Lillian Elaine Wood Henderson

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Mrs. Lillian Elaine Wood Henderson, 96, of Wynne, died Tuesday, May 7, 2013, in Blytheville.

She was born July 25, 1916, in Hamlin, Ark., to Hampton Wood and Emma Prose Wood. She was a lifelong resident of Cross County, except for one year she enjoyed living in Gallipolis, Ohio, hometown of her father, with close relatives.

She married Charles Walter Henderson, May 9, 1937.

She was a graduate of Arkansas State University, and had taught elementary school at Hamlin, Smith Chapel, Fair Oaks, Wynne, and Hickory Ridge. She was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and Cross County Retired Teachers Association. She was a charter member of Central Methodist Church and was instrumental in establishing a long-term care fund for Union Grove Cemetery. She had attended the annual meeting at Union Grove each Memorial Day every year of her life except for two.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles; an infant daughter, Betty Carol; three brothers, Lester Wood, Clarence Wood and Vernon Wood; three step-brothers, F. M. Freshour, Elmer Elam and Clyde Elam; and two-stepsisters, Gertrude Dallas and Gail Wise.

She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Brenda Kay and Dan Dennett of Little Rock, and Sandra and Don Smith of Blytheville;

Three granddaughters and their husbands, Allyson and Brett Williams of Franklin, Tenn., Elizabeth (and Libby) and Charlie Speth of Washington, D. C., and Donna Smith of Fayetteville;

Four great-grandchildren, Lilla Speth, Grace Speth, Lane Tyler Williams and Charles Gray Williams;

One sister and brother-in-law, Helen Wood Brawner and Claude Brawner Jr.;

Her special friends, Bob and Dana Woodworth and Donnie and Linda Peeler; and

Several nieces and nephews and many friends and former students.

Services were held at 3 p.m. Thursday at Kernodle Funeral Home in Wynne with visitation proceeding at 2 p.m. Burial was be in Union Grove Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Union Grove Cemetery Future Care Fund, c/o Gary Wood, Trustee at 89 CR 128, Hickory Ridge, Ark. 72347 or Sandra H. Smith, Trustee, P. O. Box 206, Blytheville, Ark. 72316 or to Central United Methodist Church, c/o Mary Anne Cruthirds at 1050 Cross 156, Wynne, Ark. 72396.