Christine Wiley

In 1920 on the 20th day of December, a child was born in Gurdon, AR beginning the life of a devoted mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Christine was born to the late Charlie Goldsby and Crissie Craighead Goldsby. Growing up during that time, Christine attended a segregated school in Gurdon in a one-room school building, in classes with her older siblings and friends.

As an adult, Christine met the late Clarence Earnest Wiley, of which she would recall was the only young black man with a new car and a head full of curls. “Your Daddy was a handsome man”, she told her children. Christine and Earnest married on September 17, 1939. Together as a couple, they were parents to six children and they together made many adjustments and sacrifices to provide for their family.

Sister Wiley worked as a homemaker and licensed stylist for many years. She retired from the Gurdon Public School system in 1986. God’s grace was the first and foremost part of her journey. After 97 years of blessings from God, the precious spirit of Christine Wiley was called home. With family at her bedside, she peacefully and quietly entered into the arms of Jesus for eternal rest.

Those gone on before her include: her sister, Sylvia Brown (1955); her brother, J.C. Goldsby (2000); three sons, Cal Don (1968), Stanley (1998), and Charlie Allen (2002); two grandsons, Ralph Jones (1987) and Russell Wiley (2001).

Those left to treasure the memory and milestones of her life include: one son, Jahure Wiley of Gurdon, AR; two daughters, Eloise Jones of Burton, MI and Regina (Curtis) Ricks of Little Rock, AR; three grandsons, Greg (Karen) Jones, Ken Wiley, and Derrick Wiley; seven granddaughters, Vikita (Sammy) Paton, Michelle (Douglas) Wright, Rachel Wiley, Kenya Wiley, Christina (Eric) Allen, Christa (Se James) Humphrey and Christian Hopson; a multitude of great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren expanding 6 generations, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and a special extended church family at Calvary Pentecostal church. Christine Wiley will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Visitation will be at Mitchell Funeral Home on Saturday, September 30, 2017, from 12 noon- 6 p.m. with family hour from 5 p.m.-6 p.m. Funeral services will be on Sunday, October 1, 2017, at 2 p.m. at Calvary United Pentecostal church in Gurdon, AR where Pastor Bill O’Connell will serve as eulogist. The body will lie in state from 1p.m. until funeral time. Interment will be at Rome Cemetery in Okolona, AR.

Family Hour will be at Mitchell Funeral Home from 5 p.m.- 6 p.m.

The body will lie in state from 1 p.m.- 2 p.m. for viewing. Interment will be at Rome Cemetery in Okolona, AR.

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