Obituaries from Saline County Arkansas October 14th

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Willie May Phillips Floyd

Willie May Phillips Floyd, 79, of Glen Rose, AR, passed away peacefully and surrounded by her family on October 11, 2026, in Norman, Oklahoma.

Willie May was born on July 15, 1947 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to Guy and Evelyn Rodgers Phillips and grew up in Toledo, Arkansas. She graduated at the top of her class from Rison High School in 1965 and attended Arkansas A&M College (now the University of Arkansas at Monticello), from which she graduated a semester early at the end of 1968. While attending A&M, she met Jimmy Floyd at Missionary Baptist Student Fellowship, and they were married in January 1969. After stops in Georgia, Florida, and Hawaii while Jimmy was in the Navy, they settled down at Jimmy’s childhood home in Glen Rose. She spent most of the last eight years of her life in Norman, Oklahoma, happily spoiling her grandchildren rotten.

She taught an untold number of students Math and French at junior high and high schools in Pine Bluff, Georgia, and Florida, and at Glen Rose, Benton, Woodlawn, and Harmony Grove High Schools over a career that spanned more than four decades. When Mary was born, she took a break from teaching for nine years until Royce started kindergarten. During that time she was a great pre-K teacher and all-around fantastic mom to Mary and Royce and helped Jimmy run Fairplay Community Market and their small cattle farm.

Willie May loved Jesus all her life and was a dedicated member of Fairplay Missionary Baptist Church for over forty years and attended Redeemer Church in Norman. She loved to sing in the choir, organize Vacation Bible School, and be a part of whatever was going on. She was famous for her pecan and coconut pies and was expected to make them for every church fellowship. She loved to spend time with her family—from her kids, grandkids, and siblings to both her and Jimmy’s distant cousins—and watch her children, nephews, nieces, and grandchildren play sports and perform. She was an amazing grandmother, mother, wife, sister, aunt, and friend, and she is already greatly missed.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, James “Jimmy” Floyd, her brother Michael Phillips, and her parents. She is survived by her daughter Mary Ward and her husband Dustin of Glen Rose; son Royce Floyd, his wife Molly, and their children James, Margaret, and Violet of Norman, OK; brothers Jim (Ruth), John (Christine), and Roy Phillips; sister Lucille Strawn, all of Toledo, and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.

A visitation will be held at Smith Benton Funeral home in Benton, AR, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, 2026, and a funeral service will be held at Fairplay Missionary Baptist Church in Benton, AR on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. with burial to follow in Fairplay Cemetery.

 

Nancy Virginia Price McElyea

Nancy Virginia Price McElyea, 83, peacefully passed away on October 11, 2026. Born on December 1, 1942, in Blacksburg, Virginia, she was the daughter of Oliph Price and Lois Louverie Reed.

Nancy was a devoted wife, loving mother, and proud grandmother who loved her family fiercely. They were her world, and she treasured the time she spent with them, especially being “Grandma” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Nancy enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. She loved being outdoors, tending to her flowers and vegetable garden, watching hummingbirds, fishing, cooking, and taking road trips. Nancy had an amazing heart and a strong personality to match. She was a sweetheart, but she could certainly be a firecracker when the occasion called for it!

Nancy leaves behind a lifetime of memories and a family who will forever cherish her love, her spirit, and the special place she held in their lives. Nancy also loved the Lord and held a strong faith that brought her comfort and strength, and she carried that faith with her throughout her life.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, James McElyea; her children, Jerry McElyea and Curtis (Pam) McElyea; her grandson, Justin McElyea; her great-grandchildren, Raidyn, Sylas, Dakota, Elle, and Colt; along with a host of extended family members and close friends who will miss her dearly.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Oliph Price and Lois Louverie Reed, and her brothers, Earl, Charles, Robert, and Henderson Price.

Nancy will be deeply missed by her family and all those who were fortunate enough to know and love her.

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Dearl G. Durham

Dearl G. Durham, 96, passed away on October 12, 2026. Born on July 6, 1930, in McRae, Arkansas, Dearl lived a long life marked by hard work, faith, and devotion to his family and church.

After finishing school, Dearl traveled to Natchitoches, Louisiana, to attend a baseball camp, where he was signed to a contract with the New York Giants baseball team. He went on to spring training in Henderson, Texas, but a sprained ankle brought his baseball career to an end. Dearl then began working for Western Electric and later transferred to Southwestern Bell, where he eventually became a supervisor. He retired on October 1, 1986, after 35 years, 3 months, and 27 days of service. After retirement, he volunteered with the Telephone Pioneers, helping build wheelchair ramps for those in need.

On October 30, 1953, Dearl married Mildred Mae Long. They shared nearly 69 years of marriage and had one son, Dearl G. Durham Jr., who preceded them in death on July 14, 1992. Mildred passed away on July 12, 2022, after sharing a life together rooted in faith, church, and friendships. They are now reunited in Heaven.

Dearl was an ordained deacon at Grace Missionary Baptist Church in Mississippi. Around 1986, he and Mildred moved their membership to Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, where Dearl served as Sunday school superintendent for several terms. Together, they started and maintained the Antioch Memorial Garden, which was dedicated on Easter morning in March 1997. They also served as youth sponsors at both Grace Missionary Baptist Church and Antioch Missionary Baptist Church.

Dearl and Mildred enjoyed entertaining church members and friends at their home on the river in Heber Springs, Arkansas, where they shared many good times with those close to them.

Dearl was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred Mae Long Durham; his son, Dearl G. Durham Jr.; his parents, Elsie Caldwell and Pierce Durham; his stepmother, Carrie Moon; his brother, Carl Alvin Durham; and his sisters, Nora Glyndolyn Cooley and infant sister Elsie Jonell Durham.

He is survived by his nieces, Carla (Leone) Grange, Erin (Brian) Bates, Karen (Pat) Henderson, Glendolyn (Michael) Worley, and Alyssa; his great-nephew, Thomas Bates; as well as his extended family, Shirley and LeRoy Hill, Tracy and Jeff Eades, Jana and Kyle Addison, Abigail (Abby) Eades, Hailey Addison, Reagan (McKinley) Eades, Alyssa Addison, and Liam Eades.

Visitation will be held Friday, October 16, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Smith Benton Funeral Home, 322 N. Market Street, Benton, Arkansas. A graveside service will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Lebanon Cemetery, 298 Lebanon Road, McRae, Arkansas, where Dearl will be laid to rest beside his beloved Mildred.

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