Frances Benton Meador

Frances Benton Meador, 104, died Monday February 17 at the Dallas County Medical Center with family by her side. She was born January 28, 1910 in Fordyce, Arkansas the daughter of Hugh Bowers and Effie Conner Benton. Mama went to her heavenly home after living a long and blessed life. Her primary goal in life was to love and nurture her three boys and keep them loving one another. She was a 1928 graduate of Fordyce High School. She went to Ouachita Baptist College and majored in music and voice and was honored to sing the solo at her graduation ceremony. While at Ouachita she met and fell in love with a handsome football player, John Carl Meador. Their senior year he was captain of the team and she was homecoming queen. During Daddy's active duty in the army including fighting through Europe and into Germany during World War II she returned to Fordyce to raise their three boys. After the war Daddy returned to Fordyce where they lived the rest of their lives. She served as pianist and organist for more than 50 years at the First Baptist Church and continued to play until six months before her death. On her 100th birthday she gave a piano concert at the church with 300 people in attendance. She announced there that she had just bought her driving license for four more years and she continued to be a good driver until six months before her death at 104. The mayor presented her with a key to the city of which she was very proud. In 2008 she and her best friend Eloise Hamilton celebrated their 80th high school reunion during the Fordyce on the Cotton Belt Festival Redbug Reunion. Eloise was the valedictorian and Mama was the salutatorian of the class. They were the only surviving members of the class. She was invited on stage and harmonized with "Elvis" to "Love Me Tender". The next day she and Eloise served as Parade Marshals of the parade. It was such a fun time for them. That spirit, her keen mind, and love of family will be dearly missed. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her three sisters, Ruth Benton Estes, Margaret Benton Hornaday Scallings and Julia Benton Sparks. She is survived by her three sons John Benton Meador (Betsy), Hugh Conner Meador (Linda, deceased), and Joe Bill Meador (Sandy), all of Fordyce; eight grandchildren: Jay Meador (Suzanne) of Pembroke, Massachusetts, Bill Meador (Shelley) of Fishers, Indiana, Rob Meador (Vicky) of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, Doug Meador (Mandy) of Flower Mound, Texas, Francine Johnson and Gregg Meador of Hermitage, Tennessee, Scarlett Barnes (Seth) of Batesville, Arkansas and Mark Meador (Itzel) of Little Rock, Arkansas, 19 great-grandchildren: John Thomas, Jessica, Alex and Andrew (Jay); Garrett, Bailey, Austin and Lizzey (Bill); Michael, Braden and Taylor (Rob); Mackenzie, Kirby, Benton and Grace Frances (Doug); Jennifer (Francine); Spencer and Sumner (Scarlett) and Alex (Mark), five great-great grandchildren, four nieces: Sallie Estes Dubay of North August, South Carolina, Laura Margaret Hornaday and Mary Jane Hornaday of Mandeville, Louisiana and Juli Sparks Dickey of Berkley, California and one nephew Thomas Sparks Jr. of San Francisco, California. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Fordyce, the John Carl and Frances Benton Meador Scholarship Fund at Ouachita Baptist University or Group Living of Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Visitation will be Wednesday, February 19, 2014, 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Benton Funeral Home in Fordyce. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Thursday, February 20, 2014 at First Baptist Church in Fordyce with Rev. Stacy Reed and Rev. Rusty Ross officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following funeral service in the family life center for a brief visitation. Burial will be private. Arrangement by Benton Funeral Home in Fordyce. To sign the online register visit www.bentonfuneralhome.net.