Mary Ethel Crayton Henry

Mary Ethel Crayton Henry, 91 passed peacefully on October 6, 2022, surrounded by her four children.

She was born on March 25, 1931, in Rosston, Arkansas. She was the daughter of Dave and Flora Jamison Crayton. While a teen, Mary met a handsome young man, Eugene Henry. After a short courtship, they married and to this union, four children were born.

Mary began attending The Church of God in Gurdon (now Carrie Street Church of God) with her mother-in-law. She accepted Christ and became a faithful and dedicated member, serving as superintendent for many years, as well as, Sunday school teacher, treasurer, and secretary.

Mary worked at Howell’s Cafe and the Gurdon Dairy Queen before becoming a home health aide and a foster grandparent in the Gurdon School system.

An extraordinary cook, Mary prepared the best meals. She enjoyed cooking for the holidays, especially Christmas when she would always make each child their favorite cake, candy, or dish; from peanut brittle to melt-in-your-mouth pralines. Mary could have opened her own candy kitchen. Outside of the kitchen, Mary’s favorite pastimes were fishing and attending gospel concerts throughout the state with her husband.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband of seventy years, Eugene Henry; her parents, Dave and Flora Crayton and a sister, Gracie Warren.

Mary is survived by her four children: Patsy Ollison of Gurdon, AR, Mary (Jerry) Ankton of Little Rock, AR, Billie (Euodias) Goza of Arkadelphia, AR and Otis (Sadie) Henry of Little Rock, AR; seven grandchildren, Andre Henry, Michelle Goza, Eugenia Cunningham, Carlos Ankton, Lefrich Henry, Latricia (Byron) Kincaid, Jerrell (Camille) Henry; two brothers-in-law, James Henry of Gurdon and Abraham Henry of Flint, MI; a host of great and great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, her Carrie Street Church of God family whom she loved very much.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at Williams Funeral Home with Rev. Ivory Curry, the eulogist. The interment will be at Rose Hedge Cemetery.  

Pallbearers will be Euodias Goza, Lefrich Henry, Jerrll Henry, Carlos Ankton, Andre Henry, Johnny Henry, CJ Mitchell and Quinton Moss.