Hester White Woodbury

Mrs. HESTER WHITE WOODBURY, of Little Rock, departed this life on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. She was born in Helena, Ark. on Nov. 25, 1926, to the late William Chelsey and Ruth Noland White. She was preceded in death by her parents; by her husband of 58 years, Ross Woodbury Sr.; by a son, Douglas Wayne Woodbury; and by a grandson, Timothy Lee Woodbury Jr. She is survived by 4 children, a daughter, Janice Worden (Charles) of Hensley; by three sons, Ross Woodbury Jr. (Sandra) of Benton, Timothy Woodbury of Little Rock, and David Woodbury of Little Rock. Also survived by seven grandchildren, Lisa (Kuntz) Miller of Ft. Smith, Chris Kuntz of Little Rock, Jason Woodbury of Dallas, Kristen Woodbury of Benton, Laura (Woodbury) Prejean of Little Rock, Chris Woodbury of Benton, and Cindy (Woodbury) Lovett of Sherwood. Also survived by 13 great-grandchildren and by very dear family members in Tennessee and Mississippi. "Mom" was first and foremost a keeper of a loving home. Ever the nurturer, in the earlier years she enjoyed cooking for her family – often trying out a featured recipe from the "Arkansas Gazette." She encouraged her children to appreciate the Bible, attend church, and personally relate to God through the Lord Jesus. She was an avid reader and would astound her children and guests with her grasp of American history. She loved music, sacred and secular, George Beverly Shea and Sinatra! She had compassion for the needy and a spiritual gift of giving so great it was joked she had to be monitored to keep her from "giving away the farm." She also, for a time, worked outside the home as a nurse for the Arkansas School for the Deaf and then as a secretary for the Catholic Diocese of Arkansas. Visitation will be held on Monday, Sept. 9, from 6 – 8 p.m. at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Ark. (501) 224-8300. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10, in the Chapel of Roller-Chenal Funeral Home with Dr. Ross Woodbury and Rev. Kevin Robbins officiating. Interment will be at Forest Hills Cemetery, Alexander, Ark. Memorials may be made to Trinity Baptist Church, P.O. Box 127, Mabelvale, Ark. 72103, or First Christian Church, 1500 N. Mississippi, Little Rock, Ark. 72207. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.