It’s an age-old problem: volunteers, financial resources and the lack thereof. Chris Williams, President of the Johnny Cake Baseball Association in Mansfield, noted that their situation is no different, and help is needed.
”We are using two mowers that are 20+ years old and we are trying to raise the funds to buy one. Hopefully we can get a grant to buy a second mower for next season. We also extended the bathrooms so there will be more than one toilet for each gender now. I have it framed and roofed. It will need siding, three toilets, two urinals, two sinks, and two handicap doors. The existing bathrooms, someone kicked the doors in and busted the frames, so two new doors and frames will also have to be purchased.” Williams went on to add that the siding is coming apart on the concession stand, the driveway and field are both washed out and in need of gravel/dirt.
“If we can get the bathrooms repaired and purchase a mower this year, then we can hopefully get a grant and finish the rest before next season. We would also like to put some playground equipment out there so the kids, who are not playing ball, have something to do.”
The Mansfield City Council voted to allow public works employees to brush hog the outside perimeter of the fields so that the association is only responsible for maintaining the rest during the 2024 season.
Williams and the ball association are asking for the assistance from the community to help make needed repairs and perform upkeep. Those who might be interested in either contributing labor, or making donations, can contact Williams at 479-561-5151.
There always seems to be a lot of hype and excitement whenever it comes to schedule releases in the sport of football. Fans are often eager to see where they’re going for away games, what juggernauts or cupcakes their team will be playing, and try to predict their team’s win/loss record. Even though the first snap of a new season is almost half a year away, websites, forums, enormous magazines, and dinner table debates dedicated to the new season are already firing up and getting hot. After Mansfield’s extremely successful 2023 campaign under first-year head coach, Whit Overton, Tiger fans were eager to catch a glimpse at the 2024 schedule. Once released, some fans thought the changes were questionable while others openly accepted it as tough but manageable. The players, on the other hand, the players were downright excited to get a shot at testing their might against some stiff competition outside of the 3A-1.
The Mansfield versus Mena scrimmage has become a preseason staple for both programs and will continue in 2024. Photo courtesy of Megan Hecox
Conference games are where the bread and butter of a team’s season is sorted out. Therefore, it is only right that those games would be the most critiqued when looking at a new schedule. With the 3A-1 not being affected by the AAA’s restructuring for this cycle, Tiger fans already knew what to expect in conference play. The non-conference games, on the other hand, can be a little more intriguing. Historically, Mansfield has always seemed to have their ups and downs with non-conference play over the years. From 2010 through 2015, the Tigers played Mena, Greenland, and Waldron for their warmup games. In 2016 and 2017, Mena was replaced by Lincoln while Greenland and Waldron stuck around. During that seven-year stretch, Mansfield went 10-14 against their non-conference foes. Hackett and Lavaca were not in the 3A-1 during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, so the neighboring rivals were inked in along with Waldron as the Tigers’ non-conference opponents which allowed Manfield to drum up a 6-0 non-conference record in the two-year span. The COVID years of 2020 and 2021 masked any previous successes Mansfield had though as the Tigers fell hard to Waldron and Elkins in 2020, had to cancel games against both teams in 2021, and only won two games in the time period both against Magazine. Then in 2022, the Tigers laid out a staircase non-conference schedule that saw Mansfield start with the Magazine Rattlers out of the 2A, move up to the Paris Eagles in the 3A, and finish their slate with their Scott County rivals, the Waldron Bulldogs, from the 4A. That particular layout saw Mansfield go 6-0 in non-conference play and was a good boost for the Tigers as they went on to make back-to-back State Playoff seasons.
The Battle of Scott County will be played this upcoming season and for the foreseeable future. ‘Nuff said. Photo courtesy of Joey Bolin
With two successful years of proving the growth of the program in non-conference and conference play, the Tigers were looking for some stiffer competition for the 2024 season to keep from becoming merely a stagnant mid-card program in the state. It didn’t take long for Coach Overton and his staff to turn their gradual staircase non-conference schedule into an extension ladder of competition. The Tigers will maintain their annual scrimmage with Mena and continue the Battle of Scott County with Waldron in 2024. The changes will come from dropping Magazine and Paris on the Tiger’s non-conference slate and replacing them with a pair of larger hardnosed programs. The Bismarck Lions will be one of the teams filling the spots in the Tigers 2024 non-conference schedule. Bismarck, like Mansfield, stunned the state in 2023 with an under-the-radar performance that put them on the map. Going 10-3 overall and 6-1 in conference, Bismarck’s only losses were to the State Semifinalist and conference opponent, Glen Rose Beavers, and then twice to the State Runner-Up Prescott Curly Wolves. The Lions dismantled Hackett 42-13 in Round1 of the 2023 Playoffs and shocked Charleston 35-27 on their own turf in Round2 before being cut down by Prescott for the second time in the State Quarterfinals. Bismarck was affected by the AAAs conference shuffle and will face some tough teams out of the 3A-7 this year but will likely still be favored in the preseason polls in most of their games. Mansfield will travel to Bismarck for the first meeting between the two programs for Week1 of the season on Friday, August 30th.
Bismarck’s defense only allowed an average of 17.9 points per game last season. Photo courtesy of Jim Best
Mansfield will host the Waldron Bulldogs for their annually anticipated Battle of Scott County on September 6th. The Tigers have owned this rivalry for the most part of two decades. Anything is possible in this rivalry, especially since the Bulldogs will have a new head coach for the third time in four years. The Tigers’ third and final non-conference game will be against a familiar foe from back in the day. The Lamar Warriors. Just as Mansfield has held a leash on Waldron in recent years, Lamar has had the Tigers by the tail dating back to 2011. The Warriors have an 8-2 record against Mansfield in the program’s previous ten meetings, all of which were when Lamar was in the 3A. Lamar moved up to the 4A in 2020 and earned a Round2 spot in the 4A Playoffs each year since. Now in the 4A-4, the Warriors will likely be one of the Top3 teams in the conference preseason rankings which makes their game against Mansfield a big match-up for both programs After the Tigers travel to Johnson County to play Lamar, they will be gifted with a bye week which will be a slight break from the non-conference pot before they enter the fire that is known as the 3A-1 conference.
Photo courtesy of Joey Bolin
They say iron sharpens iron, and if that is true, the Tigers should be able to cut through tungsten, chromium, and titanium going into their 2024 3A-1 conference schedule. Facing a 4A-4 team in a scrimmage followed up by two 4A-4 teams and an up-and-incoming 3A-7 program in non-conference play is a hefty bag to haul. It can also be a boost for the players, coaches, and fans if they’re successful. Many other premier programs in the state schedule larger teams for non-conference play all the time. Greenwood has made a habit of upsetting 7A teams nearly every year. Booneville faced a 5A and two 4A schools for non-conference play while Charleston took on three 4A teams last season. Even though both programs lost some of those games, they benefited greatly by doing so and finished first and second in the 3A-1. Mansfield is aiming to step up to the roles of a premiere team and the recipe to do so calls for the Tigers to step up in competition. Although it may seem a tad bit off to those used to a weaker or more evenly matched non-conference schedule each year, the 2024 Tigers are eager to stick their necks out there and prove themselves to the state right out of the gate.
The opening concerts of A String Fort Smith’s 2024 Spring Season will take place on Thursday, April 4, at 6pm, at First Presbyterian Church, 116 North 12th Street, Fort Smith, and on Friday, April 5, at 7pm, in the sanctuary of St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, 2701 Old Greenwood Road, Fort Smith. The performance will also be offered virtually in perpetuity on A String Fort Smith’s YouTube Channel. Repertoire to be performed includes: G. F. Handel’s Concerto in F Major for Organ and Orchestra, Op. 4 No. 4, HWV 292; Jean Sibelius’s Romance in C for String Orchestra; and G. P. Telemann’s Burlesque de Don Quichotte. Guest artist and virtuoso keyboard player, Benjamin Henderson, will be featured on organ and piano.
“As we welcome the arrival of spring, I’m so pleased to share the accomplishments of A String Fort Smith – a truly remarkable ensemble of young musicians, faculty, and guest artists – in two public performances. Now in our fourth season, our upcoming spring concerts offer a variety of beautiful chamber music by composers of the Baroque and Romantic periods. Our performances are free and open to all, and I look forward to welcoming everyone on these two occasions!” enthuses Lori Fay, Founder and Director of A String Fort Smith.
A String Fort Smith, founded in the summer of 2020 by Lori Fay, is aimed at fostering excellence and unprecedented performing opportunities for junior- and high-school aged students interested in pursuing careers in the performing arts. Assisted by four devoted colleagues – Anthony Verge, Assistant Director & violin; Barbara Godette, violoncello; Cory Winters, viola; and Nathan Boyd, double bass – A String Fort Smith participants are selected based on an audition.
The ensemble consists of the most advanced and dedicated students – approximately twelve to fifteen (12 to 15) per semester – who make a commitment to rehearse for one hour once per week, on Monday evenings at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Fort Smith. Members of A String Fort Smith’s 2024 Spring Semester – all of whom won a spot in the ensemble based on their outstanding audition – are from a combination of Southside and Northside High Schools. Southside participants include: Rin Ahlert, Lydia Collins, Justin Han, Hiếu Le, and Omar Martinez, violin; Thanh Lu, viola; Tzideny Romero, violoncello; and Luis Galdamez and Adren Stahl, double bass. Northside participants include: Isaac Edwards and Trieu Le, violin; and Rylee Whittaker, violoncello. The ensemble is delighted to welcome back Gregory Allen, a graduate of Northside High School, as well as Tru Reynolds and Allijah Rutherford, currently enrolled at University of Arkansas – Fort Smith (UAFS).
Members of the general public cherish performances by A String Fort Smith, not only because of Fay’s striking programming and the talented student participants, but because of an impressive array of guest artists and student soloists. The upcoming April 4th and 5th performances will be no exception.
Among the many highlights of the upcoming concerts by A String Fort Smith, will be an appearance by guest artist Benjamin Henderson, performing on both organ and piano. Benjamin Henderson is from Middletown, CT, and is the Director of Music and Organist at First United Methodist Church in Fort Smith. He received his Master of Music in organ performance at Rice University in the studio of Ken Cowan, his Bachelor of Music in organ performance from The Eastman School of Music in 2020, and at Eastman, was awarded the Performer’s Certificate while in the studio of Nathan Laube. He is an aspiring composer and enjoys singing.
Lori Fay, ASFS Founder & Director – photo credit Angela Kiefer
Founder and Director Lori Fay is a widely respected violinist, and brings years of symphony orchestra, chamber music, solo performing, and recording experience to the Fort Smith area where she resides. Ms. Fay received a Master of Music in Violin Performance from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University (Houston, TX), as well as a Master of Music in Teaching from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music (Oberlin, OH). Since settling in Fort Smith nearly 20 years ago and establishing a career as Associate Concertmaster of the Fort Smith Symphony, Co-Founder and Co-Director of DuoBrava (www.duobrava.com), private violin, viola, and piano instructor, and more, her passion remains working with young string players interested in improving their skills and deepening their love of music.
A String Fort Smith concerts are FREE, open to the public, and appropriate for the entire family. Fort Smith’s First Presbyterian Church and St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church are accessible for the physically impaired. For patrons who cannot attend in-person performances by A String Fort Smith, the April 5, 2024 performance will be offered virtually in perpetuity, on A String Fort Smith’s YouTube Channel. For more information about the work of A String Fort Smith, or for string players interested in auditioning for A String Fort Smith, please visit the website, at: www.astringfortsmith.com
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is spying on a lot of “talking turkey” throughout the state, but they’re not eavesdropping on conversations at local coffee shops and gas pumps. The chatter they’re capturing is coming from male eastern wild turkeys making their presence known to hens before breeding season begins.
Each spring, male turkeys (gobblers) will call out with their namesake gobble to attract hens and show their dominance and suitability as a mate. Those gobbles don’t just attract hens; they’re also the trigger that gets thousands of turkey hunters fired up each spring to hike marathon distances through mountains and swamps in pursuit of their passion.
Just like males of most species, a few overeager individuals always arrive at the party a little early, and in the case of turkeys, those few birds are usually pretty vocal about their desire to get things moving. Birds are often heard gobbling well before the season, which prompts many calls from hunters worried that they’re going to miss the opportunity to hunt when most birds are sounding off.
Each spring turkeys begin a courtship with one male tending to many hens. AGFC photo.
Allison Fowler, assistant chief of the AGFC’s Wildlife Management Division, says hunters shouldn’t worry about turkeys being “gobbled out” by the time the season rolls around, and a new study is focused on providing information on the timing of turkey gobbles throughout the state.
“Some turkeys will gobble in January,” Fowler said. “They’ll gobble just about year-round, but that doesn’t mean hens are ready to breed. What we’re looking at is scientifically gathered data on when gobbling increases, peaks and declines, as that correlates with peak breeding and nesting seasons,” Fowler said. “With these new recorders, we’re collecting data in an unbiased, scientific way to study the gobbling period and factors influencing it much more in-depth than in years past.”
Previous AGFC Turkey Program coordinator Jeremy Wood installs a remote listening device to record gobbling activity at a wildlife management area. AGFC photo.
According to Fowler, roughly 200 remote listening devices are set up across the state to capture when and how often gobblers are sounding off. They’re distributed among public hunting areas in the Ozark, Ouachita, Delta and Gulf Coastal Plain ecoregions to gather information on habitat type and latitude’s effects on spring gobbling frequency. Hunting pressure’s effects on gobbling can also be teased out of the data. Areas selected for recording represent WMAs open to hunting throughout the season, limited through permit hunts, and even closed to turkey hunting.
“We know from previous gobbling surveys and hunter surveys that gobbling seems to drop off sharply as soon as hunters enter the woods and the birds feel the disturbance, but this study will remove any observer bias or anecdotal evidence and quantify that disturbance effect,” Fowler said. “Some of these areas may also see prescribed fire, so data on that disturbance and its effect on gobbling may be possible to monitor, too.”
Roughly 200 remote listening devices are spread throughout the state to collect data on gobbling activity from March 1-May 15. AGFC photo.
The units were placed in February and are set to record from March 1-May 15. Data collected from these units, along with data from the AGFC’s Annual Turkey Gobbler Hunting Survey and Annual Wild Turkey and Quail Population Survey, will help paint a more complete picture of turkey activities throughout the state to inform future habitat management and season structures.
The Battle of Prairie Grove was one on the larger battles of the Civil War fought in Arkansas. The battle occurred on December 7, 1862 and occurred between the Union Army of the Frontier under the command of James Blunt and Francis Herron and the Confederate Army of the Trans-Mississippi under Thomas Hindman. Hindman moved his eleven thousand troops north from Fort Smith to confront Blunts forces which had just won the battle of Cane Hill. Blunt, hearing of the attack and knowing he would be outnumbered, called for reinforcements from General Herron. Herron marched his men nearly over 100 miles in three days, a remarkable feat of endurance, in order to assist Blunt. Caught between two armies, Blunt took position on the high points around the town of Prairie Groove. The battle raged throughout the day, with both sides suffering huge numbers of causalities, 1,251 for the North and 1,317 for the South. Low on ammunition, the Confederate army withdrew in secret from the field and left Prairie Groove a desolate wasteland. That is the major storyline and just involves battalions, troop movement, and numbers. The true history is the story of the men and women caught up in the clash between the two armies.
The story of civilians caught in the battle is horrendous, especially the stories of two teen-aged girls, 14-year-old Julia Pyeatt and 9-year-old Caldonia Brandenbury. Both discussed the horrors of battle, hiding in cellars while cannons thundered outside, then eventually the house filled with the wounded and dying. Emerging from the cellar that night, one described the effort required to push open the cellar door only to discover it was jammed shut by the bodies of the dead. Emerging, they could hear the shouts for help from men dying on the battlefield. Life would never be the same for those traumatized by war.
One of the more interesting stories of the battle involved Colonel A.W. Slayback, a dashing and gallant officer under the command of General Marmaduke. Slayback, perhaps too often exposed to the tales of heroism written by Sir Walter Scott, saw war as a heroic adventure. Facing the opposing Union army, he rode forth from his line and challenged any one man to single combat. Immediately, Captain Wilhite, a union man from Arkansas, accepted the challenge. Firing from twenty paces, Slaybacks second shot struck Wilhite in the leg. Two other men dashed out to take his place and Major Robert Smith and Lieutenant James Walton joined Slayback. Similar to the shootout at the OK corral, bullets flew thick and fast until another Federal fell and they retreated from the field. As chivalrous as the fight may seem, it did nothing to prevent the ensuing battle.
In another unlikely story, Colonel (later General) Jo Shelby cavalry routed federal troops of the 6th and 7th Missouri Cavalry and chased them back toward Fayetteville. In hot pursuit, Shelby and a few of his men became separated from the main body of his unit. Union Major Hubbard and his federal troops surrounded Shelby. Pressing a revolver to Shelby’s head, Hubbard shouted, “Surrender I say, surrender or I fire.” Hearing horses approaching nearby, Shelby coolly remarked, “you are sadly mistaken. It is you who must surrender.” Sure enough, up trotted his men under the command of Major Shanks. Within the group that rescued him was several of Quantrill’s Partisan Rangers including Frank and Jesse James as well as the Younger brothers. Forever loyal, Jo Shelby spoke in defense of Frank James at his trial in 1883. James was acquitted. Shelby, known as the General who never surrendered, had the movie The Undefeated starring John Wayne, written about his exploits.
The true story goes far beyond those few lines that are contained in the history book. It is the story of those who succeeded, those who failed and those who suffered, bled and died in those few moments of our collective past.
As a Mansfield athlete, Jadelynn Wood was known for giving her teammates pep talks before big races. She began giving those motivational speeches early in her high school cross country career as a means to uplift running companions. Results were increasingly inspired. As a result, she continued the habit into succeeding track seasons which led to a continual stream of encouraging words throughout the remainder of her time as a Lady Tiger.
Nowadays, Wood competes as the lone member of the University of Arkansas Rich Mountain Lady Buck’s track team. A small recruiting class from the UARM cross country team failed to carry over to the 2024 junior college track season. That doesn’t mean the pep talks have stopped for the former Mansfield Lady Tiger. The college freshman has found if nothing else a few words of encouragement to herself can also go a long way.
On Saturday, March 16 at the University of Central Arkansas hosted Richard Martin Invitational, Wood calmed her own nerves to set a personal record in the women’s 800m run.
“I was really scared for this meet because basically everyone in my heat was from Arkansas Tech,” expressed a visibly excited Wood. “I knew I couldn’t get in my own head. I gave myself mini pep talks while I warmed up and just tried to calm down.”
The magic that Wood typically used on teammates seemed to work on herself. The junior college freshman exceeded her own expectations to produce a new personal standard for the two lap race at 2:34.20. Her new watershed moment shattered the time she ran at the Hendrix Invitational two weeks earlier by 17.64 seconds.
“When I got on the track, I knew it was Go time,” continued the first year college athlete. “I couldn’t be nervous anymore. When the gun went off, so did I. All I was worried about was keeping someone behind me.”
Wood finished sixth in section one of the two heat races. Overall that placed her 11th in the final standings at the UCA hosted event in Conway, Arkansas. Compared to a 27th place finish at the cross town race at Hendrix College, the improved result had to be pleasing for the Lady Buck runner.
“It felt good, no doubt, but it was exhausting,” confessed Wood. “I’m proud of the results.”
By her own admission, the former All-State athlete and state heptathlete endured some extra nerves going into the race. Classes on the UA Rich Mountain campus in Mena were heavily involved in midterm finals the week leading up to the Martin Invitational track meet. According to the academic minded student-athlete, that added a bit of pressure to her week.
“Midterms and everything really stressed me out,” said the middle distance runner with a sigh of relief present in her voice. “I had to refocus my energies and clear my mind to a degree. It was good to let it all out on the track.”
Wood will next represent UARM at the Dan Veach Invitational at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia on March 23.
The past winter in Arkansas has been cold and wet, with cycles of freezing and thawing that have often resulted in muddy pastures and access roads for many producers. This can put a strain on both livestock and equipment.
Despite the near-perennial nature of this recurring situation, once spring has sprung, it’s often all but forgotten until the next hard winter comes around.
Dirk Philipp, associate professor of forage agronomy for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said there are several things, however, that livestock producers can do to alleviate this situation over the long term.
“Soil types and textures are diverse, and many farms feature multiple soil series, each with its own hydrology,” Philipp said. “Learning about these features and finding information is important to water resource management.”
A good start, Philipp said, is the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Web Soil Survey, which provides information on soil hydrology and the original native vegetation that covered the area. The NRCS data can be used to establish forages in the long-term that can cope with various conditions, be they wetter or drier.
“Eastern gamagrass and switchgrass work well for wetter areas and along creek beds,” Philipp said. “These can be extended at the desired widths and grazed, hayed, or both. Tall fescue can be used in somewhat wetter conditions as well, and orchardgrass in shaded environments.”
Philipp said that along former and existing creek beds, trees can be reestablished, but should be spaced to allow enough light for forages to grow underneath.
The other obvious key to taming a muddy pasture is good grazing management. Given the high rain intensity frequently seen in Arkansas, as well as the prevailing soil types in the region, mud cannot entirely be avoided.
“But there are a few management principles that help keep pastures healthy,” Philipp said.
If needed, assign a pasture for hay feeding during winter. The area should be large enough to move feeders around and place bales strategically to avoid excessive trampling.
“The sacrifice pasture should have good drainage, be on higher ground and placed strategically so that if runoff occurs, you can capture the nutrients in another pasture,” Phillipp said. “Your prime perennial cool season and warm season forages should not be stocked for long periods during winter, unless you plan to graze off senesced material.”
Moist soil compacts rapidly, Philipp said, with long-term implications for weed control as many undesired species are able to out-compete forages on disturbed ground. Incorporating good grazing management with the appropriate grazing methods, such as rotational stocking, creep grazing and strip grazing, will help producers avoid the downsides of overstocking.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
The solar eclipse is coming 4/8/24, and it’s been talked about a lot. Most people are dreading it because of the large influx of people expected to flood the area. But I’ve decided it’s happening regardless, and it’s a great educational experience!
I also recently read “Memory Making Mom” by Jessica Smartt. So now I’m on a kick for making memories and traditions for my family! Of course an eclipse of this caliber doesn’t happen often, but the memories will hopefully last!
(I also highly recommend the book, it provides ideas for traditions in a gentle way. Great read!)
We will be having an “Eclipse Party”! Pinterest has loaded me up with ideas, and I’m excited to share some of my favorites with you so you can prepare your own Eclipse festivities.
Make an eclipse snack pack- Moon Pies, Milky Ways, Star Crunch, Sun-Maid raisins, Sunny-D, Sun Chips, Cosmic Brownies, Capri Suns, Eclipse gum- all packaged up nicely and ready to create a little party bag of snacks!
Eclipse pizza! Slice pepperonis to show the progression of the Eclipse. This one will likely require a quick google to see exactly how to cut the pepperonis but it’s on my list for us to try.
Become astronauts with jet packs! I think I’m most excited to do this one. Two liter bottles attached together with streamers of red and orange coming out the bottom (put the lid facing down). BLAST OFF FOR THE ECLIPSE!
Remember not to look directly at the Sun at any point during the event. Eclipse glasses allow you to safely view it. Despite how common solar eclipses are (occurring about every 18 months), it won’t happen in totality again in Arkansas for many of our lifetimes. This is our chance! Put on your glasses and soak it in, friends!
Lonnie Sudbury was born January 9, 1938 in Paul’s Valley, Oklahoma to Leonard and Winnie Morrow Sudbury. He spent his eighty-six years on this earth in Oklahoma, California, and Arkansas loving God, his family, and others before walking through the gates of heaven on March 16, 2024.
Growing up he was raised by his paternal grandmother, Inez Sudbury. If you ever asked him about her, all he had was words of praise and so many wonderful memories that he loved to share with his family. Memories of him learning to drive at a young age, memories of learning the value of hard work, and memories of his grandmother’s love for him. At the age of twelve, Lonnie and his grandmother both gave their lives to the Lord at an Oral Roberts tent revival. Mark 12:30 says to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” From the moment Lonnie asked Jesus into his heart, he did just that. Graduating high school in 1957 at Washington Union in Freemont, California, Lonnie ran track and had many friends, but most importantly he started the Youth for Christ Club and taught Sunday School at his church. This was just the beginning of a life-long service to the Lord and to others.
After graduating, he attended classes at Oakland Junior College and worked at a Ford factory where he loved taking part in making the new Mustangs. Then in February of 1961 he met a beautiful young woman on a blind date and four months later on June 30, 1961 she became Charlene Williams Sudbury, his wife of the next 63 years. The two of them were described as “close to perfect parents” as anyone could have. Together they raised three daughters: Lonene born in 1963, Karen born in 1964, and Misty born in 1977.
Before their youngest was born Lonnie worked for the California Highway Department and decided in 1970 to move to Arkansas to raise his family. Arriving in the small town of Mansfield, the young family built a home in Abbott that would be the foundation of many years of family fun and memories. While in Arkansas, Lonnie worked for the Arkansas State Highway Department for thirty-two years. He was known for his work ethic and integrity. Besides serving his family as a wonderful husband and father, he also spent forty years teaching Children’s Church, Sunday School classes, serving as an elder, and leading the Food Pantry. Not to mention singing specials with all his heart, and sharing that love of singing with his children and grandchildren.
Lonnie loved spending time with his family. He spent many years taking them camping, swimming at the lake, to car shows at Petit Jean, picnics and hiking at Devil’s Den, and historic sites in the South. He loved swinging in the hammock, working in the garden, reading, watching westerns, eating Mexican food, and telling stories about his all-time favorite car, the Studebaker. His favorite family vacation was the many years of going to Mt. Nebo, watching the sun rise and set together.
Lonnie always made it clear how much he loved Charlene and his family. He set an example to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of what a Godly man, husband, and father looks like. Lonnie leaves behind his wife, Charlene Sudbury; daughter Lonene Turner and husband Hoyt of Mansfield; and daughter Karen Havilk and husband Mark of Fort Smith; grandchildren April Howell and husband Matthew of Mansfield; Nikki Perritt and husband Blake of Fort Smith; Alyssa McGee and husband Shawn of Greenwood; Katlin Richardson of Fort Smith; and Alayna Turner of Mansfield; great-grandchildren Brylee Perritt, Cadence McGee, Alexandria Howell, Logan Howell, and Harper McGee.
Lonnie was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Winnie Sudbury; daughter Misty Turnipseed; and grandson Easton Richardson.
The family plans to celebrate Lonnie’s life at 10:00 a.m. March 19, 2024 at Faith Chapel in Hartford, Arkansas. Internment will follow the at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Booth, Arkansas. Arrangements are being entrusted to Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
Visitation will be before the service, starting at 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.
Lonnie’s pallbearers will be Hoyt Turner, Mark Havlik, Blake Perritt, Matthew Howell, Shawn McGee, and Cole Kindle.
Judy Carolyn Hattabaugh of Elm Park, Arkansas, entered this life on March 7, 1948, in El Dorado, AR, and left to be with her Heavenly Father while surrounded by family on March 17, 2024 in Fort Smith, AR.
Judy and Bob were college sweethearts and nurtured their love for one another for 55 years.She was a devoted coach’s wife and enthusiastic sports mom in five cities over two states. She spent countless hours preparing meals for football players, chaperoning senior trips, and leading young people in Acteens and Sunday school, all the while pursuing her nursing degree. She served others as an LPN and a respiratory therapist. Her determination for excellence earned her accolades as a Certified Respiratory Therapist in record time at Sparks Medical Center. She loved her role as director of Respiratory Therapy at Booneville City Hospital and Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center during her 22-year career. After leaving the profession, she devoted her time to being a loving meme to her grandchildren. Her last years were spent with Bob at home, along with her beloved animals. She was most content when visited by her children and grandchildren, reading James Patterson novels, completing word games, and admiring the flowers that Bob lovingly grew for her. Judy loved the Lord and is free from the burdens of this life rejoicing in heaven completely restored.
Judy leaves behind her loving husband, Bob, three sons; Bo (Christina) of Witcherville, Lance (Victoria) of Elm Park, Chris (Angela) of Pittsburg, KS, and one daughter, Rachael (Jonathan) Foster of Fort Smith. Nine grandchildren are left to cherish memories of their Meme; Jacob (Chelsie) Hattabaugh of Booneville, Ashton (Brad) Taylor of Greenwood, Alexis Hattabaugh of McPherson, KS, Hannah (Parker) Fleming of Garden City, KS, Bailee Hattabaugh of Pratt, KS, Caleb (Hallie) Hattabaugh of Jacksonville, NC, Tanner Hattabaugh of Pittsburg, KS, Addison Foster and Emma Foster of Fort Smith. Judy also had five great grandchildren who will cherish hearing stories of their meme.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Carroll and Mildred Dennis, and her sister, Cindy Davis.
Judy’s Celebration of Life services will be held at Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel at 10:00 am on March 22, 2024 with interment and graveside service to follow at Freedom Cemetery 12101 Freedom Road, Booneville, AR.
Visitation will be Thursday, March 21, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Heritage Memorial Funeral Home, 1879 W. 6th Street Waldron, AR. where family will receive visitors from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Pallbearers are Judy’s nephew, Jerald Hattabaugh, son in law, Jonathan Foster, cousin, Chase Hattabaugh, and her grandsons, Jacob, Caleb, and Tanner Hattabaugh.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
[7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. [8] Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
