Obituaries

Mary Jane Archer Wilkes

Photo of Mary Jane Archer Wilkes
Mary Jane Archer Wilkes, of Memphis, Tenn., formerly of Little Rock, entered the gates of Heaven on June 7, 2013, just a few weeks shy of her 95th birthday. Mary Jane was born to Dr. Charles and Mary Flanagin Archer in De Queen, Ark. on July 3, 1918. She met the love of her life, late Little Rock physician, Dr. Elbert H. Wilkes, Jr., at Hendrix College. In their 64 wonderful years of marriage, neither of them ever met a stranger. Aside from her faith in Jesus Christ, her family was her greatest joy. In addition to her husband, Mary Jane was preceded in death by her brother, Dr. Charles Archer Jr, and her eldest daughter, Ethel Ann Wilkes Foster. She leaves her youngest daughter, Elizabeth "Libba" Wilkes Harris (Michael); four adoring grandchildren: Betsy Lomas (Russell), Hays Patrick (Jennifer), Stuart Harris (Katie) and Mary-Wilkes Harris Yonchak (Drew) as well as five great-grandchildren: Will Lomas, Zoe Patrick, Louise and Wilkes Harris, and one great-grandson on the way. She also leaves her niece, Sarah Jane Yoakum (Dan) and her nephew, Charles Archer III. One of the great legacies that she left behind was her consistent demonstration of how one should love unconditionally. She never let a day go by without reminding her family how much she loved them and she had great confidence that she will be together with them again in the presence of Christ. Mary Jane had a zest for life that was contagious. As a young girl, her older brother took bets from the local boys that his sister wouldn't jump off a tall bridge into a nearby river. Mary Jane made her brother proud and a little bit richer. She was known to do things like climb trees with her grandchildren and routinely let them drive her car around town many years before they were legally allowed. She also loved to travel and experience new adventures. Her family loves and appreciates the wonderful care and friendship of Earlie Taylor and Katherine Alexander, as well as the staff at Trezevant Manor in Memphis, who helped her over the past few years of her life. The burial will be held on Tuesday, June 11 at 10 a.m. at Roselawn Memorial Park. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis, where she was a member. A visitation held immediately afterwards in the Salmon Room. The family requests that donations be made in lieu of flowers to the music ministry at Second Presbyterian Church Memphis (www.2pc.org) or Insight for Living (www.insight.org). Canale Funeral Directors.

Published June 9, 2013

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