Bess Eva Brown Sullivan

BESS EVA BROWN SULLIVAN, age 91, of Little Rock, died Oct. 30, 2013 at Good Shepherd Nursing Center in Little Rock. Mrs. Sullivan was a past resident of Walnut Ridge, Ark. (1949-1959), and Greenville, Miss. (1959-1990). She was born Nov. 24, 1921 to Matthew and Pearl Brown of Vidette, Ark. Bess was preceded in death by her parents; three former husbands, (James Gruby of Newport, Ark., Byron Sullivan of Jackson, Tenn. and Gilder McCool of Greenville, Miss.), and six of seven siblings, being survived by Bobby Malone of Jackson, Miss. Her death is mourned by son, Dr. Charles David Sullivan (wife Jan) of Little Rock, Ark.; two daughters, Vicki Sullivan of McMinnville, Tenn., Candace White (husband Mike) of Center Ridge, Ark.; seven grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Raised in poverty during the Great Depression and surviving the breakup of her family with the two youngest being sent to an orphanage, Bess was able to finish high school in Swifton, Ark. in 1938. Following a failed first marriage, Bess married Byron Sullivan and together during the 1950's they founded the Salad Bowl Restaurants with operations in Walnut Ridge and El Dorado, Ark., Poplar Bluff, Mo., Greenville, Miss. and Longview, Texas. During the 1950's and 1960's, many members of their "Greatest Generation" would time their Highway 67 travel from Little Rock to St. Louis, Mo., by the restaurant road signs and stop in Walnut Ridge for dining. The Salad Bowl offered an extensive ala carte menu (to include live Maine lobster) and a gift shop offering items such as Blenko Glass, Red Wing pottery and "Wingback" earrings, all a unique experience for travelers in Northeast Arkansas at that time. After moving from Greenville, Miss. in 1958, Bess was able to locate the two youngest siblings who, ironically, had been adopted out of a Greenville, Miss. orphanage and were living in the state. Bess was always proud of being able to finally reunite her entire family. Bess was an outstanding cook and developed many of the recipes featured on the menu at the Salad Bowl Restaurants. One of her favorite recipes, Chicken Breasts Supreme, won the top honor at the May 1976 Mississippi Poultry Association chicken cooking contest allowing her to compete at the national level in Philadelphia, Pa. in July of that year. A copy of her recipe can be obtained by sending a SASE to Charles Sullivan, 4100 Bowman Road, Little Rock, Ark. 72210. Bess would be pleased to know that her recipe was still being enjoyed by old and new friends. Bess' family and friends will always cherish the times spent with her and treasure those memories forever. Her daughter Candy recently told her that one of the definitions of the word "Mom" should be "Bess Eva Brown Sullivan", someone who was always there for her children no matter the situation. The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to the staff of Good Shepherd Nursing Center and Dr. Ahmed Abdelal for the excellent compassionate care she received during the last years of her life. A private family memorial service is being arranged. The family request any memorials be made to the Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 4823 Woodlawn, Little Rock, Ark. 72205 or the charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home. (501) 982-2136. www.mooresjacksonvillefuneralhome.com.