Tressie Byrd

Tressie Louise (Crafton) Batey Byrd, 85, of Pollard, died July 31, 2009, in the White County Medical Center at Searcy after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was a long-time member of the New Hope Baptist Church of Pollard.

She was born on November 24, 1923, to Louticia (Gage) and Edgar Poe Crafton, who lived near Corning.

After marriage on April 20, 1946, to Doug Batey, three children were born to them: Marilyn Stroud and husband Al of Cabot, Ark., Rick Batey and wife Laura of Plano, Texas, and Barbara Carrens of Piggott.

Grandchildren include Melanie Batey of North Little Rock, Jarrod Stroud of Jonesboro, Courtney Landrum and husband Daniel of Fort Worth, Texas, Katherine and Meredith Batey of Plano, Texas, and Todd Langley and wife Michelle of Sherwood; five great-grandchildren, Blake Batey, Michael Curtis, Taylor Langley, Victoria Langley and McKenzie Langley.

She was also survived by sisters, Elsie Holifield, Helen Johnson and Rosamond Aschenbrenner, along with brothers Eddie Poe Crafton and Bob Crafton.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her first husband, Doug Batey in April, 1972, and her second husband, Orba Byrd in 1979. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Carl Crafton, Ralph "Snooks" Crafton, Lester Crafton, Gerald "Doc" Crafton and Tommy Crafton, along with sisters, Edna Allen, Lena Mulhollen and Shirley Ward.

After one summer at Arkansas State College immediately following high school graduation, she taught at a one room school at Wildwood community and sent money home to help support the family. As one of 14 children whose mother died at a relatively young age, she took her turn going back home to take charge and help raise her younger brothers and sisters.

After her marriage, she helped her husband on the farm and raised her family. Pressed into substitute teaching at the Pollard Elementary School, she was encouraged by Principal William Holifield to return to college to obtain a teaching degree. She earned that degree at Arkansas State and then taught fifth grade reading and social studies at Twin Rivers Elementary at Qulin, Mo., for 23 years. She also earned her Master's degree in Elementary Education from ASU.

Her hobbies included crossword puzzles, reading, embroidery and quilting with the Pollard ladies quilting group. For many years, she was the "banker" at the Pollard Picnic, working for weeks gathering donations, and then counting and depositing all the picnic profits for the New Hope Cemetery.

Funeral services were Monday, Aug. 3, at Hoggard and Sons Funeral Home in Piggott with Loy Culver officiating and Jarrod Stroud and Bob Crafton assisting. Burial was in New Hope Cemetery. Pallbearers were Nick Yount, Bobby Shanklin, Kirby Johnson, Dr. Larry Winberry, Jarrod Stroud and Todd Langley.

The family suggests that memorials may be made to the New Hope Baptist Church of Pollard.