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Submitted: 5/16/16 • Approved: 5/21/16 • Last Updated: 5/24/16 • R1140373-G671293-S3
James
November 19, 1934, Oxford, Izard County, Arkansas.
November 11, 1997, Salem, Fulton County, Arkansas.
Son of Ernest Earl & Alma Lela Simmons Dillard.
Married Rachel Rhea Blankenship, March 20, 1952.
*Obituary
White River Current
November 20, 1997
James Earl Dillard, son of the late Ernest Earl Dillard and Lela Simmons Dillard Yancey, was born November 19, 1934 in Oxford. He died November 11, 1997 in Salem. He was 62.
Mr. Dillard was united in marriage to Rachel Blankenship March 20, 1952. To this union one son was born. He spent thirty years as a building contractor in our area. For the past seven years he was the parts manager at Watson-Dillard GMC. He was very active in community affairs, serving four years as the mayor of Oxford and eighteen years as city clerk. Mr. Dillard was a Deacon at the Oxford Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of the home; one son and daughter-in-law, Terry and Connie Dillard of Oxford; his mother, Lela Yancey; one brother, Sam Dillard of Nashville, Tennessee; two sisters, Millie Helm of Oxford and Jewell Story of Calico Rock; two grandchildren, Jody James Dillard and his wife, Sandi of Ash Flat and Bryan Ray Dillard of Oxford. He was preceded in death by his father and one brother, Carroll Dillard.
Funeral services were held November 13, 1997 at the Roman & Billy Howard Memorial Chapel in Melbourne with John Hodges, Dewayne Flood and Keith Finley officiating.
Pallbearers were Allen Sherrill, Jack Yancey, Greg Moss, Larry Turner, Pat Watson and Clinton Hawkins. Honorary pallbearers were Fisher Moss, Herbert Moss, Horace Yancey, David Smithson, Sterling Sexton, Jim Miller, Bill Dockins, James Dockins, Dutch Warden, Steven Stevenson, Deanie Floyd and Mike Dover.
Interment was at the Oxford Cemetery under the direction of the Eddie Howard Funeral Home in Melbourne.
Rachel
July 27, 1932 - May 15, 2016
* obituary
Eddie’s Family Funeral Home
Rachel Rhea Blankenship Dillard of Oxford, Arkansas
Rachel Rhea Blankenship Dillard, daughter of the late Hugo Howard Blankenship and Bessie Lee Couch Blankenship, was born July 27, 1932 in Bandmill, Arkansas. She departed this life May 15, 2016 in Mountain Home, Arkansas at the age of 83 years, 9 months and 18 days. She was united in marriage to James Earl Dillard March 20, 1952 and to this union one son was born. She spent her life as a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, homemaker and friend. During her working years she owned and operated the Oxford Café. She worked as the decorator for houses her husband James built and sold. She was employed by Izard County Consolidated High School as a librarian, retiring after 20 + years. She was of the Baptist faith and a long-time member of Oxford Baptist Church. She also enjoyed being a part of Oxford Sewing Club.
She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law: Terry and Connie Dillard of Oxford; one brother Howard Blankenship and wife Janice of Bandmill; one sister: Bernice Sherrell and husband Charles of Oxford; two grandsons: Jody Dillard of Cherokee Village and Bryan Dillard and wife Shea of Melbourne; three great grandchildren: Parker Dillard, Price Dillard and Brylee Dillard and a host of other relatives and many good friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband: James Dillard; three brothers: Burlin Blankenship, Roby Roy Blankenship and Billy Blankenship; three sisters: Wilma Gay Blankenship, Alene Sherrell and Bonnie May.
Funeral service will be Wednesday, May 18 at 10:00 a.m. at Oxford Baptist Church with Mike Conyers and John Hodges officiating. Burial will be at Oxford Cemetery under the direction of Eddie’s Family Funeral Home in Melbourne. Visitation will be Tuesday, May 17 from 6-8 p.m.
Pallbearers: Fred Walker, David Todd, Jack Yancey, Zeek Felton, Greg Moss and Pat Watson Honorary Pallbearers: Jeremy Johnson, Connie Everett, Marty Everett, Tom Norvold, David Smithson, Isaac Blankenship, Eli Blankenship, Oxford Sewing Club and Sunshine Women Sunday School Class.
Memorials may be made to: Oxford Baptist Church, P.O. Box 164, Oxford, Arkansas 72565. Oxford Cemetery, P.O. Box 40, Oxford, Arkansas 72565
(Photo courtesy of Vera Reeves)
Contributed on 5/16/16 by maxparnell
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Record #: 1140373