Augusta Evelyn Thurmond

Evelyn Thurmond was born Augusta Mae Evelyn Masterson on May 4, 1924 to William “Bill” and Dora Ward Masterson at their home in Nimmons, Arkansas near Piggot. Evelyn entered her Heavenly home at the age of 96 on June 15, 2020. She was reared in the Oak Grove community and in the Coffman community in Greene County and was a Paragould resident until 2009 when she moved to Bentonville, Arkansas to be near her family. Evelyn was a member of the Robbs Chapel Baptist Church in the Coffman community in Paragould where she served as church pianist until the age of 84. She was a graduate of Lakeside High School east of Paragould. She attended Southern Baptist College, now Williams Baptist University in Walnut Ridge, AR. After college Evelyn taught elementary school in Oak Grove and in Lakeside school districts in Greene County. Evelyn was a homemaker from 1946 until the 1970’s and 80’s when she worked in Gibson’s department store in Paragould. In 1986 she became full time caregiver for her aging parents. From 1994 until 2009 she participated in the Area Agency on Aging Foster Grandparents program which included 12 years working with preschoolers in the Paragould School District’s School of the 21st Century.

She was preceded in death by her husband William Eugene “Junior” Thurmond, her son Steven Eugene Thurmond, her parents Bill and Dora Masterson, and her father in-law and mother in-law William “Bill” and Lela Thurmond, all of Paragould. Also preceding her in death were her brothers Grover William “G-Dub” Masterson and Jessie Paul Masterson, her sisters Nelda Nadyne Attebery and Martha Pauline Espinosa, and her paternal grandparents Wilson and Sarah Masterson of Piggot and maternal grandparents William and Martha Adkins Ward of Kentucky.

Evelyn is survived by her daughter and son-in law Carolyn Thurmond Brooks and Charles Brooks of Fayetteville, AR, daughter and son-in law Janet Thurmond Montgomery and Stanley Montgomery of Bella Vista, AR, her granddaughter Keelie Boone Tullis and husband Chuck Tullis of Hanover, PA, granddaughter Kimberly Boone Shaw of Little Rock, Granddaughter Michelle Montgomery Eddington and husband Joe Eddington of Cabot, AR, her grandson Matthew Montgomery and wife Jennifer Montgomery of Bella Vista, AR. She is also survived by her great grand-children (twins) Macie and Madden Tullis, (twins) Turner and Fisher Shaw, and Kale and Eli Eddington.

Funeral Services will be Saturday, June 20, 2020 at Heath’s Funeral Home in Paragould. The family will receive visitors from 10:00 am until 11:00. The funeral services will be at 11:00am. Burial will follow in Linwood Cemetery.