Edna Mae Freeman

Edna Mae Freeman, 96, passed away Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at Monette Manor. She was born May 19, 1914 near Monette to the late Henry and Pearl Richardson. Mrs. Freeman began her teaching career at Wallace School in the mid 1930s and then taught at West Ridge. She began her career at Monette Public Schools in 1942 until her retirement in 1974, most of those years as principal. After retiring, she served as Craighead County Schools Supervisor and on the Monette Housing Authority Board and the Board of CRDC. She was the longest living member of the Monette First Baptist Church. She will be remembered for her consideration, kindness and friendship to all she taught and met.

Survivors include a grandson, Paul Taylor III; three great-grandchildren, Savannah Fowler, Halle Taylor and Austin Taylor; a niece, Billie Layne (Lucian); great-niece and nephew, Cindy Hatch (Mike) and Skip Layne (Marla) and several great-great nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by her husband, Charlie Freeman; a daughter, Olive Jo Taylor; a granddaughter, Elaine Taylor Fowler; and a brother, Roy Richardson.

A celebration of her life was held at 10 a.m. Friday at Monette First Baptist Church with Revs. John Paul Maynard, Jerry Reed and Zane Gragg officiating. Burial was in Monette Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Gregg Funeral Home of Monette.

Visitation was Thursday at the Monette First Baptist Church.

Honored to serve as pallbearers were Brian Hatch, Chip Layne, Jim Grisham, Bob Grisham, Chub Qualls and Frank Smithee. Honorary pallbearers were the Monette First Baptist Church deacons and former students and teachers of Monette Public Schools.

The family requests lasting memorials to the Monette First Baptist Church or the Edna Mae Freeman Scholarship Fund c/o of Buffalo Island Central School.

The online guest register is www.greggfunerals.com.