Doris Virginia Lillard was born on September 15, 1946, to the late Hazel Louise Collins and late Roderick Ward in DesArc, Arkansas. She married the love of her life, Jerrel Lillard on July 16, 1965. Five years later, she gave birth to their daughter, Keri, the joy of her life. She spent her career as an English teacher at Cord-Charlotte High School and a guidance counselor at Southside High School. She loved her work. In her family’s 1986 Christmas card, she wrote, ”I think I probably have one of the best jobs around. I get a chance to help young people develop in their social, emotional, and educational growth and actually get paid for it!” After 30 years, she retired from education, but she continued her work investing in the community as a licensed professional counselor. She established school-based mental health programs and provided group therapy in the community. Doris’s kindness and love were endless, and she poured it out generously for others. It’s no surprise that she was voted ”most popular” by the Arkansas State College class of 1965. There was room in her heart for everyone, and she saved a very special place in it for her family, especially her three grandchildren, Isaac, Adam, and Maggie Beth. Their Nana was always in the crowd at their ballgames, and cheering from the audience at every concert. When she wasn’t with family, she was exercising with her walking buddies, who all did their best just to keep up with her. Doris was beloved by her church family at Charlotte church of Christ. She sat on the second pew from the front with her husband each Sunday, singing alto at the top of her lungs until it was time for her to teach Sunday school. Doris enjoyed spending time at the nursing home, leading devotionals, hosting women’s events, and playing games with the residents. Her generosity also extended to her Aunt Earle, whom she cared for in Aunt Earle’s last years of life.
Doris loved her family and her community fiercely. And she loved Jesus most of all, and served him faithfully, doing her best to live and love like Him every day. On January 3rd, 2025 she was welcomed back into His arms, with trumpets sounding and the angels singing, ”Well done good and faithful servant. Well done.”
She is survived by her husband Jerrel Lillard, daughter Keri O’Neil and son-in-law Shawn O’Neil, grandchildren Isaac Horn, Ella Horn, Adam Horn, Maggie Beth Horn, and Easton O’Neil, sisters Diane Brumley and Rita Anderson, and brothers James Collins, Tommy Collins, Homer Collins, and Pat Collins.
She is preceded in death by sister Carol Tefteller, Gladys Earle Purnell (Aunt Earle) and parents Hazel Louise Collins and Roderick Ward.
Pallbearers are Isaac Horn, Adam Horn, Barry Lillard, Darren Lillard, Greg Simpson, and Shawn O’Neil. Honorary pallbearers are all of her nieces and nephews whom she loved very much.
Funeral services will begin at 2:00 pm Wednesday, January 8, 202,5 at Charlotte Church of Christ with Chuck Crow officiating. Burial will follow at Center Grove Cemetery under the direction of Roller-Crouch Funeral Home.
Visitation will be held from 12:00-2:00 pm Wednesday prior to service at the church.
The family requests any memorials be made in her honor to Families First in Wynne, AR and to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Families First
Mail checks: ”1490 Killough N, Wynne, AR 72396”
Make checks out to ”Families First”
Note: from ”Doris Lillard”
Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Give a gift online: http://www.archildrens.org/donate
Give a gift by phone: 800-880-7491 (tel:800-880-7491)
