Frances A. Braden Berk

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Frances A. Braden Berk, 79, passed away Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House. She was born March 31, 1932, near Caraway to the late Robert Lee Braden and Ruth V. Hamilton Braden. She was a homemaker and a member of the Nettleton Baptist Church. In her younger years, Frances was active in her church as preschool teacher and also a leader of Baptist Young Women. Frances loved children and greatly enjoyed spending time with her five grandchildren who loved her dearly.

She was a loving mother and always played an active role in her children's lives, serving in the role of school volunteer, Sunday School teacher, band booster and as avid fan for all their activities. She loved conducting geneology research and collected volumes of photos and historical documents to record her precious family heritage.

She was also preceded in death by a brother, Robert Eugene Braden.

She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Kenneth David Berk; a son and his wife, David Lee Berk and Stacey Jeanine Willer Berk of Waupaca, Wis.; two daughters and their husbands, Linda Allene Berk Thompson and Dennis H. of Madison, Ala., and Sharon Colleen Berk Groves and Christopher C. of Jonesboro; five grandchildren, Jonathan Christopher, Sarah Gabrielle, Mikala Elizabeth and Allison Mikel Groves of Jonesboro and Natalie Johanna Berk of Waupaca.

A celebration of her life was 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 19, at Gregg-Langford Bookout Funeral Home Chapel, 300 W. Matthews, Jonesboro, with Rev. Harold Ray and Dr. Stan Ballard officiating. Burial was in Caraway Cemetery.

Visitation was 10 a.m. until time of service at the funeral home.

Honored to serve as pallbearers were Jerry Seats, Jim Lamkin, George Williamson, Gerald Barker, Bill Breeden and James Gould. Honorary pallbearer were members of the Sanctuary Class of Nettleton Baptist Church.

Lasting memorials may be made to the Nettleton Baptist Church or to Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House.

Personal condolences may be sent to the Berk family at www.greggfunerals.com.