Melba Jean Mccollum

Melba Jean Stokes McCollum, 83, of Hot Springs, formerly of Stuttgart, died on Tuesday, May 14. Jean was born on August 29, 1940, to James McRay Stokes and Melba Jackson Stokes Meadows in Lumberton, North Carolina.

At a young age, her family moved to New Bern, North Carolina, where Jean lived until 1958. After graduating from New Bern High School, she moved to Arkansas where she lived for the next 66 years. Jean could do anything. From drawing to singing or dancing to roller-skating, she lived a very active life for as long as her body allowed. Contrary to popular belief, she was an excellent cook… which she refused to do so as not to get her kitchen dirty.

Jean was preceded in death by her father, James Stokes; mother, Melba Meadows; sister, Shirly Mercer; and brother, Mack Stokes.

She is survived by her husband, Warren McCollum, as well as her nine children, Cindy and Ronnie Sherman, Brian Sells, Robert and Laurie McCollum, Tamara and Danny Moorehouse and Brent and Kim McCollum; nine grandchildren, Cole and Beth Sherman, Taylor and Leah Sherman, Hunter and Rebecca Moorehouse, Jake Moorehouse, Chase McCollum, and Molly Jo McCollum; six great-grandchildren, Ella Sherman, Rachel Sherman, Hallie Sherman, Carlee Sherman, Easton Moorehouse, and Hadleigh Moorehouse; sister, Patricia and Jack Hurley; brothers, Bob and Carole Stokes and Paul Mercer; and sister, Bonnie Stokes.

In truth, Nanny was a grandparent to far more people than just us 15. Every friend that came to visit the lake house, tagged along on a trip, or showed up unannounced at her home to grab some M&M’s and a coke was viewed as a grandchild in her eyes. There are far too many to name. You know who you are. She loved you.

Nanny could do anything, but what she loved doing the most was making friends and meeting people. Whether a greeter at Walmart or a server at a restaurant, she had a way of making every person she met feel like she truly cared about them and their story. The reason for that is simple. She truly did. Her legacy is found in the many lives she touched, the numerous ways that she expressed generosity, and in the lasting memory of the family that she loved so dearly. Her hope, as well as our own, is placed firmly in the resurrection of her Savior, Jesus.

A memorial service will be Saturday, June 1, at 2 p.m. at Stuttgart Harvest Church in Stuttgart, Arkansas.

Her family requests memorials be made to Stuttgart Harvest Church, 607 S. Park Ave., Stuttgart, Ark. 72160.

1st Thessalonians 4:13 (NLT) And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died, so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.