Margaret Ann Hooder

Margaret Ann Benson Hooder, a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, May 11, 2018. Margaret loved her family and friends more than anything, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved life, laughing, and had an incredibly kind and selfless heart. She found and spread joy everywhere she went. Margaret lunched weekly with her "girls", passionately volunteered with numerous charitable organizations, and faithfully served her church community all her life. Born February 23, 1940 in Bastrop, La., to Fred T. and Verda L. (Owens) Nowlin, she spent most of her childhood in Hampton, Ark. Margaret was valedictorian of the 1958 graduating class of South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas, Texas, and later attended Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. She started her career with Prudential Insurance Company in Atlanta, Ga., before transferring to Little Rock, and retired after more than 40 years there. Margaret married W. C. "Dub" Benson on September 2, 1960. They had two children and remained married for 40 years. Later in life, Margaret reconnected with high school boyfriend, Gilbert Hooder, and they were married on October 10, 2014. In their time together, Gil was a loving and devoted husband and they treasured their time and happiness with each other over the last years. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Verda Nowlin, and her brother Fred Nowlin, Jr. She is survived by her husband, Gilbert Hooder; son and daughter in law, Craig and Charlotte Benson; daughter and son in law, Ann Michelle and Pryor Robertson; five grandchildren, Alexis, Conner, Christiane, Garland, and Craig; and two great-grandchildren, Samantha and Alyssa. She is also survived by her step daughter and son in law, Marcy and Dean Gorman, and their two sons Jordan and Silas, all of whom she dearly loved as her own. Additionally, she will be deeply missed by a host of extended family and friends. Margaret was a tireless advocate for the Beyond Batten Disease Foundation. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to www.beahero.beyondbatten.org. There will be a visitation in Little Rock at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home on Thursday, May 17th from 6:00 to 8:00pm. Graveside services will be Friday, May 18th at 11:00am at Means Cemetery in Hampton, Ark. Arrangements are by Benton Funeral Home of Hampton/Fordyce. To sign the online register visit www.bentonfuneralhome.net.