SIKESTON, MO - CHRISTINE MAY, 84, died Sept. 5, 2001, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center.
Born Sept. 23, 1916, in Clay County, Ark., daughter of the late Joseph Lewis and Willie Lavada Wagner Murphy, she was a member of the Sikeston Community Church.
On May 19, 1934, she married Oather Liddell May who preceded her in death on Oct. 5, 1980. She was also married to Robert Franklin who preceded her in death.
Survivors include: one son, Ray Liddell May of Sikeston; one daughter, Patricia Franklin Ruch of Jackson, Mo.; four grandsons, Lewis Ray May and Alfred E. May of Sikeston, Christopher L. Ruch of Cape Girardeau, Mo. and John R. Ruch of Jackson; and seven great-grandchildren.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston, where services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday. The Rev. Dolan Rogers, pastor of Sikeston Community Church, will officiate.
Burial will follow in Woodland Heights Cemetery in Rector, Ark.
Pallbearers will be: Lewis May, Alfred May, Christopher Ruch, John Ruch, Cory Linderman and Howard Harper.
--Sikeston Standard Democrat, Thursday, September 6, 2001.


COMMERCE, MO - RILEY “TUTER” MAYBERRY, 77, died at 8:40 a.m. Oct. 21, 2001, at his home.
Born May 5, 1924, at Tipperary, Ark., son of the late William and Lant Collins Mayberry, he was a self-employed brick mason and member of Commerce Baptist Church.
On March 29, 1947, at Piggott, Ark., he married Imogene Moore who survives of the home.
Other survivors include: one son, David Mayberry of Commerce; two daughters, Gail Guffey of Cape Girardeau (MO) and Sheilah Jones of Senath (MO); one brother, Bill Mayberry of St. Charles (MO); and five grandchildren.
Four brothers and two sisters preceded him in death.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City (MO) where services are scheduled for Wednesday with the Rev. David Thompson officiating.
Burial will follow in the Oakdale Cemetery at Commerce.
–Sikeston (MO) Standard Democrat, Monday, October 22, 2001.


FLORAL CITY, FL–WILMA L. McMAHAN,  66, of Floral City, died Saturday (June 24, 1995). Born in Piggott, Ark., she came here four years ago from Largo. She was a Baptist.
Survivors include her husband, Clay B.; two sons, Donald C., Naperville, Ill., and Timothy N., Milton; a daughter, Charlotte Hammack, Inverness; six brothers, Wayne Ratledge, Marmaduke, Ark., Dallas Ratledge, Lapeer, Mich., James Ratledge, Northfork, W.Va., George Ratledge, Clovis, N.M., Jerry Ratledge, Sikeston, Mo., and Gary Ratledge, Benton, Mo.; three sisters, Betty Treece, Millersville, Mo., Loretta Whitlock, Oak Ridge, Mo., and Linda Eccles, Virginia Beach, Va.; and six grandchildren.
Hooper Funeral Home and Crematory, Inverness.
--St. Petersburg Times (FL) - June 28, 1995


MARTIN MEEKS, one of Northeast Arkansas few remaining natives, born before the Civil War Era, died at his home on Route Two Monday, November 28.  He would have been 95 if he had lived one more month.
Information about Mr. Meek's early life is lacking, except for his survivors knowledge that he was born in the vicinity of White Community.  He was a member of the Christian Church.
Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. J. J. Delaney, Mrs. Walter Tison, Poplar Bluff, Mo., Mrs. Robert Ervin, and Mrs. Mary Crabb, both of Route Two; also a son Ed Meeks, Route Two.
Services were held at White Valley Baptist Church Tuesday by Herbert D. Hooker, Church of Christ minister.  Burial was in Cantwell Cemetery, under the direction of Black's Mortuary.  --Clay County Courier, Dec 1, 1949; donated by Diane Burdin; transcribed by Tina Easley.