Barbara Jean Harper

Barbara Jean Reese Harper was the only child born to Alton Reese and Jearline Horne Gatlin in Earl, Arkansas on July 1, 1936. For over seventy-four years, she lived a faithful life with hope in Christ and a commitment to serve her community. Nurtured in a Christian environment, she gave her life to Christ at a young age and joined Muldrew Chapel CME Church. She was a lifelong member who served faithfully as Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday school teacher, Treasurer, and Secretary. She embraced life by the teaching that ”a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.” On her birthday July 1, 1951, she married Claude Harper and Lord entrusted into their care twelve children to raise and nurture. They made many sacrifices to raise and nurture their children. Barbara was a part of that generation that counted motherhood as a virtue because mothers knew the difference between a house and home. Barbara was a former employee of the Children’s Colony now the Arkadelphia Human Development Center. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family and grandchildren. In her 74th season of life, Barbara passed from time into eternity on Saturday, February 19, 2011, at Twin Rivers Health and Rehab Center surrounded by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, other family members and friends. Barbara was welcomed home by her loving husband, Claude Harper (1981), one daughter Malinda Booker (2004) and two granddaughters, Shanna Harper (1987) and Benetta Lucas (2005). Because love is far greater that death Barbara departs this earth in body only. Her gentle smile and infectious laugh lives on in the memories, minds and hearts of her mother Jearline Gatlin of Camden, AR, her children Robert C. (Helen) Harper of Houston, TX, Brenda A. Harper of Arkadelphia, AR, Henry C. Harper of North Little Rock, AR, Michelle (Rev. Ronald) Scott of Gurdon, AR, Nancy E. Harper of Gurdon, AR, Kenneth S. (Karen) Harper of Gurdon, AR, Jeanna A. Harper of Gurdon, AR, Jeffery A. Harper of Arkadelphia, AR, Andrea D. Harper of Arkadelphia, AR, Christopher S. (Lillian) Harper of Gurdon, AR, and Gerald Harper of Jacksonville, AR; two sisters Marilyn S. (Calvin) Johnson of Camden, AR, and Elnora A. Gatlin of Camden, AR; two brothers Donnie R. (Patsy) Gatlin of Little Rock, AR, and Theory A. Gatlin of California; two aunts Francis Nickens of St. Louis, MO, and Odessa Davis of Kansas City, MO; thirty-eight grandchildren, thirty-seven great-grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, numerous friends and the Muldrew Chapel CME Church family. Mrs. Harper will lie in repose in the funeral home on Friday, February 25, 2011, 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. A service to celebrate her life will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 26, 2011, Muldrew Chapel CME Church where Rev. Deborah Cotledge is the pastor. Rev. Ronald Scott the pastor of Mt. Israel CME Church in Emmerson will preach the home going message. Bearers of the casket will be Eric Harper, Micah Harper, Kendall Harper, Kenneth Harper, Jr., Brian Goshen, and John Marlow.