Helping Families and Friends Honor Their Loved One

Willa Dean Samuel Grimes, 85

Willa Dean Samuel Grimes, of Little Rock, passed away on Friday, August 17, 2018 at the age of 85.  She was born on May 30, 1933 in Springdale, Arkansas to the late William and Blanche Samuel.

She is also preceded in death by her husband Bobby Joe Grimes and Norma Jean Johnson.

She leaves behind her two children Deana Jo Grimes Waldrop (Scott) and Robert Keith Grimes, five grandchildren Esther McCllelan (Hunter), Lydia Cole (Joey), Hannah Holloway (Richard), Abigail Allen (Steve) and Gabriel Waldrop, twelve great- grandchildren Anais, Cooper, Phoenix, Parker, Braylon, Natalie, Mya, Stevie, Harper, Audrey, Madeline and Raven; one great-great-grandchild Orion and sister Gloria Sue Law.  

Willa was a graduate of Ft. Smith Senior High Class of 1951 and a graduate of Ft. Smith Junior College. Willa was a member of Geyer Springs First Baptist Church and a huge fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks.  She enjoyed playing games and being with her friends, but she dearly loved bargain shopping especially at JC Penny’s.  She was especially generous with her family making sure everyone always got what they wanted.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, August 27, 2018 at 10:30 A.M. at Geyer Springs First Baptist Church, 12400 I-30, Little Rock, Arkansas.  Inurnment services will follow at Forest Hills Cemetery, Alexander, Arkansas.

Cremation arrangements are under the trusted direction of A Natural State Funeral Service, 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas, 72076. 501-982-3400

26 Comments

  • BETTY BERGAGNINI Posted August 20, 2018 7:23 AM

    THIS WAS MY DEAR FRIEND FOR SO MANY YEARS.

    • Gloria Law Posted August 22, 2018 1:47 PM

      Betty Bergagnini, thank you for your sweet words. I hope to see you at the Celebration of Life Service Monday, the 27th, at 10:30, at Geyer Springs Baptist Church. –Gloria Law

      • BETTY BERGAGNINI Posted August 22, 2018 5:07 PM

        I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ONCE AGAIN.
        BETTY

  • Donna Guillory Posted August 20, 2018 8:39 AM

    She had a heart of gold. Smile of an angle and thinking of everyone. Special lady.

    • Gloria Law Posted August 22, 2018 1:49 PM

      Thank you, Donna, for your sweet words!

  • Sheila Trujillo Posted August 20, 2018 10:03 AM

    I’m going to miss this dear sweet loving lady,will miss our daily telephone calls and playing cards with her. You’re n a better place my dearest friend But you will be missed terribly by all your friends and family.,
    ,

    • Gloria Law Posted August 22, 2018 1:50 PM

      Thank you, Sheila, for your sweet words!

  • Gloria Law Posted August 20, 2018 7:45 PM

    What a blessing to have Willa Dean as my sister. On the phone the night before she became “absent from the body and present with the Lord” she was thinking of her baby sister telling me to take good care of myself. I miss her terribly already but know I will see her again in heaven.

    • Deana Waldrop Posted September 13, 2018 7:24 PM

      I miss mom too

  • SHIRLETA CLEGG Posted August 20, 2018 9:41 PM

    When I first moved next door to this ANGEL in 1997. I knew we were going to build an AWESOME bond because she loved to shop and I did too..LOL! We would laugh, cry and talk all the time.She would tell me about all the good deals that JC Penny’s, Kroger and Food Giant would have going on. She always made sure before I left her house that I would pick a book out of her plastic bag and grab me a Coke out of fridge before I left. She would always say…. ”O honey I love you”. When I use to come home late at night from work and see her lamp light on through her window it made me feel good because I knew if nobody else wasn’t up in our neighborhood she was up with me…and now that I look over there and her light is not on. I just know that God called his ANGEL home to watch over us.I will miss her sooooo much she was just like a grandmother to me. May God continue to bless this family and give them strength in this time of sorrow. Granny Willa I love you..Shirleta

    • Gloria Law Posted August 22, 2018 1:51 PM

      Shirleta, thank you for you kind words!

  • SHIRLETA CLEGG Posted August 20, 2018 9:46 PM

    When I first moved next door to this ANGEL in 1997. I knew we were going to build an AWESOME bond because she loved to shop. She would tell me about all the good deals that JC Penny’s, Kroger and Food Giant would have going on. She always made sure before I left her house that I would pick a book out of her plastic bag and grab me a Coke out of fridge before I left. She would always say…. ”O honey I love you”. When I use to come home late at night from work and see her lamp light on through her window it made me feel good because I knew if nobody else wasn’t up in our neighborhood she was up with me..and now that I look over there and her light is not on. I just know that God called his ANGEL home to watch over us.I will miss her sooooo much she was just like a grandmother to me. May God continue to bless this family and give them strength in this time of sorrow. Granny Willa I love you..Shirleta

  • Brun & Dixie Johnson Posted August 20, 2018 10:01 PM

    My Aunt; Loved so much!

    • Gloria Law Posted August 22, 2018 1:52 PM

      Thank you, Brun and Dixie, for you kind words!

  • Becky Ashwood Posted August 20, 2018 10:23 PM

    Such a wonderful aunt…I’m going to miss her!

    • Gloria Law Posted August 22, 2018 1:53 PM

      Becky, how blessed we’ve been to have Willa in our lives!

  • Ron & Debra Ward Posted August 21, 2018 1:52 PM

    Your family has been in our prayers this whole time. Thru our precious friend, Gloria, of course Willa’s sister have kept u all in prayer. We send our deepest sympathies to u all.

    • Gloria Law Posted August 22, 2018 1:54 PM

      Thank you, Ron and Debra, for all your prayers!

  • Ronnie and Dirinda Skelton Posted August 24, 2018 10:56 AM

    We are so sorry we can’t be there for the Celebration of Life for our cousin Willa!
    Thankful she is no longer in pain.

    • Deana Waldrop Posted September 13, 2018 7:29 PM

      I missed you all being with us at mom’s memorial. The plant you sent was perfect.

  • Cindy Duncan Posted August 25, 2018 8:13 AM

    Mrs. Willa was an amazing women and very full of wisdom. We had some wonderful conversations and I will miss all the great advice she gave me. Heaven has truly received an angel. She will be greatly missed

  • Gloria Markus Posted August 26, 2018 12:04 AM

    Will a Dean was a good friend that I had not seen in awhile. I worked with her years ago. She was so proud of her children and her grandchildren. She will be missed. My prayers for your family m a y God bless and keep you during this sad time.

  • Joel & Debby Tompkins Posted August 27, 2018 8:48 AM

    Although we were not related by blood, she treated us as family members. We will always remember her sweet nature and smile. What a loving soul.

  • Debbie Drury Posted August 27, 2018 11:31 AM

    I worked with Willa Dean at Montgomery Wards back in 1977. She was awesome!!! Kind and always cheerful. Sorry to hear of her passing

  • Deana Waldrop Posted September 13, 2018 7:34 PM

    My Mom I miss her very much. Her celebration of life service was very special.

  • Linda Deere Posted December 14, 2018 10:10 PM

    This year was a whirl wind for me dealing with my husband who had Alzheimer and he passed into Glory on September 29th. I had not been in touch with Willa. and today this has been a shock since no one called me that she passed. We had known each other since 1982 as co-workers at SD. Leasing. i love her so and yes she loved Jesus and is there with Him today. So Sorry for all of the family and your lose of a sweet loving person. . I know she loved you all so much.. I love you too!

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