Mary Alice Jeffrey Southard went to live with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
She was born on March 27, 1930, in Locust Grove, Arkansas to the late Stonie Edgar Jeffrey and Euna Elms Jeffrey. She lived a great portion of her life in Independence County.
While Mary was working in Batesville she met the man that would become her husband in June 1950. This was shortly after he had returned from serving his country in the European Theater of WWII. They were married on October 22, 1952. She was a devoted Christian, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother. Mary’s greatest legacy is the loving marriage she shared with her husband, James G. ”Jim” Southard spanning nearly five decades. She was a member of Quail Valley Freewill Baptist Church where she took part in the Senior Ladies Class and Oasis.
Survivors include her son, James Bruce Southard (Susan) of Batesville; daughter, Margaret Price (Neil) of Newport; sister, Jolene Thorne of Batesville; six grandchildren, Shana Southard Dobbs (Ben) of South Carolina, Amanda Price Carter (Jamey) of Jonesboro, James Scott Southard (Cecelia) of Oklahoma, Lynette Price of Newport, Laura Price Richardson (Jeff) of Fayetteville, Thomas Andy Burrow of Batesville; and nine great-grandchildren, Anna Carter, Jaxton Reid, Jace Ryan, Amelia Lanell Carter, Otis Southard, Elanor Margaret Southard, Allison Grace Price, Kenzie Ann Richardson, and Kallie Alice Richardson.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, James Gaston Southard, and three brothers, Forrest Jeffrey, Wayne Jeffrey, and Bobby Jeffrey.
Funeral services will begin at 2:00 pm Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Roller-Crouch Funeral Home in Batesville. Burial will follow at New Hope Cemetery in Bethesda with Robert Jones and Jamey Carter officiating.
Visitation will be held from 1:00-2:00 pm just prior to service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations instead be made to Quail Valley Freewill Baptist Church, 4000 Harrison St, Batesville, AR 72501 or Arkansas Children’s Hospital, 1 Children’s Way, Little Rock, AR 72202.
