Vera Elizabeth (Beth) Livingston Cartwright

VERA ELIZABETH (BETH) LIVINGSTON CARTWRIGHT, a longtime resident of North Little Rock, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2018 with family by her side, from complications of Alzheimer's Disease. Beth was born on December 30, 1931 in Carthage, Arkansas, to Ernest and Lois Livingston. For the first twelve years of her life, she lived in the towns of Hardy, Melbourne, Sheridan, and Rison, Arkansas. Her father worked for the Arkansas Forestry Commission and was transferred several times through the early years of her life. The family settled in Malvern, where Beth completed her education, graduating as Salutatorian of her High School class of 1950. While at Malvern High School, Beth played on the Women's Basketball Team for four years, was a member of the National Honor Society, a member of the High School Yearbook Annual Staff, was a Junior Class Officer, a Student Council Member for two years, and was named to Who's Who for three years. Beth worked in Malvern for a year and a half after graduating from High School. In 1952, Beth moved to Little Rock and accepted a job with General Motors Acceptance Corporation where she completed credit investigations for automotive and appliance applicants. While at GMAC, she met William Cartwright, a pharmacy school student, on a blind date, and after dating a couple of years, they were married on February 21, 1954. Beth and William moved to North Little Rock, where upon graduation, William practiced pharmacy, eventually owning Park Hill Pharmacy. Beth became very active in the educational, political, social, and professional areas of the community. She passionately believed in her ability to make a difference where she worked tirelessly and lovingly with her children and youth through Scouts, schools, her church, and many other organizations. Beth was the past President of the North Little Rock Junior Service League, of which she also served as Art Center chairman, placement chairman, provisional training chairman, member-at-large placement chairman, member of the Nominations Committee, and four years as a member of the Admissions Committee. She was an officer and charter member of the North Little Rock Jaycettes, Vice-President of the North Little Rock Progressive League, a member of the League of Women Voters, a member of the North Little Rock Women's Club, the 1967 North Little Rock Chairman of CURE (Citizens United for Responsible Education), and a member of the Chamber of Commerce Citizenship Committee and Scholarship Committee. Beth was a member of the Arkansas Baptist Medical Center Volunteers for Crisis Situations, the Salvation Army Auxiliary, a member of the Youth Home Auxiliary, Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, and a library aide in the North Little Rock school system. Beth served on the Boards of Directors of the following organizations and institutions: Arkansas Arts Center, Northeast Senior High PTA, North Little Rock Guidance Center, Arkansas Kidney Foundation, North Hills Exceptional Children's School, North Little Rock Youth Center, Lakewood Elementary PTA, and Lakewood Junior High PTA. She served as the vice-president of American Field Service (Foreign Student Exchange Program) and co-chairman of the North Little Rock Junior Cotillion. Beth was active in Lakewood United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the Administrative Board, chairman of stewardship, taught Sunday School classes and summer church school. In 1973, Beth was honored by the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce with the designation of "Woman of the Year" recognizing her youth work and in support of public education, as well as her church and civic work. On February 20, 1974, The North Little Rock City Council signed a resolution declaring its intent to appoint a woman to the North Little Rock Civil Service Commission. Soon thereafter, Beth was named as the first female Commissioner to the North Little Rock Civil Service Commission. In 1974, with her son in high school and daughter in junior high, Beth made the decision to obtain higher education by enrolling at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to pursue a degree in Psychology. She graduated in 1978 with a B.A. in Psychology, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She then completed her Master's Degree in Social Work in 1980, graduating with Highest Honors. While a student at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Beth was a member of the Alpha Epsilon Freshman Honor Society, was a UALR Student representative to the American Association of University Women, named to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, Vice-President of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, was a Dean's Counselor, and named to the Chancellor's List each semester for her academic performance. During her undergraduate and graduate years, she completed internships at the Mental Health Center of Greater Little Rock, the Crisis Center of Arkansas, The Little Rock Battered Women's Shelter, and the Family Service Agency. She was a member of the National Association of Social Workers, and in 1982, achieved additional certification as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Beth began her professional career with Youth Home Inc., in 1980 where she started as a Clinical Therapist. She advanced to Clinical Director, and served as Executive Director of Youth Home from October, 1993, until her retirement in December, 2008. During her tenure with Youth Home, Beth assisted in the development of the Professional Foster Care Program for male and female adolescents, worked with the Board of Directors to expand the school and Day Treatment programs, and provided leadership in creating alliances with UAMS's Department of Psychiatry to provide a training site at Youth Home for psychiatric resident physicians. Her vision and enthusiasm helped grow the Youth Home Organization's budget from $500,000 when she joined Youth Home as a Clinical Therapist in 1980 to nearly 8.5 million in 2003. Among her many accomplishments and recognition while at Youth Home, Beth was named as one of the Top 100 Women in Arkansas in 1995, published in Arkansas Business, and being named Non-Profit Executive of the Year in 2003. A residential treatment home was named for Beth in honor of her service to Youth Home upon her retirement. Beth is survived by her son Terry (Susan), of Plano, Texas, daughter Kim (Jill Gray), of North Little Rock, grand-daughter Maddie Cartwright of Norman, Oklahoma, brother Gaylon Livingston of Coppell, Texas, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, William, her parents, and her brothers Norman Crouse, and Adrian Livingston. A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, April 3, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills, 7724 Landers Road, North Little Rock, with David Napier, Executive Director of Youth Home Inc. conducting. Memorials may be made to Youth Home Inc., 20400 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72210, or to the charity of your choice. An online guestbook is available at www.griffinleggettresthills.com.