Laverne Lizzie Cagle Connor, 93, of Henderson passed away Sept. 20, 2024, at her home.
Graveside services were 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23, at Unity Cemetery with Chaplain Brent Pearce officiating. The family received friends at the cemetery from 1:30-2 p.m. service time Monday.
She was born Dec. 18, 1930, in Henderson County, the daughter of the late Clyde Washington and Jeanie Francis Britt Cagle. She attended schools in both Henderson County and Chester County. She married Loyse Connor in 1953, and they made their home in Henderson.
She worked at Salant and Salant and Chester County Sportswear for 27 years while Mr. Connor served as Chief of Police in the Henderson Police Department.
She loved sewing, quilting, gardening and being with her grandchildren. She could grow anything. She could put a stick in the ground and make it bloom. She was a member of First Baptist Church.
She is survived by two daughters, Teresa Mosier and Alicia Blair, both of Henderson; three grandchildren, Dyan Wofford, Ryan Mosier and Justan Blair; and nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; four brothers, Clyde “Junior” Cagle, Tony Cagle, Ralph Cagle and Maxwell Cagle; three sisters, Catherina LaCoss, Eliza Billingsley and Dale Piper; and daughter, Tonette Wallace in 2023.
Odell Hatch, 93, of Henderson passed away Sept. 19, 2024, in Prairie Grove Health Care in Prairie Grove, Ark.
Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27, at Henderson City Cemetery with Military Honors.
The family will receive friends at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Henderson City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, he requested donations to Henderson American Legion Post 157 or St Jude’s Children Hospital.
He was born Sept. 5, 1931, in the Woodville Community of Chester County, the son of the late Otto Wayne and Lucendia Idell Armour Hatch.
He attended School at Woodville and Chester County until he was drafted by the Army but enlisted in the Naval Air Force and served during the end of the Korean War. He served 13 months in Iceland and the remainder at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Fla.
He married Carmen Faye Deming in 1952. He attended Barber School at Molar’s Barber School in Memphis and barbered at Melton’s Barber Shop in Henderson. He worked at the International Tractor Dealership in Henderson and then as a Director’s Assistant at Casey Funeral Home. He was a member of the Sanford Hill Baptist Church.
He was elected Circuit Court Clerk in 1966 and served 22 and a half years. He also served simultaneously as the General Sessions Court Clerk, retiring in 1988.
He enjoyed rabbit hunting, squirrel hunting, farming, taxadermy, and gardening. He also raised Beagal dogs for many years. He was a member of the “Over the Hill” gang, a group of retired horse riders.
He had served as Commander of the Local American Legion and Charter President of the Henderson Jaycees, was coordinator of the Local American Red Cross and helped found the Chester County Rescue Squad.
Chester County lost one of its best friends, and the family lost a generous, loving, kind, and funny husband, Dad, and Granddad. His spirit will live on. He made that much of a footprint on this earth.
He is survived by his wife, Carmen Faye Deming Hatch of Henderson; a son, Anthony (Vicki) Hatch of Gillette, Wyo.; one daughter, Sheila (Shelby) West of Prairie Grove, Ark.; four grandchildren, Michelle (Josh) Swart of Mt Juliet, Tim (Beth) West of West Fork, Ark., Brittany Hatch of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Brian (Molly) Hatch of Astoria, N.Y.; six great-grandchildren; a sister, Dottie (Edwin) Hatch Wiggins of Bolivar; one sister-in-law, Shirley Hatch of Bethel Springs; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Mike Hatch; and one sister, Evelyn King.
Margaret Elizabeth Merritt Alexander, 74 years, 8 months, and 10 days, of Milledgeville departed this life on Sept. 21, 2024 in Corinth, Miss.
Services were held at 1 p.m. Sept. 25 at Milledgeville Community Church in Milledgeville with Robert Conder and Jimmy Dyer officiating. Burial followed in the Milledgeville Cemetery in Milledgeville.
She was born on Jan. 11, 1950 in Harrisburg, Ark., the daughter of the late Joseph Douglas and Lucy Elizabeth Coons Merritt. On Oct. 31, 1969, she was united in marriage to Leland Warren Alexander, who preceded his wife in death on April 27, 2024.
Early in her life, she spent countless years working as a caregiver for many children that came into her home, loving each one as her own until their parents came to pick them up at the end of the day. She would move to Milledgeville and become very involved in her community. She became a training officer for Milledgeville Fire Department, an Emergency Medical Responder, EMR Board Secretary and the town recorder for the City of Milledgeville. She was a member of Milledgeville Community Church where she also served as treasurer. As a part of the Milledgeville Fire Department, she worked relentlessly on grants to help the fire department receive equipment that they needed to take care of the community that she dearly loved. She would play Mrs. Claus every Christmas for the community and church alongside her husband Leland, who played Santa.
She worked tirelessly, loving and caring for her family, her church and her community. She gave to anyone who needed and always thought of others before herself. She was constantly working behind the scenes to support her husband, Leland, as the Mayor and Fire Chief, and she accomplished many things for her community that many people will never know. She deeply loved her sisters and brothers, daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. She loved with a love that can never be replaced or duplicated, and she will be incredibly missed every single day.
She is survived by her daughter, Melissa (Scott) Fischer of Oakland; brothers, John Merritt of Wynne, Ark., Donnie Merritt of Harrisburg, Ark., and Douglas Merritt of Jonesboro, Ark.; sister, Rose Brown of Harrisburg, Ark.; and grandchildren, Ella Fischer and Elias Fischer.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her brothers, Jimmy Douglas Merritt and Dewayne Merritt; and sisters, Joann Roberts, Mae Morgan, Sarah June Merritt, Gladys Streur, Jackie Berryhill, Joey Harvey, and Teresa Pitts.
