Ida Mae McCauley

Ida Mae Mitchell was born May 6, 1921, to John W. Mitchell and Flora (Brunson) Mitchell in Arkadelphia - the Richmond Hill Community. She was a graduate of Peake High School. She was a member of St. Ruth Missionary Baptist Church of Gum Spring prior to becoming an active member of Mt. Morriah Missionary Baptist Church where she was a member of the Missionary Society. Ida Mae met Posey Blevens and following an appropriate period of courtship they were married in 1943. The Lord entrusted one daughter, Mary Cornelious into their care to love and nurture. They made many sacrifices to support their family. She was widowed in 1946. In 1951 she married Carl McCauley and to this union three children were born Charles Cleveland, Richard Otis and Gwendolyn and two step-sons Carl, Jr., and Ray Lewis were added to this union. After many wonderful years of sharing life together, he was called to glory to be with the Lord on September 21, 1998. She was a dutiful housewife and was a part of that generation that counted motherhood as virtue. Throughout her life she has enjoyed her family, cooking and worshipping the Lord. She always put her children and family ahead of her needs. She walked by faith and her faith always presented a bright lighthouse in the sight of her friends and family. At Twin Rivers Health and Rehabilitation Center in Arkadelphia, Arkansas on Wednesday December 1, 2010, she slipped the surely bonds of this earth and traded time for eternity. It was a peaceful transition as family gathered to bid her a safe journey home. She was preceded in death by her parents John and Flora Mitchell, her husbands Posey Blevens and Carl McCauley; four brothers: Jimmy Mitchell, Willie D. Mitchell J. P. Mitchell, and Elihue Mitchell, one step-brother Jack McClanahan; two step - sisters LuLu Mae Mitchell, Elizabeth McClanahan, an infant daughter; a step son Ray Lewis McCauley; a daughter-in-law Reon McCauley and a son-in-law Jessie Carr. She is survived by two daughters, Mary Cornelious Blevens Furlough of Little Rock, AR, and Gwendolyn Marie McCauley Carr of Ft. Worth, TX; two sons, Charles Cleveland McCauley of Albany, GA, and Richard Otis McCauley of Little Rock, AR; one step-sons Carl McCauley Jr., of Kansas City, MO; one brother, Gurley (Deloise) Mitchell of Las Vegas and one step-sister Molly Earley of Galesburg, IL. She also leaves precious memories in the hearts of her grandchildren: Zena Penn of Pikesville, MD, Kenneth Furlough of Washington, DC, Michael Furlough of Dallas, TX, Todd McCauley of Conway, AR, Stacey McCauley of Orlando, FL, Lia McCauley of Hot Springs, AR, Dana McCauley of New Boston, TX, Nicole Palmore of Ft. Worth, TX, and 4 great-grandchildren: Victoria, Waverly, Zander and Karalise McCauley of Conway, AR, and a host of nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. The family will receive other relatives and friends from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. The homegoing celebration will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 8, 2010, in the sanctuary of Mt. Morriah Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Vernon Moody, Sr., is the pastor and officiant. The celebration message will be delivered by Rev. J. L. Newborn, pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church, Sparkman. The committal service and final resting place will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.