James Boyd Neal, 76 passed from this life Tuesday at the Baptist Hospital in Little Rock. He was born December 3, 1935 in Walnut Ridge to Jess and Dorothy Campbell Neal and lived in Lawrence County all of his childhood. He later moved to St. Louis where he met his wife and raised his family. He lived the last 20 years in Jacksonville and retired from Tyson Foods in Little Rock. He attended the Harvest Praise Church in Cabot.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Catherine Neal; brother, Andrew Smoot and one sister, Dixie Brady.

According to Darrin Pinkston of Cox-Higginbotham Funeral Home in Walnut Ridge, Hershel "Woody" Ragsdale of Black Rock has died.

He was the husband of Black Rock Mayor Bonnie Ragsdale and the father of the city clerk, Darlene Schmidt.

Funeral services will be held Friday with the family receiving visitors Thursday evening.

Here is the complete obituary provided by the funeral home:

Williams Baptist College will host its annual Youth Ministry Days on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 27 and 28.

The event will begin with a community-wide session for youth ministers, volunteer leaders and parents at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, in the Moody Room of WBC's Mabee-Gwinup Cafeteria.  The session is open to all churches and denominations.  Scott Stevens, a noted expert in student ministry, will be the guest speaker.