William Donald "Bill" Hedden Sr.

William Donald "Bill" Hedden Sr., age 87, passed away on April 11, 2015. He was born on July 3, 1927 to Dr. Henry & Freda Elizabeth Paterson Hedden in Memphis, Tenn. Mr. Hedden was a member of First United Methodist Church of Magnolia where he previously served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees and other committees. He served in the United States Navy during WWII. He received his B.S. degrees at Memphis State University and his M.S.H.A. at Northwestern University in Chicago, Ill. He did his administrative residency and was administrative assistant at Methodist Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. He was administrator of Ouachita General Hospital in Hot Springs, Ark. before becoming Administrator of Magnolia Hospital on April 1, 1957 serving 41 years. He is a past president of the Magnolia Chamber of Commerce, Magnolia Rotary Club and the Arkansas Hospital Association. He was a past board member of the board of trustees of Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield for 13 years. He is a past member of the State of Arkansas commission on Cost Control of Hospitals, appointed by Gov. David Pryor and Gov. Dale Bumpers. He is a past member of the Regional Advisory Board of the American Hospital Association. He received the A. Allen Weintraub award for outstanding hospital administrator of the year. He was preceded in death by his parents, wives: Barbara Cullins Hedden (1959) and Joyce Leche Hedden (2008), great-granddaughter, Zoe Grace Brackin, brothers, Dr. Henry Hedden Jr., Robert Gordon "Bob" Hedden, and daughter-in-law, Rebecca L. Kincaid. He is survived and beloved by his children: Barbara Elizabeth Hedden Ballard and husband, Don of Daphne, Ala.; William D. "Bill" Hedden Jr. and wife, Debbie of Maumelle, Ark.; Steve Kincaid III of Magnolia, Ark.; Michael Leche Kincaid and wife, Cathy of Little Rock, Ark.; John Charleville Kincaid of Magnolia, Ark. and Andrea Claire Kincaid Sutton and husband, Jeff of Van Buren, Ark. Adoring grandchildren: Karen (David) Brackin of Stockton, Ala.; SGT Donald Matthew (Christina) Ballard of Fort Bragg, N.C.; Jason (Suzanna) Hedden of Rogers, Ark.; Steven (Amy) Kincaid of Little Rock, Ark.; Adrienne (Brett) Murphy of Fayetteville, Ark.; Cathy Horton of Waldo, AR; Mary Catherine (Clark) Faulkner, J.B. Kincaid, Matthew (Mimi) Parrish, Patrick (Kathy) Parrish, Charlie and Alex Kincaid, all of Little Rock, Ark.; Loving great-grandchildren: David Gage Brackin of Daphne, Ala.; William Donald and John Christopher Ballard of Fort Bragg, N.C.; Austin and Avery Hedden of Rogers, Ark., Davis and Decker Murphy of Fayetteville, Ark.; Jamie Horton Neel of Magnolia, Ark.; Madison & Gracie Faulkner, Margaret Alice and Miriam Parrish, Robbie Parish, and Brooke Rogers, all of Little Rock, Ark., Autumn & Addilyn Cogbill of Waldo, Ark.; sisters-in-law: Pat (William) McBryde of Clinton, Tenn., Judy Hedden, Bentonville, Ky., mother-in-law, Eloise Leche and a host of nieces and nephews and extended family member, Debbie Kincaid of Little Rock. Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Bailey Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Larry Kelso officiating and Rev. Raymond Cammack assisting. Interment will follow at Magnolia Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home of Magnolia. Memorials may be made to the following: First United Methodist Church of Magnolia or the Magnolia Hospital Foundation or charity of choice. Sign our on registry at www.baileyfuneralhome.net.