Jennie Earline Summers Yoakum

Mrs. Jennie Earline Summers Yoakum, 88, of Benton, Arkansas, and a former resident of Blytheville for most of her life, passed from this life on Friday, Jan. 16, 2015, at the Saline County Hospice facilities in Bryant, Arkansas.

Jennie was born one of eight children to Tom and Lina Campbell Summers on Sept. 29, 1926, in Halls, Tennessee. Jennie worked at several places but will be most remembered for her dedicated years of service and work at the Burger Broil. She was a cashier and assistant manager who helped to make the Burger Broil one of the most popular places in Blytheville.

Born three years before The Great Depression, she would spend her childhood and early teenage years watching America adapting to a collapse of the financial system worldwide. During these years, she learned that responsibility, sacrificing and caring for others were more than words, but rather a way of life. Living a simple life, these special traits would stay with her as she required little yet gave out much. She was a good, loving mother who was generous to her family. Her generosity went beyond monetary values as she devoted herself to care for mother, grandmother and sister. She would ride a bus every day to the nursing home and stay with her sister to ensure she was taken care of and fed. Serving Christ in faith gave her the needed strength to tirelessly care for her loved ones. She always knew love for Christ, family and friends would never fail.

Jennie was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands, Frank Handley and Palmer Allen Yoakum; a daughter, Cyrella Land; and seven siblings, George "Buddy" Summers, J.B. Summers, Willard Summers, Lee Dora Lincoln, Evie Sharp, Nettie Hitt and Eddie Murdaugh.

Jennie is survived by her daughters, Brenda Shipp and husband Nick of Benton, Freda Westbrook and husband, Tommie of Blytheville;

Her grandchildren, Tyfney Cook and husband Michael, Shelly Campbell and husband Dustin, Tommy Westbrook and wife Sara, Ross Westbrook and wife Paula;

Her great-grandchildren, Hudson Reid Westbrook, Harrison Parker Campbell, Ruby Blythe Westbrook and Jacob and Scott Cook; and

Several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Cobb Funeral Home Chapel, with Dr. Tommie Westbrook and Billy Holifield officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. Burial will be in Dogwood Cemetery.

Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.cobbfuneralhome.com.