Verbyl Irene Davis Caraway, 89, died Tuesday, March 9, 2021, at the UAMS Medical Center in Little Rock, after a stroke.
She lived in Sidney, Ark., less than five miles from where she was born as the daughter of Delphia and Ora Davis.
She was a member of the Sidney Baptist Church almost her entire life. She lived for a short time in Wenatchee, Washington, and Batesville but the rest of the time she lived in Sidney, near so many of her relatives and friends.
She was a wife, a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother for her family that she loved unconditionally. Besides her work as a housewife, she also was a licensed social worker at Sidney’s Sharp County Nursing Home. Earlier in her life, she worked as a field hand, earning a reputation as one of the best cotton-pickers around, She could out-pick most men, including her husband of 71 years, Delmus Caraway. Delmus preceded her in death by two weeks.
She was a 4-H Club leader when her children were young, served on the Sidney St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee, was the director of the Sidney School reunion, and also served on the board of the Mount Carmel Cemetery. At the church, she served as a piano player and Sunday School teacher.
Verbyl is survived by her daughters Connie Martin (Dale) and Vickie Caraway (John Head) and son Steve Caraway (Karla). She loved her grandchildren, Colby Martin, Brent Martin (Brittney), Davis Caraway (Emma), and Ellie Caraway. She loved to follow her great-grandchildren in their activities, including Zach Martin (Madison), Ashli Whitmire (Aaron), Caleb Martin, Bella Bunch, Bree Martin, and Alarik Martin. Her great-great-granddaughter Scarlett Rose Whitmire was born only a week ago.
She was the last surviving child of Delphia and Ora’s four children. Mildred Croft, Fay Davis, and Ray Davis preceded her in death, as did her parents. Her dear nieces and nephews included Vona Croft Yancey, Bobbie Croft Smith, Terry Davis, Beverly Davis Fountain, Sherrie Caraway, Russ Caraway, Lisa Wyatt, Brenda Aydelotte Anderson, Shannon Caraway, Sara Vermeire, Bryan Humbrecht, Marilyn Keener, and Tricia Hendrickson. Her nephew Bryce Humbrecht preceded her in death.
Funeral services will be Saturday, March 13, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. at the Sidney Baptist Church with Bro. Shannon Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Sidney with arrangements by Qualls Funeral Home of Cave City.
Pallbearers will be Terry Davis, Randy Smith, Rickey Yancey, Michael Yancey, Brent Martin, Davis Caraway, Ellie Caraway, Zach Martin, and Caleb Martin.
Honorary pallbearers are Russ Caraway, Charles Lawhon, Aaron Whitmire, John Head, Alarik Martin, Scott Bailey, and Frankie Bailey.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made in her honor to the Mount Carmel Cemetery Fund or to the Sidney Baptist Church. Cemetery donations may be mailed to Mount Carmel Cemetery fund in care of Joe Stidman, 356 Arkansas 58, Cave City, AR 72521 Those to the church can be mailed to P.O. Box 54, Sidney, AR 72577
Please honor the family’s request to wear masks and maintain social distancing. Masks will be available to those who need one.
