Billye Jeanne (Mason) Crawford of Tuckerman died June 19, 2009 at St. Bernard’s Hospital in Jonesboro following a brief illness. She was born Sept. 7, 1924, to Lewis and Myrtle Andrews Mason of Swifton. In 1945 she married Alfred William Crawford of Tuckerman. In 1954 they moved to Tuckerman where she lived until her death.
Greeting her in Heaven is her beloved husband of 60 years, Alfred “Daddy”; her parents; her sister, Freda Willmuth; her brother, James Lewis Mason; her dear grandson, Andrew William Crawford. Left to cherish her memory is her daughter, Mary Ann Jenkins and her husband Robert of Wynne; her son, Dr. Alan W. Crawford and his wife Beverly of Paragould; her grandson, Clayton Crawford Jenkins and wife Heidi of Wynne; her granddaughter, Sara Elizabeth Jenkins of Denver, Colo.; her great-grandchildren, Aerial London Jenkins, Carson Cuckler Jenkins and Robert Weston Jenkins all of Wynne. She also leaves behind lifelong friends Mrs. Sarah Barrett Watkins, Vickie and Wanda Williams all of Tuckerman, a town she never wanted to leave. A special thanks to those at the Jackson County Assisted Living Center who made her last weeks happy and content.
Miss Billye had a joy of living that is not often found. She reveled in the smallest events of daily life cooking, cleaning, sharing a cup of coffee with a friend, walking Molly, her daschund, sighting the first hummingbird of the season. She taught in Tuckerman Public Schools from 1954-1986. Whether her pupils were second graders, ninth graders or seniors, she nurtured the spark in each child. She wasn’t strict about many things, but she took as her mission the eradication of the word “ain’t”. Most who graduated from Tuckerman High School had fond memories of her various strategies. By the end of her career, she had taught thousands of students and counseled many teachers, principals and superintendents.
After she retired from teaching, she served as Jackson County School Supervisor from 1986 to 2001. She was an active and faithful member of the First Baptist Church for 55 years. She was also active in Delta Kappa Gamma and Retired Teachers’ Association. She was a charter member of Trails to Tuckerman Historical Society and the Happy Bookers, the local literary society. She loved reading, quilting, tending her roses and irises and caring for her Dominick chickens and peacocks.
Hers was a life well lived, enjoying family and friends and always looking for the light in the shadows. Giant cell arteritis robbed her of her sight in January, yet she never complained, saying often that sadness served no one well. She was the ultimate Southern Lady whose spirit and grace helped shape all those who came in contact with her.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at the United Methodist Church in Tuckerman with Bro. Derek Combs officiating. Interment followed in Gracelawn Cemetery in Tuckerman. Visitation was held Tuesday, June 23, 2009 from 5-7 p.m. at Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Hugh Burge, Bobby Clausen, Jim Cunningham, Pete Giles, Johnny Ivy, Chris Nagel, Larry Woods and Tommy Young. Honorary Pallbearers were Elwood Fisher and Bob Penix.
Memorials may be made to Trails to Tuckerman Historical Society, P.O. Box 976, Tuckerman, AR 72473.
Arrangements by Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home (www.jacksonsfh.com).
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Billye Jeanne (Mason) Crawford of Tuckerman died June 19, 2009 at St. Bernard’s Hospital in Jonesboro following a brief illness. She was born Sept. 7, 1924, to Lewis and Myrtle Andrews Mason of Swifton. In 1945 she married Alfred William Crawford of Tuckerman. In 1954 they moved to Tuckerman where she lived until her death.
Greeting her in Heaven is her beloved husband of 60 years, Alfred “Daddy”; her parents; her sister, Freda Willmuth; her brother, James Lewis Mason; her dear grandson, Andrew William Crawford. Left to cherish her memory is her daughter, Mary Ann Jenkins and her husband Robert of Wynne; her son, Dr. Alan W. Crawford and his wife Beverly of Paragould; her grandson, Clayton Crawford Jenkins and wife Heidi of Wynne; her granddaughter, Sara Elizabeth Jenkins of Denver, Colo.; her great-grandchildren, Aerial London Jenkins, Carson Cuckler Jenkins and Robert Weston Jenkins all of Wynne. She also leaves behind lifelong friends Mrs. Sarah Barrett Watkins, Vickie and Wanda Williams all of Tuckerman, a town she never wanted to leave. A special thanks to those at the Jackson County Assisted Living Center who made her last weeks happy and content.
Miss Billye had a joy of living that is not often found. She reveled in the smallest events of daily life cooking, cleaning, sharing a cup of coffee with a friend, walking Molly, her daschund, sighting the first hummingbird of the season. She taught in Tuckerman Public Schools from 1954-1986. Whether her pupils were second graders, ninth graders or seniors, she nurtured the spark in each child. She wasn’t strict about many things, but she took as her mission the eradication of the word “ain’t”. Most who graduated from Tuckerman High School had fond memories of her various strategies. By the end of her career, she had taught thousands of students and counseled many teachers, principals and superintendents.
After she retired from teaching, she served as Jackson County School Supervisor from 1986 to 2001. She was an active and faithful member of the First Baptist Church for 55 years. She was also active in Delta Kappa Gamma and Retired Teachers’ Association. She was a charter member of Trails to Tuckerman Historical Society and the Happy Bookers, the local literary society. She loved reading, quilting, tending her roses and irises and caring for her Dominick chickens and peacocks.
Hers was a life well lived, enjoying family and friends and always looking for the light in the shadows. Giant cell arteritis robbed her of her sight in January, yet she never complained, saying often that sadness served no one well. She was the ultimate Southern Lady whose spirit and grace helped shape all those who came in contact with her.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at the United Methodist Church in Tuckerman with Bro. Derek Combs officiating. Interment followed in Gracelawn Cemetery in Tuckerman. Visitation was held Tuesday, June 23, 2009 from 5-7 p.m. at Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Hugh Burge, Bobby Clausen, Jim Cunningham, Pete Giles, Johnny Ivy, Chris Nagel, Larry Woods and Tommy Young. Honorary Pallbearers were Elwood Fisher and Bob Penix.
Memorials may be made to Trails to Tuckerman Historical Society, P.O. Box 976, Tuckerman, AR 72473.
Arrangements by Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home (www.jacksonsfh.com).
