Willie I. "Sonny" Mcghee

Willie Irvin Sonny McGhee died Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at Dallas County Medical Center in Fordyce. He was born on May 5, 1941 in Rison, the fifteenth of sixteen children born to the union of Nolan McGhee and Susie Iverson-McGhee. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sixteen siblings, Katherine, Earnestine, Josephine, Evelene, Nolan Buddy Jr., Tom, Ben, Bob, Papa, Sara Ann, Archie Lee Fat, George, Sam, Velma, Faye, and one son, Dallas Kingsley Jackson-McGhee. Sonny accepted Christ and was baptized at Union Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Rison, Arkansas. He began working at an early age with James L. Moore and I. E. Moore at Moores Hardware in Rison, Arkansas. In the early seventies, he worked for I. E. Moore Pulpwood Supply until 1985 where he went into the logging business. He worked with numerous logging contractors, both local and state wide, until he took ill. Sonny and his late brother, Archie Fats McGhee were the owners and operators of the Tin Top Lounge from 1965 to 2005.

He is survived by his wife, Brenda Kimbrough Stell McGhee of Fordyce. To cherish his loving memories, he leaves a nephew that he raised as his own son, Michael McLemore of Pine Bluff, ten daughters and seven sons, Marilyn McGhee Robinson (Clyde) and Barbara McGhee, both of Gary, IN, LaVonda Jackson-McGhee of Pine Bluff, Veronica Jackson-McGhee of Monticello, William McGhee Jr. of Fordyce, Barry McGhee-U.S. Army-Seoul, Korea, Shenise McGhee and Shaun McGhee both of North Little Rock, Courtney Jackson-McGhee of Rison, Kendrick Nicole McGhee of Pine Bluff, Corey Jackson-McGhee (Amy) of Little Rock, Kelli McGhee, Fannie Jackson-McGhee, JaNae Jackson-McGhee all of Pine Bluff, AR, Shernell Smith of Pittsburgh, PA, Adrian Smith, of Fayetteville and Aaron Pinkard of Rison; nine grandchildren, Romel Robinson, Rasheeda Robinson, Desiree Wiggins-McGhee, Jazlynn Wiggins, Colby Davis, KeShaun Davis, Braden McGhee, Issac McGhee and Olivia Jackson-McGhee and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, February 22, 2008 at Buie Chapel in Rison. Burial will follow in the Liberty Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Thursday, February 21, 2008 at Buie Funeral Home in Rison. Arrangements are under the direction of Buie Funeral Home of Rison (870) 325-6216.