Flossie Mae Summerville

Flossie Mae Brown Summerville was born in Arkadelphia, Arkansas on August 15, 1945. She was the seventh child born to Dona and Maude Eva McNeal Brown. By every account, Flossie was an intelligent, joyful and obedient child, gifted with a gentle nature that would serve her all her life. As a young girl she found Christ and united with the St. Paul AME Church family. She was a 1964 graduate of Peake High School and her classmates remember her as invariably cheerful, patient and kind. Flossie grew up to be a beautiful and charming young lady. Full of life and wit she met the love of her life Freddie Lee Summerville. Their courtship led to a loving, happy and enduring marriage that produced three children, Jennifer, Reginald and Ricky. She loved her husband passionately and was a devoted mother. Her children were such an important part of her life and they brought her so much joy. She played an important part in their success; helping them in reaching their goals and objectives. Freddie Lee passed on Tuesday, November 12, 2002. Though heartbroken, she relied on her faith in God to sustain her as she committed to never forget his memory. She worked as a Home Health Therapist for several years with the Clark County Health Department and as a seamstress with Levi Strauss. She never met a stranger while always maintaining close ties to her family and loved ones. However, her zest for life and adventure led her to enthusiastically enjoy traveling, dancing and all genres of music. Her favorite song was “I Stood on the Banks of Jordan”. She was known as a woman of her word; she meant what she said; and said what she meant. She was always known to say “I’m going to talk.” Her energetic personality, her giving nature and her pursuit for the next best thing was a magnet for those who wanted her energy to rub off on them. She enjoyed dressing up for functions and events just as much as she enjoyed dressing up every day. Flossie was a woman of ageless beauty and style. She was always fashionably dressed from head to-toe, her hair was laid, and nails freshly manicured. “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These people have an appreciation, sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” On Sunday, June 25, 2017 she quietly slept into the Lord's embrace. She was preceded in her passing by her parents; her husband, Freddie Lee; her sisters, Margaret Simmons, Jewel Williams, and Rosietta Holliman. Her radiant smile shined like a beacon of light in darkness and she brought joy into the lives of all she touched. Though she is no longer with us in body and her irreplaceable presence will be deeply missed. Her legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of all those who were impacted by the beautiful life she lived. Flossie leaves her children, Jennifer (Rev. James) Story of Arkadelphia, AR, Reginald Summerville of Arkadelphia, AR and Ricky (Deloris) Summerville of Little Rock, AR; her beloved grandchildren, Dovondrea “Punkin” Story, Dontwuan Summerville, Rashawn Higgins, Reginald “Binky” Summerville, Reanna Summerville, Chelitha “Che-Che” Bryant and Victor Bryant, Jr.; great-grandchildren, Kannon Bryant, Kaden Bryant, Dalton Story, Kash Summerville, Ryan Collins, Raja Collins, Kristopher Johnson and Kobe Summerville; her sisters, Annie B. Hill, Hazel bailey, Francis Middleton, Joetta (John) Tatum, Eva Hill and Melva J. White; brother-in-law, Eddie Lee (Ella) Summerville; sisters-in-law, Geneva Flewellen and Mattie Sue Butler; a god-daughter, Kristen Newborn. She also leaves a legion of nieces, nephews, cousins; a special friend, Melva J. “Tootsie” Wheat and the entire Peake High School Class of 1964; her special neighbors, Telisha (Darnelle) Phifer and numerous friends.