Viola Fern Works Meekins

Viola Fern Works Meekins, surrounded by family members, passed to Jesus Christ our Lord on May 30, 2013. She was preceded in death by her husband George A. Meekins, her parents Jason Sanford and Emma Lou Works, daughter Emma Simpson Vaughn and eight siblings. Viola was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on June 17, 1922. She graduated from Dunbar High School in 1941 and Dunbar Junior College in 1943. Thereafter, she began teaching at Upchurch High School and McRae High School, both in Prescott, Arkansas. During this time, she was also pursuing her Bachelor's degree from Philander Smith College. Continuing her educational pursuits, she earned her Master's degree in Business Education from the University of Arkansas in 1954. Returning to Little Rock in 1957, she taught one year at Dunbar Junior High School before beginning her long tenure in the Stuttgart Public School System in 1958. In Stuttgart, she taught at Holman High School, before it merged with Stuttgart High School, in 1971 and continued to teach there until she retired in 1989. During her period of retirement, she continued her love of teaching and interacting with the community by teaching various adult education classes and performing community outreach services to the Senior citizens of Stuttgart. Furthermore, during this period she was continually reelected as a Justice of the Peace and a member of the Quorum Court for Arkansas County, Arkansas. After 15 years of retirement and community service, she was called back into the classroom to lend her considerable knowledge to teach middle school students. She taught those students until her final retirement in 2010. Viola Meekins will always be remembered by her constant smile and her indomitable spirit to influence young men and women in preparing themselves for an ever-changing world. She will also be remembered for her commitment to Christ our Lord and the various churches and organizations that she supported. She leaves to cherish her memory a son Jason (Celeste), a daughter, Carolyn, brothers Bobby, Earnest (Future) and a host of nieces, nephews and grandchildren. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2013, 11 a.m., at 1st Baptist Church, 2215 S. Prairie, Stuttgart, Arkansas. There will be a viewing Saturday, 10-11 a.m., prior to the service, at the church. Family hour: Friday, June 7, 2013, 6-7 p.m., at Ruffin & Jarrett Funeral Home, 1200 S. Chester Street, Little Rock, Ark. (501) 372-1305. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes any expressions of sympathy be made in the form of a donation to the "Viola Meekins Scholarship Fund", Stuttgart Public Schools. 2501 South Main, Stuttgart, Ark. 72160. Phone (870) 673-8701; fax (870) 673-7337. http://www.stuttgartschools.org/pages/Stuttgart_Public_Schools.