Saville Shaw Henry

Saville Shaw Henry, 79, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, August 4, 2013. She was born on October 18, 1933 in Lonoke, Arkansas to Robert (R.L.) and Mable Young. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brother, Julian Young, and her sister Bobbie Benton. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Carol Henry, her daughter Cindy Shaw Henry and son-in-law Joe Marchese, her son Cal Henry, her grandchildren Heather Lindsey and Tyler Lindsey, her sister, Shirley Fotioo, and her brother Bob Young. Saville grew up as the youngest of five siblings and was named for her Aunt Saville who paid for her birth during the hard times of the Depression. Saville enjoyed small town life in Lonoke, Arkansas, where her mother was a piano teacher and church organist and her father ran a grocery store on Main Street. They taught her the meaning of service and discipleship. She met the love of her life, Carol Henry, when she was 14 years old and they were together for the rest of her life. She graduated from Lonoke High School in 1950, was the class valedictorian and voted "All American Girl". After high school she attended Hendrix College and then married Carol in 1952. Carol became a football coach and their life together was full of family, friends, faith, and of course, football. After a time in Paragould, they moved to North Little Rock where Saville started a life of ministry to children and youth. Her heart for young people brought her to the North Little Rock Community Center as Director and then she became the Director of Christian Education at First United Methodist Church of NLR from 1968-1972. She served as North Arkansas United Methodist Conference Youth Coordinator from 1970-1976 and was on staff at Lakewood United Methodist Church as Program Director from 1972-1980. One of the fondest memories of those years was a yearly comedy-variety show that she wrote and directed called "Laffidup". After her "retirement" in 1980 she continued to serve selflessly in ministry. Saville was a Board Member of The Shepherd Center, volunteered weekly as a music leader for 13 years at Riley's Oak Hill Manor, and served for 25 years as a volunteer at her beloved Camp Aldersgate. In 1990 she was awarded as a Camp Aldersgate Roll of Honor Recipient and she is the only Honorary Lifetime Board Member for the camp. Other recognitions include 1990 Arkansas Community Service Award, 1991 President's Volunteer Action Award, 1999 Presidential Golden Rule Award, and in 2010 she was awarded the Brumley Award for Religious Education from Hendrix College. Saville dedicated her life to her family and to serving God. She was creative, she had a special gift for teaching, and she loved to write plays, poems, and skits. Her home was full of laughter and fun, she loved playing cards and Scrabble with her girlfriends June and Esther, and every Summer "Camp Mama" was a favorite time for her grandchildren. She had a disciplined spiritual life and her private time with God was the source of her faith and service. Someone once said, "Where there's a need, there's Saville." The family would like to thank Arkansas Hospice and the caregivers who have become like family over the past two years. Memorials in Saville's honor can be made to Camp Aldersgate or to the Saville Henry Endowment Fund of Lakewood United Methodist Church. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Lakewood United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Rest Hills Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the church, 1922 Topf Road, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72116. Arrangements are by the North Little Rock Funeral Home, a Smith Family Funeral Home. Online obituary at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.