Obituaries

Ira Mae Hameth

Photo of Ira Mae Hameth
Ire Mae Hameth was born February 24, 1931 to Nettie Bealer and Anderson "Coot" Bealer of Parkdale, Arkansas. She was one of seven children. She received her formal education from Chicot Memorial Training School in Dermott, Ark. She later attended Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark. where she met her husband Sterling Freeman Sr. and they united in holy matrimony in 1950. After marriage, she returned to Dermott, Ark. and began working at Glamorise. As she continued her growth as a wife and mother, she sought spiritual guidance. She joined Holland Chapel AME Church and later was baptized. After a few life changes, she, later, married Bryant H. Hameth. The family then moved its membership to Tabernacle Baptist Church. In 1975, she moved her family to McGehee, Ark. where she later joined McGehee Chapel Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. T.S. Skipper where she remained an active member for many years. She began working as a dietary assistant at McGehee Hospital in 1975 and retired in 1997. After raising all of her children, she returned to her roots where she became a caregiver for her aunt just as she had been for her mother, father and son. Upon retiring she never stopped caring for others as she became a foster grandparent at Dermott Elementary School. She enjoyed fishing, cooking, listening to gospel music, playing bingo and most of all dressing. One thing for certain, she never sat down for too long. During the early morning hours of May 16, 2018, her caregiver role was reversed as she transitioned, peacefully, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in North Little Rock, Ark. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Pete Bealer, (St. Louis, Mo.), June "J.B." Bealer, (Montrose, Ark.), Nathiel "Jim" Bealer (Santa Monica, Calif.), and Calvin Bealer (Cleveland, Ohio). She is survived by her sister, Eliza Myles of Little Rock, Ark. and Anderson "Ted" Bealer of Indianapolis, Ind. Her memory will live on in the hearts of her children, Carolyn Freeman, Ruby Ray and Michael Freeman all of Los Angeles, Calif., Ronnie E. Hameth ( Augusta, Ga.) Sterling Freeman Jr. (Little Rock, Ark.), Wayne Hameth (Little Rock, Ark.) and Reginald L. Hameth of Memphis,, Tenn. A host of loved ones including grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews will keep her memory alive forever. Services will be held in the Ruffin & Jarrett chapel, Thursday, May 24, 2018, 11 a.m., 1200 Chester St., Little Rock, Ark. (501) 372-1305. Interment will follow at Arkansas Memorial Gardens.

Published May 23, 2018

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