Mrs. Hellean "Mamaw" Crayton

Her Story… Hellean Crayton ended her earthly journey on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at the Magnolia Regional Medical Center. Hellean was known for her strong will, unwavering determination, love and support of her family and community. Hellean was born on August 25, 1933, to the late Napoleon “Erb” Jones and Helen Franklin Jones. To this union fourteen children were born. She attended the Union A.M.E. Church all her life. She served as a Choir Member, Usher, Missionary, Steward, Trustee, Church Secretary, Financial Secretary and on the Kitchen Committee. She believed in God with her full heart. You could say she was a person that showed unconditional love. She accepted people for who they were. She was generous and willing to help others who were faced with adversity. Hellean and her siblings attended school at Friendship and later at New Hope. There were no buses to travel to their home, so the children had to walk several miles to catch the bus at Hwy 57. Their strength and bravery helped them to achieve, and they had to work the fields at the same time. Mr. “Erb” Jones was a sharecropper, so the children learned at an early age how to work and take care of themselves. Several children moved North for better job opportunities. Yet, Hellean stayed in Mount Holly and built a better life for her and her family. The family continued to keep in touch with each other regularly, even though they all lived far away from each other. She married Willie L. Crayton on May 28, 1952, to this union one child was born Barbara Ann Crayton. Before she fulfilled her purpose in life she worked numerous jobs at KFC, Dixie Maintenance and the Boat Plant in Smackover. She drove the bus for a while at New Hope before the schools integrated in 1970-1971. But driving started long before the bus, she would take sick neighbors to and from the hospitals in Little Rock and various other places. Her favorite riders were Rev. J.C. Chitman and Governor Rufus. In 1979, Superintendent Morris McKinnon hired her to drive the school bus for Mount Holly Public School. This truly was her passion. She had countless stories surrounding that little yellow school bus and her bus students who she loved dearly. If you rode Mrs. Hellean’s bus you were taken care of in so many ways from washing faces during those early morning hours, being sung to, receiving hugs, given candy from that little plastic Ziplock bag or stopping by Watson’s Store for a snack in the afternoon. Who could forget that switch that sat in the corner of the bus? Mount Holly School was a happy place where she met many friends and loved all the students. She worked at the school until her retirement in 2004. After retirement, she devoted more of her time to caring for her great-grandchildren while their parents worked. She teased their parents that she was keeping a tablet on the children and the bill was adding up. She loved to go to church, cook, quilt, garden and fish. Also, she loved to talk on the phone to whomever she could get on the line. She had most of her friends’ names and numbers written in the little red book. No matter who you were, your age or ethnicity you were her friend. She never met a stranger. She credited herself for being a Jack-of-all-trades. No matter what your complaint, she had the solution. No matter what your illness, she had the remedy and if by chance you were hungry and went down Hwy 57 from any part of the world you could stop by and were always welcome at her table. It was nothing to see that little car dashing down the roads of Mount Holly and surrounding areas to help someone sick, take them a quilt, food or just offer some good conversation or advice. Hellean is preceded in death by her husband: Willie L. Crayton. Her parents: Napoleon Jones and Helen Jones. Her brothers: Clyde Jones, Willie Jones, Joe Jones, George Jones, Scipio Jones, Shulie B. Jones, Harmon Jones and John L. Jones. Her sisters: Mary L. Harper, Luddie B. Herner, Bessie Bush and Orlean Williams. She leaves to cherish her memories her beloved brother, Cleather Jones of Chicago, IL, her loving daughter, Barbara Ann Harris of Mount Holly, AR, her grandchildren, Iris Harris Davis (Otis Davis) of Camden, AR, Ingra Genean Harris (Eric Dare) of Magnolia, AR, Laron Philander Harris II (Shakemia Harris) of Prairie Grove, AR, her great-grandchildren, Reese Trinity Dare, Laron Philander Harris III, Damari Sinclair Davis, Kyndal Aubree Harris and Amir Xander Harris. A host of nieces and nephews who compassionately called her “Auntie.” Special nephews: James Williams, John H. Bush, Bobby J. Bush, Eric Williams and Derrick Williams-Special nieces: Gail O’Guinn and Erica Jones Special friends Ruby Adair, Macy Braswell, Monica Carter and lifelong friend Mrs. Abberteen Lewis, countless family members, neighbors, and friends. We’re going to miss you Mamaw!!! Celebration of Life services will be held Saturday, February 8th, 2025, at R.L. Reed Funeral Home Chapel in Magnolia, Arkansas at 2:00 p.m. with burial to follow at Smeed Cemetery in Mount Holly, Arkansas, under the direction of R.L. Reed Funeral Home, LLC. Elder Leroy Martin, Officiant. Minster Artis Fletcher, Eulogist. A visitation will be held Friday {Feb. 7th}, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., at R.L. Reed Funeral Home in Magnolia. “For precaution due to the COVID-19, Masks are Encouraged but Not Required While Attending the Services and During Visitation Hours. However, wearing masks ensures safety for you and others. Thank you.”

Mrs. Hellean "Mamaw" Crayton

August 25, 1933 - January 26, 2025

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Mrs. Hellean "Mamaw" Crayton

August 25, 1933 - January 26, 2025

Obituary Notification

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information