Juanita McClanahan

Sister Juanita Craig McClanahan was born the sixth child of eight siblings to the late Mr. and Mrs. Samuel and Elizabeth Banks Craig on February 22, 1926. She was loved and nurtured in a Christian home in the Center Point/Sparkman Community where God was the head of their home. Sister McClanahan received her formal education at Sparkman Training School.

On February 12, 1942, Sister Juanita McClanahan became the beautiful bride of the late Brother Eddie McClanahan, Sr. To this union, eight children were welcomed; four boys and four girls. They continued to build on their faith in God as members of Mount Olive A.M.E. Church, Dalark, Arkansas where she faithfully served as a member of the Steward Board, Member of the Missionary Society, An Usher, Class Leader and Mother of the Church.

As a homemaker, Sister Juanita McClanahan undertook a wide range of tasks. She was a loving and caring wife, creating a positive and happy environment while caring for her offspring, keeping the home clean, shopping, managing a household budget, taking care of day-to-day expenses and chores, acting as a caregiver, preparing meals, sharing with family, friends and the list could go on and on. To achieve all of this, it is not a secret that she place God first in her life and everything else fell into place. Recently she was inducted into the West Arkansas Conference Hall of Fame. Those WHO KNEW HER BEST OFTEN SAID "TO KNOW HER IS TO LOVE HER."

On Monday, October 20, 2014 Sister McClanahan was called home to be with our Heavenly Father. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel and Elizabeth Banks Craig; her husband, Eddie, Sr.; three brothers, William Earl (Doc) Craig, Charles (Bomb) Craig Sr., and Oscar Cleophous Craig; two sisters, Beaula Alene Hunter, and Everlee Hughes and three sons, Rozell, Bobby Joe, and Eddie Jr.

She leaves to cherish her loving memory five children, Eunita Robinson of Vacaville, California, Evelyn Boddie, Betty Quarles and Reva DeLamar (Claude) all of Arkadelphia, Arkansas; one son, Bud Henry McClanahan of Arkadelphia, Arkansas; two sisters, Emmalene Murdock of Malvern, Arkansas, and Rosetta Butler of Warren, Arkansas; one daughter-in-law, Delores McClanahan of Muskegon, MI; twenty-two grandchildren; forty-seven great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

Funeral Services will be Saturday, October 25, 2014 at 12 noon at Mount Olive A.M.E. Church at Dalark where Rev. Linda Butler is Pastor and Rev. L.A. Craig as Eulogist. Burial will be in McClanahan Cemetery under the direction of Mitchell Funeral Home. Visitation will be Friday, October 24, 2014 from 12 noon to 7 p.m.

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