Mattie Rene Newburn

Our Heavenly Father saw fit to call Mattie Rene Newburn from labor to reward on Friday, March 25, 2011, at Baptist Health Medical Center in Arkadelphia in her 85th season of life. Her passing reminds us that life is uncertain, but death is sure. Mattie was born February 10, 1926, in Arkadelphia. She was the daughter of Bennie and Mary Beatrice Dickerson Smith. During her tender years she gave her life to Christ and became a member of Pleasant Hill AME Church. She was a graduate of the Mt. Morriah Rural School. On January 2, 1943, she married Willie Amos Newburn and to this union one child was born, Willye, several years later the couple was blessed with the addition of another daughter, Hazel Marie. After her marriage to Willie, Mattie became a member of Mt. Morriah Missionary Baptist Church where she served as a deaconess and on the Usher Board. Mattie was a member of the Clark County Extension Agency. She was a former employee of Arkadelphia Laundry and Cleaners and Arkadelphia Human Development Center. She was a Foster Grandparent. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Willie Amos Newburn, who made his transition on August 17, 2007. Mattie leaves to her fondest memory in the hearts of her daughters Willye (Johnny) Talley of Little Rock, and Hazel McGhee of Arkadelphia; three brothers, Alfred Jerry (Mollie) Smith, Bradley (Ella) Jones,of Arkadelphia and John (Willie Mae) Perry, Topeka, Kansas; two sisters, Frances Joyce Williams and Ruby Thornton both of Arkadelphia; three grandchildren, Johnathan Talley of Atlanta, Georgia, Shari (Paul) Johnson of Frisco, Texas, Jessica Caradine of Arkadelphia; four great-grandchildren Dylan Savage, Hailey Caradine of Frisco, Texas, Christian Caradine and Corbin Cardine of Arkadelphia; three brothers-in-law, J. V. Newburn and Rev. James S. Newburn of Arkadelphia, and Rev. Douglas P. (Linda) Newburn of Opelousas, LA; three sisters-in-law, Flossie Morgan and Brenda Newburn of Malvern, Evelyn Harrison and Maureen (Freddie) Owens of Arkadelphia, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and numerous friends. Mrs. Newburn will lie in repose in the funeral home Tuesday, March 29th from 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. The family with receive friends and share with them the Images of Life DVD from 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. The last farewell and tributes to her life will be shared on Wednesday, March 30th at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Morriah Missionary Baptist Church, 626 Mt. Morriah Rd. where Rev. Vernon Moody, Sr. is the pastor and will deliver words of comfort. The committal service and final resting place will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof…..Ecclesiastes7:8