Alice Bennett, age 79

Alice Bennett, 79, of Sherwood, passed away August 10, 2023. She was born February 18, 1944 to the late Marion Boyd Craig and Lois Christine Craig (Perry) in Hazen, Arkansas. She is survived by her husband of sixty-two years Virgil Harold Bennett, Jr., son Jeffrey Bennett and his wife Kathy, and Pam Tubbs and her husband Phillip. Three wonderful grandsons, Aaron Tubbs and his wife Sarah, Dr. Joshua Bennett and his wife Morgan, Matthew Bennett, and one beautiful great granddaughter Oaklynn Tubbs. Her sisters Peggy Boyce of Sherwood, Doris Huckabay of Conway and many nieces and nephews.

Alice graduated high school in May 1961 and married Virgil in June the same year. There were many adventures in her lifetime. Her most favorite was that of being a wife, a mom, a grandmother and a great grandmother. She loved being a mother and adored her children. She was blessed with three grandsons and a great granddaughter. These grandchildren were her world. Her favorite title in life was being called Mamaw Alice. She would always say being a mother was great, but being a grandmother well that is my reward. She was so active in all their lives. She attended every ball game, every choir concert, every school event. She never missed a moment to share in the memories of their lives. She spoiled them, adored them, loved them and put each one on a pedestal. She never missed an opportunity to brag about them to everyone.

Alice and her sisters were very close. Alice loved to share holidays and special days with her sisters and their families. Holidays were very special to Alice, especially Easter and Christmas and sharing them with family was what made them even more special to her.

Alice loved the Lord and raised her children to love Him. Church was very important to her. When she was able, she attended church every Sunday. She always put God first and would seek out His wisdom through diligently praying, reading her Bible daily, and asking God to guide her. She was an exemplary example of faith, strength and grace. Alice’s gentle nature, with such an upbeat attitude and a smile that would light up a room made everyone she met become her friend. Her philosophy in life was simple…love one another in God’s love and your heart will always be full. She believed in telling everyone she talked to that she loved them. She wanted them to know that they were important to her. Alice has an extraordinary ability to make people feel at ease around her. She was always interested in people. She showed us God’s love simply by living a life of compassion, kindness and steadfast faith. She would pray for people, lift them up to God and was an awesome prayer warrior.

Alice had several health issues, but she was determined to emerge from her difficulties by praising God for all her blessings. She always chose to focus on the positive side of situations rather than her pain. God places people that guide us and help us get through even the toughest of times. They are strength when we are weak, they are the sounding board, they are that beckon of light, they are the rainbow after a storm. Alice was these for most of us. We will treasure all the memories we had with her and share them with her grandchildren and great grandchildren as we start a new chapter in our lives without her. She will forever live in our hearts, minds and thoughts. Alice talked about her homecoming. She wanted us all to celebrate her life. She would talk about when God called her home and how she was anxiously waiting to sit at the feet of Jesus. Although our hearts are broken and we are hurting from the loss of a great wife, mom, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend we will honor her in celebrating her life here on earth and her new heavenly home. Alice was a member of Sylvan Hills First Baptist Church.

The family would like to thank the caring doctors and nurses of Hospice Care Unit at Baptist Health Hospital in Little Rock for their compassion and kindness they showed to Alice and to our family.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, August 17, 2023 from 5:00-7:00pm in the chapel at A Natural State Funeral Service in Jacksonville, Arkansas.

The funeral service will be held the following day on Friday, August 18, 2023 at 9:30am in the chapel at A Natural State Funeral Service.

Burial will follow after the service at Arkansas State Veteran’s Cemetery.

Arrangements by A Natural State Funeral Service 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas 72076. 501-982-3400. Online guestbook available at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com