Coach Quitman Sullins Passes
Quitman Sullins
Quitman Emmanuel Sullins, 84, died Friday, May 10, 2019, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo after an extended illness. Quitman was born November 21, 1934 in Baldwyn to James "Emmanuel" and Maudie Elizabeth Sullins. Quitman's life was defined by his great love for his Lord and Savior, his great love for his family and his great love for basketball. Quitman graduated from Luxora High School in Luxora, Arkansas and attended Murray State on a basketball scholarship where he was named as team caption and the most valuable player his senior year. Quitman's initiation into Sigma Chi Fraternity at Murray State was an honor he cherished his whole life. After graduating from college Quitman played semi-pro basketball a few years with Goodyear Tire & Rubber before playing professionally with Pittsburg in the American Basketball League. Once his playing days were over Quitman began a career as a basketball coach, starting at Gosnell High School in Gosnell, Arkansas, then moving to Main South High School in Park Ridge, Illinois where he lead his team to the 4A State Championship in 1979. Quitman's coaching career culminated with a job as an assistant men's basketball coach at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Quitman is a member of the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame. After retiring from coaching Quitman moved to Red Bay, Alabama to be close to his mother and three of his sisters. Quitman is survived by his sisters: Mickie Argo (Charles) and Vickie Layfield; one special niece Valerie Whitwell Delgadillo (Albert) and many other nieces and nephews. Quitman was predeceased by his parents, Emmanuel and Maudie Sullins, and siblings, W. C. Sullins, Linda Strawbridge and Joan Linebarger. Graveside services will be held at Center Star Cemetery in Mantachie, Mississippi at 3 p.m. Monday, May 13, 2019, with Rev. Larry Hill, Sr. officiating. W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements. The family requests in lieu of flowers memorials be made to First Pentecostal Church, 900 S. Thomas Street, Tupelo, MS 38801. Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com.
Dr. Roy Ashabranner, Jr. Obituary
Roy Lee Ashabranner, Jr.
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Roy Lee Ashabranner, Jr., O.D., 67, of Little Rock, former Manila resident, passed from this life Saturday, March 2, 2019, at Baptist Health Center in Little Rock. Born in Jonesboro, he was the son of the late Roy Lee and Norma White Ashabranner and was raised in Manila and Gosnell. He was a 1969 graduate of Gosnell High School, a 1973 graduate of Hendrix College in Conway and received a Doctorate of Optometry Degree from Southern College Optometry in 1977. He served with the Public Health Service on the Navajo Indian Nation Reservation in Arizona from 1977-1980. Dr. Ashabranner served rural communities in Arkansas throughout the years and had owned and operated Ashabranner Optometry Center in North Little Rock the past 20 years.
He is survived by his son, Sloan Boyd Ashabranner of Detroit, Mich.; his daughter, Paige Elise Ashabranner of Little Rock. He also leaves his brother, Benton Ashabranner and wife Laura of Oklahoma City, Okla.
A memorial service will be 10 a.m. Thursday, March 7, at the St. Paul United Methodist Church in Little Rock. A graveside service will be 1 p.m. Friday, March 8, at the Manila Cemetery under the direction of Howard Funeral and Cremation Service in Manila. A gathering of family and friends will be Friday from noon until service time at the funeral home.
The family requests lasting memorials be made to The Wolfe Street Foundation, 1015 Louisiana Street, PO Box 3708, Little Rock, AR 72202.
Online guest register: www.howardfuneralservice.com
Gosnell Postcard Blitz
Regarding the 2013 football playoff run, I've got an idea. I think the team might get a little extra mo' going into the playoffs if they got a few words of encouragement from we alums from all over. Maybe if we dropped them a postcard -- one of those souvenir cards that features our current city, state, country, planet -- for them to collect and maybe post in the locker room or hallway or something.
If you're in, here's the address:
Gosnell High School
Coach Gary Moody
600 State Highway 181
Gosnell, AR 72315
They've got a bye for the first round. They don't play until Friday, Nov. 22 (at home), so we've got 10 days or so. What do you think? Pass the word!
Here's a link to an updated story of Thursday's big win:
http://www.couriernews.net/story/2022189.html
posted November 8th, 2013
