Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Martha Henderson

Martha Simmons Henderson, 89, a life-long resident of Gurdon, died peacefully Monday, July 21, 2003, at Beverly Healthcare in Arkadelphia.

Ms. Henderson was born April 9, 1914, to Ollie Lee Smith and Simon Simmons.

She was the second eldest of four children. At a young age she left the educational system to work in the cotton fields and help care for her younger siblings.

Years later, Ms. Henderson had six children whom she successfully raised as a single woman. Family put the twinkle in her eyes for the remainder of her life. That twinkle will be missed by many.

She is survived by one brother, Albert D. Simmons of Chicago, Ill.; one son, Curtis L. Henderson of Gurdon; three daughters, Daisy M. Charles and Willie M. Bauey, both of Seattle, Wash., and Barbara D. Lockett of Arkadelphia; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Thursday, July 24, at the Mt. Canaan Baptist Church in Gurdon.

John Dillard

John Wayne Dillard, a native of Gurdon, died Sunday, July 20, 2003, at the age of 60 in Lake Worth, Florida.

Mr. Dillard is married to Wanda Curtis, also a native of Gurdon, and was a retired employee of Union Pacific Railroad.

John is survived by wife of 42 years, Wanda Curtis Dillard of Lake Worth, Florida; sons, Terry Dillard and wife, Barb of Magnolia, Texas, and Tom Dillard of Kansas City; daughter Shanna Waters and husband, Bob of Lake Worth, Florida; grandchildren, Travis, Britney, Synji, Garrett, Caley, Courtney, Zachary and Joshua; and one brother, Bobby Dillard and one sister, Betty Bagwell, both of Lancaster, Texas.

A memorial service was held Sunday, July 27, in the Horne Funeral Home Chapel in Gurdon.