Stories from Friday, May 11, 2012

The Piggott Community Center came to life Sunday evening as a large crowd gathered to enjoy a special visit from minister and Harlem Globetrotter basketball legend Meadowlark Lemon. Lemon, known as "The Clown Prince of Basketball" for his quick wit and outgoing personality coupled with his amazing skill on the court, was just as captivating on the center's stage, capturing the attention of generations of fans with his inspirational messages...

An electrifying night of music by some of America's top gospel artists had the huge crowd at Rector's 2012 Helping Hands Foundation concert on its feet much of the night in enthusiastic response. The Rector High School gymnasium was packed for the sellout event, the fourth in Rector to benefit the Helping Hands Foundation, which is widely recognized for the reach of its work in giving assistance to disadvantaged students and for the thousands of dollars it has provided in scholarships to many of the school's finest students, some who would not be able to go to college without help.. ...

The 36 members of the Rector High School Class of 2012 will receive their diplomas in commencement ceremonies to be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 13, at the RHS gymnasium. Valedictorian of the Class of 2012 is Kelsey Inies Wynn, the daughter of Freddie Wynn and Jill Wynn. Salutatorian of the class is Heather Faye Myres, the daughter of Peggy and James Myres...

The Piggott High School Class of 2012 will take part in commencement exercises at 7 p.m. Friday, May 11, in the high school gymnasium. This year's top honor students are Co-Valedictorians Logan Wilson and Breanna Wright. They are among 17 honor graduates to be recognized during the ceremony. School board president Hope Burns will award the diplomas. There also will be thousands of dollars in scholarships awarded to several graduates...

If you have a best friend, you are truly blessed. Over the years I've had several best friends. One from high school who later married and moved away, Then a couple of military wives that I bonded with after we were stationed at the same military bases for several years...

Elois (Huggins) Love of Troy, Mo., departed this life on Saturday, May 5, 2012. She was the beloved wife of Raymond Lee Love; dear mother of Brenda, Sandy and Peggy; proud grandmother of Patrick, Sarah, Brian and Kevin; loving great-grandmother of James, Ella and Madison, and was also a dear aunt, cousin, sister-in-law and friend...

Sharyl Lynn Shaw, 58, of Booneville, Ark., passed away May 6, 2012, at home surrounded by her family. She was born Dec. 1, 1953, in Hawthorne, Calif., and was the daughter of George and Thelma Ott. She was preceded in death by her father, George Ott...

Mrs. Doris Shelton Cockrum, age 94, of Iuka, Miss., died May 2, 2012, at Southern Magnolia Estates in Iuka, Miss. Mrs. Cockrum, the daughter of Barnett Varner and Hallie Lostutter Varner, was born Aug. 23, 1917, in Black Oak, Ark. She graduated from Black Oak High School in 1935 and attended Arkansas State. Mrs. Cockrum lived in Trumann most of her life and will be remembered for many acts of community service...

Randy Oliver Clayton, 56, of Marmaduke died Tuesday, May 8, 2012, at his home in Marmaduke. He was born May 27, 1955, in Rector. Randy did lawn service and was of the Baptist faith. Survivors include his mother, Rachel Marie Clayton of Marmaduke; three brothers, Joseph Clayton and wife Bonnie of Lafe, George Clayton and wife Paula of Marmaduke and David Clayton and wife Jewell of Rector; five sisters, Barbara Carpenter and husband Marston of Rector, Linda Travis and husband Stanton of Paragould, Mary Rasberry and husband Larry of Fort Worth, Texas, Peggy Sutherland and husband Danny of Marmaduke and Lesa Taylor and husband Jeff Taylor of Cordova, Tenn., and a host of other relatives and friends.. ...

PHS senior Breanna Wright has accomplished the goal of nearly every high school athlete. Wright will join the Hendrix College Lady Warrior volleyball team this fall. Wright made the announcement official during a special signing ceremony held Tuesday at the PHS library. Family, coaches, teammates and friends gathered to wish the Lady Mohawk standout well as she readies to begin a new chapter of her life...

The Rector Lady Cougars advanced to the finals of the 2A North Regional Tournament at Cedar Ridge High School in Newark with victories over Salem and Marked Tree. Rector was set to face conference foe Buffalo Island Central in the championship contest Monday, but weekend showers required the game to be rescheduled for Tuesday afternoon. ...

The surging Lady Cougars advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 2A Softball State Tournament at Junction City High School with a 4-2 victory over Magazine Thursday. Junior Kelly Fowler had a strong pitching performance for Rector. Fowler allowed two runs on four hits while ringing up seven and walking two...