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Submitted: 10/9/21 • Approved: 10/9/21 • Last Updated: 6/29/23 • R1394786-G1394785-S3
February 8, 1943 - January 24, 2019
Barbara Edine Rushing Lyerly was born February 8, 1943, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Edgar Benson and Georgia Ruth Wiggins Rushing. After the death of her mother in 1944, Barbara was blessed to be raised by Edgar and her new mom, Nelle Yates Rushing in Chidester, Arkansas.
She graduated from Chidester High School in 1961. It was there that she began her dream of educating others. Marriage and children put her dream on hold for a time, but she graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and began her career in Ashdown schools in Ashdown, Arkansas. She impacted the lives of many kindergarten students during the twenty plus years in the classroom, before moving into school administration. She served as Elementary Principal at Burke Street Elementary in Ashdown for many years and retired as Assistant Superintendent of Schools at Vilonia, Arkansas. She completed many hours of continuing education along the way at Texas A&M, Texarkana, Henderson State and Michigan State University and was instrumental in improving student education in Arkansas. She served on many local and state education boards.
Barbara is survived by her husband, R W “Dub” Lyerly of their home in Jonesboro, Arkansas; her children, Jan Smithson (Jay) of Little Rock, Jon Prather of Fayetteville, Shane Lyerly (Meghan) of Jonesboro and Becky Brown (Tracy) of Leachville; her pride and joy, her grandchildren, Graham and Grant Smithson, Maschel , John Michael and Matthew Lyerly, Madison and Hallie Brown; great-grandchild, Beckett Henry; sister, Sydney King (Berry) of Longview, Texas and their children, Kay Kiesel and John King, as well as many other family and friends.
She was predeceased by her parents and her very dear best friend, Sandra East.
Barbara left this earth to join many she has loved on Thursday, January 24, 2019.
Funeral services will be Monday, January 28, 2019, at 11:00 AM at the Rushing Memorial Methodist Church in Chidester, Arkansas by Proctor Funeral Home with Reverend Ralph Burns and Reverend John Arnold officiating. Burial will follow in the Chidester Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Charles Slater, Todd Smithson, Jarrod Purifoy, Jason Purifoy, John King, Tony Kiesel, David Beaver, Howell Pickett and Bob Atkins. Honorary Pallbearers are Frank Mitchell, Jim Belote, Mickey Lewis, Bill Stringer, Cecil East, Perry Young, Wayne Murphy, Sue Farris, Mary Jane Attwood, Sandy Ragland, Sammy Purifoy and Cliff Collins.
Contributed on 10/9/21 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 1394786