Marquilla Clark Lewis of Newport, Arkansas, affectionately known by friends and family as Mark, departed this life on Saturday, August 27, 2022, at the age of 80. She was born September 19, 1941, in the Pennington Community, the daughter of Marshall and Tinnie (Evins) Clark.
Mark was a 1959 graduate of Newport High School. Immediately following high school, she began working as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell in Newport. Marquilla Clark and Curley Lewis were married on August 24, 1962. Together they shared 60 years, raised two daughters, enjoyed grandchildren, and great-grandchildren traveled and loved time spent with family.
Mark worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone until 1978, retiring when the offices were moved to Jonesboro to become a full-time homemaker. Mark enjoyed working in her yard, especially growing, arranging, and photographing her flowers. She was a wonderful cook and loved fixing Thanksgiving dinner for her family and cooking for family gatherings. Mark loved spending time with her sisters, brother and their families.
She was a member of the Church of Christ. Through the years, was very active in teaching Vacation Bible School in Arizona to the Navajo Indians.
She was preceded in death by one brother, Harold Sutherland; three sisters, Lola Baker, Jean Goodman and Roberta Pulliam; and her parents.
Mark is survived by her husband of sixty years, Errol Lynn “Curley” Lewis; two daughters, Lynn Lewis Burgin and husband, Greg, of Newport, and Nicole Lewis London of Beebe; three sisters, Dorothy Burgess and husband, Donald, of Newport, Shirley Heatherly and husband, Jim, of Newport, and Cherry Walker of Newport; five grandchildren, Colby Burgin (Misty), Cory Burgin (Kara), Ashli Suarez (Edwin), Hunter Lewis (Lena), Abigail London (Blake); three great-grandchildren, Ryan Burgin, Lorali Burgin, Millie Lewis, and one to arrive soon, McKay Lewis; many nieces, nephews and a lifetime of friends.
Memorials may be made to Paragould Children’s Home, 5515 Walcott Road, Paragould, Arkansas 72450 www.childrenshome.org; St. Jude’s, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105 www.stjude.org; Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, 1 Children’s Way, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202 www.archildrens.org; Carti Cancer Center, 3320 Springhill Drive Suite B. North Little Rock, Arkansas 72117 www.carti.com.
Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 29, 2022, at Walnut Grove Cemetery with Mr. Ryan Wilson officiating.
