. Running and genealogy take up most of the Busby s spare time along with grandchildren.

Betty Jo (Martin) Clayton
The youngest of three children, I was born Aug 28, 1937 in Paragould, Greene County, AR to Edna E. (Haggard) and John Raymond Martin. I attended Woodrow Wilson Elementary School and graduated from Paragould High School in 1955. After two years of college at Arkansas State Teacher s Collegein Conway, AR I began my working career in the clerical field at our family business, Martin Wholesale Radio Supply. Following the closing of our business in 1989 I took care of my father, who lived with me, until his death. I then worked for three and one-half years at Darling Store Fixtures factory before retiring in Oct 1994.
A handsome young man by the name of Robert William Clayton caught my eye in the summer of 1958 and we were married April 9, 1959 at St. Mary s Catholic Church in Paragould. Bob died at the age of 44, leaving me to raise our four children:
1. Robert W. Jr.
2. Steven
3. Patricia
4. Michael
God guided me through those tough years and later blessed me with four grandchildren.
During my active years, I was very involved with St. Mary s church and school organizations, served as a Girl Scout Leader three years and a board member of the Crowley s Ridge Girl Scouts Council two years, serving as secretary one of the terms.
My favorite hobbies are making Christmas ornaments, as well as other handcrafts and family genealogy. I bought my first computer at age 62 and am still trying to overcome the frustrations of learning to use it. I currently am a member of Greene County Historical and Genealogical Society and volunteer in the library research room, which I dearly love doing.
I have lived my entire life in Paragould and Greene County. I love this town and have never desired to live anywhere else. This is the best place in the United States to live and raise a family!

Claire (Walker) Jenkins
Randall K. andClaire (Walker) Jenkins, both Paragould natives, were married in 1950. Randall has always been in the building supply business and Claire is a secretary. Their three children are Randall Wayne (July 23, 1960 St. Peters, MO), PollyAnn Medici (Oct 9, 1963 Carlsbad, CA) and Patricia Jean Garner (Nov 30, 1965 Paragould).
Claire has served as book committee chairman.

Clara Lovelady
Clara Clifton Lovelady was born and reared in Greene County, AR. She was only away from Arkansas two years while beginning her teaching career in 1955 at Marston, MO. She returned to Arkansas and was employed by the Delaplaine School district for 30 years. She is a member of the Greene County Historical and Genealogical Society and feels it is a privilege to be able to serve on the Greene County History Book Committee and hopes that the book will be a treasure to the people of Greene County.
She is married to Billy Lovelady and they live in the Beech Grove community where the Lovelady s settled in the 1850s.

Lynda Heath Bryant
Lynda Heath Bryant was born in Jonesboro, Craighead County, AR and lived in Marked Tree, Poinsett County, until 1945. Paragould and Greene County have been her home since that time. As a child, she looked forward to Decoration Day and loved to visit the cemeteries where her grandparents and great grandparents are buried. Afterwards, she would sit and listen to her aunts talking while the other children were outside playing. Lynda has always been interested in family and genealogy. She is married to Jimmy Ray Bryant, a native of Greene County. Her husband, three daughters and three grandchildren are the joys of her life. Lynda is secretary/treasurer, co-manager and co-owner of Heath Funeral Home and is currently serving as president of the Greene County Historical and Genealogical Society.

Anita Phillips
Anita Phillips was born in Memphis TN, and graduated from Rector High School, Rector, AR. She received BME and MSE from Arkansas State University; taught junior and senior high choral music and served as choir director for a United M