Jessie Vernon Harkreader, 99 years old, died Friday, January 22, 2010 in Barling, Arkansas. She laid down for a nap on January 22, 2010 and woke up in Heaven. She was born to the late Malla Graham and Mattie (Jennings) Graham in Lavaca on August 9, 1910. She was saved at the age of fifteen and was a member of First Baptist Church of Lavaca all of her life.

She was also preceded in death by her husband, Oliver, and her daughter, Sharon Kay Patterson.

She attended what is now Arkansas Tech in Russellville and began teaching in a one room school house in 1931. She later moved to the Lavaca School, teaching there until her marriage in 1940. She and Oliver had dated for seven years. She managed a PX at Fort Chaffee from 1949 to 1962. She returned to teaching first grade in Lavaca in 1966. She retired from teaching in 1973. She made a tremendous impact on the lives of her students. Jessie and Oliver spent their retirement traveling and trout fishing. They visited all 48 contiguous states.

Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 26th, at the Brotherton Funeral Home Chapel in Charleston, with the Rev. Curtis Smithson officiating. Interment will be at the Lavaca City Cemetery in Lavaca, under the direction of the Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home in Charleston.

She is survived by her four grandchildren, Alicia Dooly & husband Jay of Lavaca, Angela Wimberly & husband Jim of San Diego, CA, Jamie Patterson & wife Jamie of Lavaca, and Andrea Nevel & husband Greg of Springdale, AR. She was the proud great-grandmother of Jessica and Logan Dooly and Luke, Sam and Jack Nevel.

Pall Bearers will be Woody Green, Davin Green, Honey Graham, Franklin Graham, Freddy Graham, and Royce Bradley.

The family will visit with family and friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday night at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be amde to the Lavaca Cemetery through First National Bank.

To pay an online tribute, please visit www.brothertonbrothersfuneralhomes.com. (479) 965-8202