Edward Earl ‘Bubba’ Tolefree, 79, of Warren, passed away June 19, 2025. Born February 1, 1946, to the late Troy and Augusta Kolen Tolefree. A proud 1965 graduate of Bradley County High School, Bubba was a standout basketball player with dreams of going pro. Though basketball could have taken him far, duty called. In September 1966, he joined the U.S. Army and served as an Airborne Ranger and served 3 tours in the Vietnam War, earning numerous medals for his courageous service before being honorably discharged in 1971.
Edward married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Martha Joyce Watson. Their 59-year marriage was built on loyalty, strength, and an unbreakable bond. Wherever you saw Joyce, you saw Bubba, because he wasn’t going to far from her side. She was his rock, and no matter what he went through in life, war, car accidents, even a house fire that destroyed everything in his family home, nothing moved him more deeply than his love for her. Even after her passing, his love for Joyce never wavered.
Edward accepted Christ at an early age and lived a life marked by faith, honesty and love.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Joyce Tolefree; daughter, Bridgette Chantel Tolefree; parents, Troy and Augusta Kolen Tolefree; brothers, Thomas Tolefree, Troy Tolefree Jr., Earl Phillips; sisters,
Quinzolla Tolefree Ellis, Eloise Tolefree Ellis and grandson, Joseph Gabriel Tolefree.
He is survived by three sons, Edward J. Tolefree of Warren, AR., Earl L. Tolefree of Sacramento, CA., Ted L. Tolefree of Groves, TX.; four daughters, Venoria Hayes of Dallas, TX, Victoria Garcia of Washington, DC, Jennifer Halverson, Neillsville, WI, Shemika Tolefree-Brooks (Courtney) of Jacksonville, AR; twenty-one grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren; four sisters, Lois Tolefree, Mildred Tolefree Green (Perry), both of Warren, AR, Geraldine Tolefree McIntosh of St. Paul, MN, Angela Tolefree Meeks of Johnsville, AR; one brother, Mack E. Tolefree of Chicago, IL; a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral service was held July 5 at St. James AME Church in Warren, AR with Presiding Elder James R. Hooper officiating. Burial was in St. Paul Cemetery, Warren, AR. Arrangements by Hammons Funeral Home.
