Jeanetta F. Blackman

“No matter how much we may love the melody of a bygone day or imagine the song of a future one, we must dance within the music of today, or we will always be out of step, stumbling around in something that doesn’t suit the moment.”
― Lisa Wingate, Before We Were Yours

Jeanetta F. Blackman – how can one capture a person’s life in a few words? Some choose to list the significant ones of a person’s life and leave it at that. But, just knowing the people surrounding someone’s life doesn’t necessarily tell the story. Jeanetta was a dedicated and loving mother, sister and friend. Throughout her life, she greeted everyone the same way – a big smile and a hug. At times it was difficult to know what was happening in her life because she was always so quick to ask others about theirs. Yes, she was one of those kind ladies who took the time to stop, open her wallet and offer the woman pushing a cart on the side of the road her last dollar.

She was an avid reader. She read just about everything from fiction to Biblical and spiritual accounts of the saints. She loved her grandchildren very much. She would sit in the floor with them and played checkers, Go Fish, color and even showed them how to use the computer (though her skills were certainly limited).

Several years ago her house and health both began to decline. She never complained about either. She simply did what she had always done – persevered and did her best to make things work out while not wanting to “trouble” anyone. Life made her a fiercely independent woman (her doctor noted that was just a nice word for stubborn). Perhaps so. But, necessity often dictates the direction and decisions one makes.

It was once said she had nine lives. Unfortunate for some who never realized when she went to the hospital a couple of weeks ago – she had already used the other eight. In a few days she went from shortness of breath, cancer, hospice and death. She faced it all with courage and determination to stay positive and encourage her family. She left this life in good hands – a daughter on each side holding her hand as Jesus gently slipped his hands around her and took her home. As she took that final breath, her oldest daughter (Rhonda) leaned forward and said softly, “look for Jesus, look for Maw, she won’t be expecting you, but she will be so happy to see you.” Leonard Higgins

The rest of the story:
Born outside Fayetteville, AR in War Eagle, Monroe County, August 30, 1938 as the oldest of three daughters to Dorsey Frederick and Fleeta Gosverner Harrison who, along with a granddaughter Maggie Joelle Higgins preceded her in death.
Jeanetta is survived by her two daughters and their families;
Rhonda & Leonard Higgins of North Little Rock, AR: Katie & Brian Fowler – Kaleb, Karleigh, Lyla and Hallie; Kelly Jo and Chris Stephens – Olivia and Skylen; Ceci and Ella Higgins
Debra Conrad of Metairie, LA: Michael Conrad – Emma and Mia; Rachel and David Bartholomew – Preston and Emily. Her siblings, Doris Robinson and Mary Jane Goodman reside in Springdale, AR.


Visitation is Tuesday, January 21, 2020 from 11:30-12:30 pm at Levy United Methodist Church in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Funeral service will follow beginning at 12:30 pm and will be officiated by Chaplain (COL) Leonard Higgins, USA (RETIRED) Pianist for the service will be Lori Isner. Burial will follow at Cypress cemetery in Vilonia, Arkansas. Pallbearers will be Brian Fowler, Chris Stephens, Kaleb Fowler, Jeff Bartlett, Greg Robinson.