Elsie Evelyn Harper

Elsie Evelyn Harper, 86, of Fordyce, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, peacefully in her sleep. Mrs. Harper was born in Manning, AR, to the late Otis & Eva Tate Lawrence. Mrs. Harper was a loving & devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, & great great grandmother. She was a store manager for over 25 years, & a member of the Sulphur Springs Baptist Church in Chambersville, AR, where she taught Sunday School to children.

She is survived by her son Wayne Harper & his wife, Sharon of Mayflower, AR; her daughter, Freda Harper Blake & her husband, Kevin of Tucson, AZ; her brother, Otis Lawrence, Jr, of Little Rock, AR; three grandchildren, Billy Wayne Harper Jr. of Thornton, AR, Tammy Paladino of Mayflower, AR, Melissa Garlington of Tucson, AZ; five great grandchildren, & three great great grandchildren. Mrs. Harper was preceded in death by her husband George W. "Bill" Harper, two brothers, Jimmy Lawrence, Jerry Lawrence, & two sisters, Alice Sevier, & Shirley Edwards.

The family & extended family will have a private funeral service at Oak Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 PM Sunday evening at the funeral home in Fordyce. Arrangements are by Benton Funeral Home of Fordyce. To sign the online register visit www.bentonfuneralhome.com