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Submitted: 8/15/15 • Approved: 6/13/22 • Last Updated: 6/16/22 • R1093489-G1093489-S3
March 1, 1829 - August 27, 1931
Age 102 Years
*Obituary
Fayetteville Democrat
Thursday, August 27, 1931
SCHOOLFIELD, Mary A. Hutcheson - Oldest Citizen Passes Today - Mrs. Mary A. Schoolfield Dies At Age of 102; Funeral Friday - Fayetteville's oldest resident, Mrs. Mary A. Schoolfield, who was 102 years old last March, died at her home today.
With her at the time of her death were her son, R.E. Schoolfield, of Wichita Falls, Texas and Mrs. Schoolfield; her daughter, Mrs. Hortense LeGates of San Antonio, Texas, and two granddaughters, Treda Schoolfield of Wichita Falls and Gladys Bozarth of Fayetteville.
FUNERAL FRIDAY
Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock at Central Methodist church with Rev. William Sherman in charge, assisted by Rev. N.M. Ragland. Interment will be in Evergreen cemetery.
Pallbearers will be: Active - J.P. Scott, W.L. Crouch, Hal Cravens, Frank Lewis, John P. Smith and Alcuin P. Eason.
Honorary - G.W. Droke, J.F. Winchester, C.O. Hansard, Tom Taylor, C.R. Gilbreath, Hugh Reagan of Rogers, R.J. Wilson, B.R. Davidson, Vol Walker, J.M. Williams, M. Baum, Wiley McNair, M.W. McRoy, Elzie Davies, L.B. Stone and J.H. McIlroy.
Mrs. Mary A. Hutcheson Schoolfield was born March 1, 1829 in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, the daughter of Charles and Sarah Worthington Hutcheson. She married Robert E. Schoolfield in Meigs County, Tennessee in 1849.
Two years ago when Mrs. Schoolfield celebrated her 100th year children and grandchildren from three States gathered to help celebrate, and the previous year she was Fayetteville's honored guest in the town's centennial events.
Besides those who were here at her last illness, she is survived by three grandchildren, Mrs. Eunice Alston, Mrs. Paul H. Anderson and Mrs. Arnold F. Brown and two great-grandchildren, Mary Melou Brown and Billy Payne Alston, all of Shreveport, Louisiana; a grandson, John L. Schoolfield and two great-grandchildren, Alberta and Peggy Schoolfield of El Paso, Texas; two grandchildren, Archie Fleming and Mrs. Pearl Chappell, and two great-grandchildren, Archie Fleming, Jr. and Hortense Chappell of San Antonio. Mrs. Sue Bozarth, the daughter with whom Mrs. Schoolfield made her home for many years, died June 18, 1930.
*Obituary
Fayetteville Democrat
Friday, August 28, 1931
Mrs. Schoolfield Laid To Rest - Funeral services for Mrs. Mary A. Schoolfield were held this afternoon at 3 o'clock at Central Methodist church, with Rev. William Sherman officiating, assisted by Rev. H.M. Lewis and N.M. Ragland.
Mrs. Schoolfield, who was Fayetteville's oldest citizen, was 102 years old last March 1st.
Mrs. C.C. Yarrington, director of the Methodist choir, was in charge of music, and the three favorite hymns of Mrs. Schoolfield were sung. They were, "Jesus Lover of My Soul," "How Firm a Foundation" and "Rock of Ages."
HAD READ BIBLE SIX TIMES
Mrs. Schoolfield had been a member of the Methodist church for 82 years and she was one of the few lay people who have read the Bible through from cover to cover more than one time. Beginning January 1, she read three chapters daily and five chapters on Sunday, until she had read through the entire Bible six times.
LIFE AFFECTED BY FIGURE NINE
Among unusual events in Mrs. Schoolfield's life was the fact that the figure nine played a prominent part in important events. She was born in 1829, married in 1849, her husband died in 1869 and she had nine grandchildren. She reached her 100th year in 1929 and said in 1928 she knew she would live to be 100 because she "would pass the figure nine."
Mrs. Schoolfield is survived by a son, R.E. Schoolfield of Wichita Falls, and a daughter, Mrs. Hortense LeGate of San Antonio, Texas. Her son and daughter, and two granddaughters, Treda Schoolfield of Wichita Falls and Gladys Bozarth of Fayetteville were with her at her death.
She was born in Bledsoe County, Tennessee the daughter of Charles and Sarah Worthington Hutcheson, and she married Robert E. Schoolfield in 1849.
Among out of town relatives here for the funeral are Mr. and Mrs. Earnest Hutcheson of Bay City, Texas. Mr. Hutcheson has been attending summer school at the University.
*Obituary
Oklahoma City Oklahoman
Sunday, March 2, 1930
101 Years Old, She Gives Sage Advice – Fayetteville, Ark. March 1. – On her 101st birthday, Mrs. Mary Schoolfield offered this advice to the modern girl, “Once you see your man, grab him and stick to your cook pots.”
She followed it when she was 19 years old and a Tennessee belle, back in the days of ’49.
The oldest woman in Fayetteville believes in prohibition, doesn’t exercise her vote, never used powder or paint, eats everything she wants, uses neither coffee nor tea, has three children and her son Robert, 60 years old, Oklahoma City, is the youngest. - - R.E. Schoolfield, 1711 West Seventeenth Street is the son of Mrs. Mary Schoolfield.
*Obituary
Benton County Record & Democrat & Sun
Thursday, September 3, 1931
Mrs. Mary A. Schoolfield died at the home of a daughter in Fayetteville last Thursday at the age of 102 years. She was thought to have been the oldest woman in Northwest Arkansas. She was a native of Tennessee.
Contributed on 8/15/15 by wfields55
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Record #: 1093489