Obituaries

Nell Virginia Anthony Grigsby Jones

Photo of Nell Virginia Anthony Grigsby Jones
NELL VIRGINIA ANTHONY GRIGSBY JONES, 91, died of cardiac failure in Little Rock on Dec. 3, 2010. She was born in the Hopeville family home near Fordyce on Nov. 26, 1919 to Garland and Flora Autry Anthony, the 5th of 11 children. She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Grady Sutton Grigsby, her second husband, Woodrow W. Jones, sisters Louise Anthony and Marjorie Anthony Gray, and brothers Earl, Edwin "Ted," Garland "Jiggs" Jr., and James "Jimmy" Anthony. Nell is survived by the extensive family whom she dearly loved: sisters, Avalene Whitten Reynolds of Bearden and Velda Rose Walters of Tulsa, Okla., brother John (wife Sylvia) of Hot Springs, and sister-in-law Katherine Anthony of Hot Springs; her children, Grady Anthony Grigsby (wife Ann Marshall) of Little Rock; Richard A. Grigsby (wife Nancy) of Malvern; Diane Banks of Littleton, Colo.; and Flora Lumpkin Wyers (husband Shelley) of Mulberry; grandchildren Amanda Renteria (husband Furman), John Grigsby, Stacey Banks, Virginia Banks, Jason Lumpkin, Matthew Lumpkin (wife Melody), and Andrew Wyers; great-grandchildren Summer Renteria, Eleanor Lumpkin, and Charlotte Lumpkin; and a bevy of cherished cousins, nieces, and nephews. Born into the world of her father's extensive timber and lumber business, Nell continued her connection to forestry when, in 1937, she married Grady Grigsby, who spent his professional life operating lumber manufacturing businesses in Texas and Arkansas, most recently in Malvern, Ark. At the same time, Nell distinguished herself with considerable skill as a homemaker and hostess, renown for her exceptionally fine cooking and bountiful table. Throughout her life, she turned heads with her innate beauty and up-to-the-minute fashion sense, but her most meaningful and enduring accomplishment was rearing her children to know and love the Lord. Nell was a PEO, a member of the Junior League (Beaumont, Texas), the Daughters of the American Revolution, Malvern First United Methodist Church, and Asbury United Methodist Church in Little Rock. She cherished her family, all babies, music, family gatherings of any size (the bigger, the better), forays "into town" with her cousins and friends, and long talks with friends and relatives. She was resolute in her Christian faith and generous to a fault to both individuals and organizations, contributing to many missions, ministries, and other noble causes. The family expresses sincere thanks to Josephine Clemons, Melissa Thomas, Patty Flowers, and the caregivers of Elder Independence for their faithful, loving care of Nell, our mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Memorials may be made to the building funds of either Bearden First United Methodist in Bearden, Malvern First United Methodist Church in Malvern, or to Asbury United Methodist Church in Little Rock. The family will receive friends between noon and 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010 at Benton Funeral Home in Fordyce preceding the funeral service at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Benton Funeral Home with Rev. David Moore and Pastor Melissa Thomas officiating. Burial will be at Bethel Cemetery near Hopeville with a gathering for family and friends following at the home of Avalene Reynolds in Bearden. Arrangements by Benton Funeral Home in Fordyce. To sign the online register, visit www.bentonfuneralhome.com.

Published December 6, 2010

Upcoming Events