Jean Colwell Edmondson

Jean Colwell Edmondson, 81, passed away November 20, 2019 at St. Bernard’s Hospital in Jonesboro. Jean was born in the small community of Amity, outside of Hot Springs, Arkansas on May 30, 1938. Her mother, Lettie Lee Langford, raised three children, Jean, older brother Lee, and younger brother James. Her mother set a daily example of tireless work and love for the Lord and instilled these traits in her children at an early age which remained with each of them throughout life. In later years, their family moves into “town” and Jean would go on to graduate from Hot Springs High School. She worked for several years during this time at Cooks, a local ice cream shop in Hot Springs. Jean often talked of the Cook family and friends that she worked with. It was evident from her stories that she had many fond memories of those times and dear friendships. Jean went on to attend college and was a proud graduate of Quachita Baptist College. In college, she studied Home Economics and like her mother, Jean was a talented seamstress and cook. Following graduation, she traveled to Delaplaine for a job interview. She took the job and made her move from the beautiful mountains of Hot Springs to what appeared to be a mosquito infested swamp. Through the years, she always enjoyed any chance to visit a mountainous area and enjoyed a beautiful landscape. In Delaplaine, Jean rented a room from Mrs. Kellim which began a lifelong friendship and connection with that family. It was through that connection that she went on to meet her husband Bill. Jean was invited to a Sunday dinner following church with the Kellim family who were close friends with the Edmondson’s. Bill was home from the service. He and Jean met and began a beautiful relationship that lasted over 47 years. Bill and Jean moved following their marriage to Memphis where they began their family with the birth of their first son Alan, followed shortly by their second son Scott. While in Memphis Jean stayed home with the boys and Bill traveled with his work for Commercial Credit. Soon they moved to Benton where Jean began teaching and their third child Lee Ann was born a few years later. When an opportunity came for Bill to return to Walnut Ridge and work for Farm Bureau, they were excited and would call Walnut Ridge home for the remainder of their lives. Jean often told the story of one of her first trips uptown after moving to Walnut Ridge where Opal, her mother in law, said, “Now Jean, when you go to town smile and speak to people because you might be kin to them” Welcome to life in small town Arkansas. Jean spent her career in education with the majority of those years coming though her time at Walnut Ridge Elementary School. She loves teaching and enjoyed many strong friendships though her work. It was a gift to be able to be in the same setting with her own children and develop a love and connection with their friends from both a parent and a teacher perspective. Friends of Alan, Scott, and Lee Ann often referred to her as “Mrs. E” outside of school and loved to talk about her shaking her finger at them in class, if they needed correcting. Jean was active for a number of years in Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. She spent countless hours forming and supporting the girls’ softball program at Stewart Park and was determined to provide a quality program for young ladies sponsored by the sorority. Having raised 3 children who were all involved in athletics, she washed countless uniforms and sacrificed numerous holidays which were restricted by practice schedules and games. But she never minded this because her kids were her life…their life was her life. Another important part of her life was First United Methodist Church. She felt strongly that all the important events in your life should take place in the church. You are born in church though baptism, you are united in marriage in church, and when you pass away from this life you should again be in church. From the time she and Bill returned to Walnut Ridge, she faithfully ensured that her children were raised in their faith and she served in various roles in their religious education programs. In a spirit of service and compassion, typical to Jean, her most recent ministry was sending cards to members of the church and community. Whether to console a loss of congratulate an accomplishment, she was quick to make a list during church of the prayer, joys, and concerns to fuel her card selection of the week. Jean and Bill were blessed with a beautiful circle of friends throughout their life. They shared with them countless evenings of Razorback Football games, playing cards and Mexican dominos over the years. Jean loves animals and the enjoyed the outdoors. Over the years she allowed her children to have some interesting pets which has made for some crazy stories over the years…such pets as the alligator from Ben Robert Bush, a 3-legged cat, Zoomer the goat, Do-little the donkey and countless horses and cattle. She and Bill had numerous fun adventures related to their “hill farm,” They always enjoyed a fishing trip to the pond that usually resulted in a stringer of catfish. Jean was blessed with six grandchildren; Alan’s children, Mary Katherine and Mack Edmondson; Scott’s children, Payton and Will Edmondson; and Lee Ann’s boys, Preston and Reed Graddy. They were a constant source of joy, pride, and laughter for her. She began almost every day with a text to one or sometimes all of them wishing them a good day or good luck on a test or safe travels but ALWAYS ending with the line “Love and Prayers”. That is what she leaves us with, an untiring example of how to love and the importance of prayer. Our charge today for Jean is: May we carry her spirit forward with this scripture: Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8 Visitation and Service will be held on Saturday, November 23 at the First United Methodist Church in Walnut Ridge with the visitation beginning at 10:30 followed by the service at 12:00 officiated by Rev. Beth Perdue. A burial will follow at Lawrence Memorial Park Cemetery in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. Her family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of Lawrence Memorial and St. Bernard’s Hospital as well as the Hospice staff for their wonderful care and support in Jean’s final days. For a lasting memorial the family asks that you please consider the First United Methodist Church, 214 SW 2nd Street, Walnut Ridge, AR 72476, or a charity of your choice.

Jean Colwell Edmondson

May 30, 1938 - November 20, 2019