Juanita Orton Strode

Juanita Orton Strode, 96, passed away Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born July 1, 1919, in Fort Smith Ark., to Oliver and Maude Orton. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Willis, Travis, Paul and Kenneth Orton; and a sister, Margaret Angwin. Survivors include two sons: Tom Strode and his wife Linda of Fredericksburg, Va., and John Strode and his wife Wanda of Jonesboro. She also is survived by four grandchildren -- Aaron Strode of Alexandria, Va.; Catherine Parks of La Vergne, Tenn.; Carrie Swinea of Desha, Ark.; and Emily Strode of Jonesboro – and five great-grandchildren. Mrs. Strode was a longtime member of Little Rock's First Baptist Church. She retired in 1994 after 20 years with the Internal Revenue Service in Little Rock. She moved to Jonesboro in 2010. Visitation will be 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18, at Emerson Funeral Home in Jonesboro. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, at Little Rock's First Baptist Church, 62 Pleasant Valley Drive, after a private burial. The family expresses its gratitude to the staff of St. Bernards Total Life Healthcare and others who served Mrs. Strode sacrificially while she lived in Jonesboro. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to Rio Bravo Ministries, P.O. Box 2512, Mission, Texas 78572 or the Psalm 139 Project, 901 Commerce St., Suite 550, Nashville, Tenn. 37203. Online registry: www.emersonfuneralhome.com.