Shirley Ann Jordan Haynes-Collins

Shirley Ann Jordan Haynes-Collins, 87, of Little Rock passed away Wednesday, October 26, 2011. Shirley was born to parents Clara Cox Jordan and Raymond Jordan in Wynne, Arkansas on August 3, 1924 where her life and legacy began. With the echo of the Great Depression and rural life in Humnoke, Arkansas, her character was shaped as a young girl. Strength, conviction, and dreams of "more" were the foundations of her life from early on. These foundations would carry her from the simple farm life of duck hunting and the cotton gin to college with a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Arkansas State Teacher's College, her masters from the University of Central Arkansas and finally, at age 50, her doctorate in Psychology from Loyola University in New Orleans. Along the path she found love, had three children, and enjoyed a remarkable career. While serving as a public school teacher in Humnoke, she influenced so many young lives. That legacy led to her many years with the Arkansas State Mental Hospital. Her extraordinary compassion for the human spirit and those suffering mental illness was only matched by her gift of intelligence and the ability to provide relief and healing. Her faith in God was always a foundation for her service. She was an active member of Humnoke Methodist Church for many years and later in life, Pulaski Heights United Methodist. She was a traveler – an explorer of souls and cultures. Making multiple trips to Europe and remote corners of the world, her radiant smile and bright eyes could not be contained. Her thirst for knowledge and new experience never faded. For her, tragedy was an opportunity to grow, to find new love, embrace God's grace for another day, and passionately journey into the next chapter of life. On Wednesday morning, October 26th with her granddaughter by her side, she took her final journey to be with the Lord and rejoin the loved ones that passed before her. She is preceded in death by her parents, her son Dr. Jordan Wright (Buddy) Ray, and her loves - Lester Wright (LW) Ray, Arthur Henze, Charlie Haynes and Herbert Collins. She is survived by her daughters, Karen Ray Massey, Sharon (Teenie) Ray Wilson (Benny), her granddaughter, Ashli Wilson Cohen (Doug), her grandsons, Todd Gravett (Stacy) and Kevin Gravett, and four great-grandchildren, Chase, Anna, and Olivia Gravett and Mitchell Arthur Cohen. Services to celebrate her life will be at 11 a.m., Friday, October 28, 2011 at Roller-Owens Funeral Home Chapel (501-791-7400) with Tom Camp officiating. Interment ceremony will be held at Flynn Cemetery in Humnoke where she will be laid to rest next to her son. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m., Thursday at the funeral home. Because Shirley always had a heart for the homeless and less fortunate, memorial contributions may be made to The Compassion Center, 3618 W. Roosevelt Rd., Little Rock, Ark. 72204, Gaines House, 1702 S. Gaines St. Little Rock, Ark. 72206 or Our House, P.O. Box 34155, Little Rock, Ark. 72203. Online guestbook www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/owens.