Opal Esteene Shepherd

Opal Esteene Callaway Shepherd, age 88, of Arkadelphia, passed from this life on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013 at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock. She was born Oct. 24, 1924 in Alpine the daughter of the late Joe Fred and Jimmie Pagan Callaway. Opal graduated from Amity High School in 1942. She received her B.S.E. from Henderson State Teacher's College in 1969 and her M.S.E. from HSU in 1974 with a Reading Specialist degree. She taught at Prescott, Okolona, and Arkadelphia Public Schools from 1970-1985 and elementary schools for 18 years. Her last 11 years were at Ouachita Baptist University teaching in the elementary education department and reading lab and supervising student teachers. Opal was a member of First United Methodist Church of Arkadelphia since 1948, where she served on various committees and taught Sunday school in the Primary department. She was a member of Phi Delta Kappa, Arkansas Education Association, Clark County Retired Teachers Association, International Reading Association and Arkansas Teacher Retired Teachers and was named to Who's Who in 1985. Opal's hobbies were reading, crossword puzzles, flower gardening and "most of all, she enjoyed her family and being with her grandchildren." She was preceded in death by her daughter, Linda Dianne Shepherd; and three sisters, Onez Jones, Juanita Dorsey, and Imogene Callaway; and one brother in law, Don Jones. Opal is survived by two daughters, Judy Carole Shepherd Winders, her husband David, and Bettye Jo Shepherd Binns, her husband, Garland; 10 grandchildren, Dr Todd (Blake) Tinsley, Chad Caldwell, Kim Caldwell, Will (Michelle) Binns, Brad (Carrie) Binns, Brittany (Josh) Lacy, Meagan Binns, Blake Binns, Wade Woolsey and Brent Binns; five great-grandchildren, Lakin Caldwell, Taylor Tinsley, Toby Tinsley, Sophie Binns and Savanah Binns; one great-great grandchild, Wiatt Turner. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Jim Polk officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. in the fellowship hall of the church. Interment will be private. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 107 N. 9th, Arkadelphia, Ark. 71923. The family would like to thank Dr. Mary Searcy and the staff of Baptist Medical Center for their compassionate care. Final arrangements are entrusted to The Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia. Visit www.welchfh.net to sign the guest book.