Alice Odelia Chapman

God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So he put his arms around you and whispered "Come to Me".

On Wednesday, August 24, 2016 the Lord called the lovely spirit of Mother Alice Odelia Owens Chapman home to glory. She was born April 13, 1927 to the late Andrew and Katie Owens.

Odelia attended the Princeton Community public school held at Mt Zion church. She was raised in a Christian home and confessed a hope in Christ at an early age.

Odelia found joy in uniting with her home church, Mt. Zion A.M.E. church in Princeton, Arkansas. Upon moving to Little Rock with her children, she united and fellowshipped with Pleasant Hill A.M.E. However when Odelia moved back, it wasn't long before she moved her membership back to her home church, Mt. Zion A.M.E. Mother Chapman always felt a strong connection to her home church. She would often tell her children she felt the church needed her, and the spirit let her know her work was not yet done. Mother Chapman loved her church and was a very active member working in various positions in the church. She loved Mission work the best! If she could help someone she most surely would. She was the Mother of the church. She let it be known that when her time came to walk with the Lord in Heaven, her last request would be for her funeral to be at Mt. Zion A.M.E.

Mother Chapman loved to dress from head to toe! Elder Boyd in the church always called her the Hat Lady. She had a different hat for every suit. She loved to cook and was very good at it. She was a wise woman that kept busy in her community and was a member of the NAACP. Mother Chapman always kept up with the election. Her right to vote was important to her and she exercised her right every opportunity she got. She was a very smart woman. When she wasn't busy she loved to travel around the world. Her most memorable vacations were the Bahamas and Niagara Falls.

Odelia worked at the Little Rock University Medical Center in Central Supply and the Children's Colony. Odelia retired from Public employees Retirement System. She was a Foster Grandparent worker in the Arkadelphia School district and worked last for Area Agency on Aging, doing companion care for the elderly until her health failed.

She United in Marriage to Ernest Lee Johnson of Little Rock, Gilfert Hunter, and IV Chapman of Arkadelphia, all preceded her in death. She also is preceded by one son, Andrew Lydale Johnson; one daughter, Linda Fay Hunter; one grandchild and four great great grand children.

Alice O. Chapman leaves to rejoice her life nine sons; Tyra Johnson, Eric Johnson, Elijah Johnson and Lawrence (Sheila) Johnson all of Little Rock, AR, Sylvester Johnson, Christopher Hunter and Charles Chapman all of Arkadelphia, AR, Boyce Blake (Dorothy) Hunter, and Arthur Hunter both of Detroit, Michigan; four daughters; Dorothy Hill and Ernestine Johnson both of Little Rock, AR, Shelia (Kevin) Hampton of Inkster, Michigan, Janece Bankhead of Arkadelphia, AR; one brother, Ben (Iola) Owens of Princeton, Arkansas and one sister, Mary Jones of Los Angles, CA; 31 grandchildren, 88 great grandchildren, 7 great great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, many who called her MOM, and many friends.

Visitation will be Friday, September 2, 2016 at Mitchell Funeral Home in Arkadelphia from 9 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. The family will gather to share memories and milestones of Mother Chapman's life at Second Baptist Church in Little Rock from 6 p.m.- 7 p.m.

Funeral Service will be Saturday, September 3, 2016 at Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in Princeton, AR at 12 noon. The body will lie in state 1 hour prior to funeral time.

Visitation will be Friday, September 2, 2016 at Mitchell Funeral Home in Arkadelphia from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Chapman family will receive friends and extended family to share in the memories of Mrs. Chapman at Second Baptist Church in Little Rock from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Mother Chapman will lie in state at Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church from 11 a.m. up until funeral time at 12 noon.

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