Ethel Otreal Griggs Edington

Funeral services for Mrs. Ethel Otreal Griggs Edington, 89, were Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009 at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Springhill, La., with Rev. Ronald Morgan officiating. Burial was under the direction of Bailey Mortuary in the Western Cemetery, Emerson, Ark.

Visitation was Saturday from 5-8 p.m. at Bailey Funeral Home in Springhill, La.

Mrs. Edington was a resident of Springhill, La., but also resided in Fouke, Ark., for 10 years. She and her husband lived at Barksdale while he was in the Army Air Corps during World War II. She was born Jan. 27, 1920 to John and Mary Allen Griggs in the Chalybeate Springs community and died Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009 at the Fountain View Nursing Home in Springhill. After graduation from Plain Dealing High School she went to work for the Louisiana State Museum in Shreveport, La. Later, she was co-owner of Edington Grocery in Springhill, worked at the Shanhouse in Magnolia, Ark., and then worked as a teacher's aide at Manila Elementary School.

She looked forward to eating lunch and playing cards and dominoes with her senior friends at the Council on Aging. She had been an active member of First Baptist Church where she served as the program chairman for the JOY Club, taught a women's auxiliary class and a Sunday school class and worked as a Vacation Bible School volunteer. The highlight of her year was to go with the senior members to Branson, Mo. Her life was devoted to assisting her husband, Rev. Joseph M. Edington, in serving the Lord in his pastoral duties. Their home was always open to church members, missionaries and evangelists.

She is survived by her children, Don Edington and wife, Patricia, of Ruston, La.; Sandra Barnard and husband, Tommy, of Bossier City, La.; Mary Manuel and husband, Anthony, of Springhill, La.; grandchildren, Steve Jenkins of Baton Rouge, La.; Stacie Jenkins Cagney and husband, Tim, of Little Elm, Tex.; Jason Marshall and wife, Kristina, of Springhill, La.; Suzanne Edington of Allen, Tex.; Colton Walters and fiancee, Valerie Anderson, of Shreveport, La.; great-grandchildren, Gabriel and Gavin Marshall, Amelia and Cade Cagney and Keegan Walters; and her brother, Richard Griggs and wife ,Alverne, of Springhill, La.

She was preceded in death by her dear husband and parents, siblings (Janie Allen, Buddy Griggs, Lula Lester, J.D. Griggs and Lillian Peabody) and nephews (Ricky Griggs and Dennis Griggs).

Pallbearers were Jerry Stephens, Richard Johnson, Lamar Smith, Douglas Collier, Rodney Tyler, Jerry Griggs and Dave Thomas.

Memorials may be made to her favorite charity, St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

Persons may sign the online guestbook, www.baileymortuary.net.