Vidana Jennings

Service: 2 p.m. Thursday, March 29, at Roller-Coffman Funeral Home in Marshall, with burial at Red Hill Cemetery; Visitation: 1-2 p.m. Thursday, March 29, at the funeral home.

Claudia Vidana Jennings went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, March 27 (2018) one day before her 91st birthday.

She was born in Baker, on March 28, 1927, to Claude E. Stephenson and Velma Smith Stephenson. She married Samuel A. Jennings on May 7, 1948.

Vidana was a graduate of Marshall High School and the State Teachers College (now UCA). She taught elementary school (primarily 4th grade) for 35 years. Her teaching career began at Maple Grove School (near Leslie) and then continued at Marshall Elementary until retirement in 1981.

After retirement, Vidana and Sam spent many days traveling the country with various tour companies. Their travels took them to 47 of the 48 mainland states. When they were not traveling and still lived on a farm, Vidana was a very active participant in all of the farm chores. She loved everything related to the outdoors. Vidana became a Christian at an early age. She and Sam attended Shiloh Baptist Church in Harrison until her health declined.

Survivors include her husband of almost 70 years, Sam Jennings, of Harrison; sisters-in-law, Betty Stephenson, of Herndon, Virginia, and Ramona Beavers, of Harrison; and two nieces, Pam (Nick) Goodrich, of Mountain Home, and Lisa (Craig) Janus, of Centerville, Virginia. she is also survived by a special friend and caregiver, Tina Hovis, of Harrison. Vidana was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Gene Stephenson.

Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 29, at Roller-Coffman Funeral Home in Marshall, with Brother Sean Milliken and Mike Moore officiating. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. preceding the service. Burial will be in Red Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers will be James Tilley, Roger Ratchford, Joe Bennett, Jody Bennett, Tom Horner and Chester Taylor. Honorary pallbearers will be Don Watts, Bud Walsh, Ted McElroy, John Taylor, Arthur Ralston, Craig Harness, Perry Harness, Larry Hovis and Mitchell Williams.

At the family’s request memorials may be made to Hospice of the Hills, P.O. Box 1927, Harrison, AR 72602.