Eva Lee Paysinger

Eva Lee Paysinger of Batesville, Ark., died on Sunday, July 13, 2014. She was born on August 18, 1917 in Evening Shade, Ark., and was the daughter of Jasper and Manerva (Wilkes) Whitten. She was united in marriage to Rev. Vernon Paysinger on February 9, 1941. Her tireless devotion to her husband and their ministry was noted by all. Rev. and Mrs. Paysinger served United Methodist churches in West Memphis (Rosewood), Hoxie, Beebe, Lepanto, Prairie Ridge, Paris (Coles Chapel), Batesville (Central Avenue), Ft. Smith (Hendricks Hills), and McCrory. At her death, Mrs. Paysinger was a member of Central Avenue United Methodist Church in Batesville, Ark. Survivors include her nieces: Thelma Jackson of Lubbock, Texas; Marie Wilkinson, Euna Mae Franks, Anna Lee Little, and Jo Ann Cushman of Evening Shade; and Janie Gilbert of Jonesboro, Ark. Mrs. Paysinger is also survived by nephew Lehman Booher of Lufkin, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, her sisters, Elsie Jewel Whitten, Artie Thomas, Trixie Qualls, and Carrie Barnett, her brothers William (Bill) Whitten, and John Henry (Doodle) Whitten, her nephews, William Jewel Whitten, R.J. Thomas, T.O. Whitten, J.W. Whitten, Garvie Qualls, and nieces Roxie Moss, Elsie Whitten, Dora Fay Cales, and Cora Lou Davis. A visitation will be held at Qualls Funeral Home, 546 Harrison St., Batesville, Ark. from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16 at Central Avenue United Methodist Church, 1205 N. Central Ave., Batesville, Ark. with a burial following the service at George's Campground (6 miles north of Evening Shade and 1 mile east of Hwy. 167). Pallbearers are Mike Cushman, Jerry Gilbert, Harlan Davis, Ricky Davis, Jeremy Weaver, and Jerry Buie. Mrs. Paysinger and her husband were life-long advocates for programs designed to eradicate hunger. They planned for the creation of the Rev. Vernon and Eva Lee Paysinger Memorial Endowment Fund at the United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas to express their concern for others in perpetuity. The annual income from this fund will be used to support world hunger ministries. All who knew Eva Lee Paysinger and her husband knew that they lived simply so that they could give to others abundantly. Memorials may be added to this permanent fund by sending them to United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas at 5300 Evergreen Dr., Little Rock, Ark. 72205.