Earnestine Ladd

Earnestine M. Ladd, 91, of Bay, passed from this life on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. Earnestine was truly one of a kind—a woman full of life, love, and laughter. She was as sparkling as the stories she told and lived a life that reminded us all to embrace every moment, love fiercely, and share our joy with others.

Born in Trumann, Arkansas, Earnestine spent her early years in Wyandotte, Michigan, before moving to Bay, Arkansas, graduating high school a year early and crowned homecoming queen, her smile as bright as the rhinestones she loved.

At the end of her high school years, she met James Ladd in a little café on Main Street in Bay. Two weeks later, he became her partner in love and life. Together, they moved to Chicago, where they owned and operated two bustling 24-hour diners. Those diners were witness to everything from speechwriters for John F. Kennedy to brushes with the mafia—stories Earnestine would later tell with such vivid color you’d swear you were sitting in a booth with a Cherry Coke and a juicy hamburger listening to quarters jingling in the jukebox.

But home was always calling. In 1971, Earnestine and Jim returned to Bay, purchasing the very café where their story began. There, she created a legacy of community and comfort. Friday nights brought catfish dinners and her famous lemon pie, while New Year’s Day became an annual tradition of serving free food all day—a love letter to the community she adored.

Her culinary journey extended to the Valley Line Riverboat Company, where she cooked for river workers navigating America’s waterways. Her final and most beloved role was as food director for Bay Public Schools, where she worked for 20 years, feeding countless children with care, kindness, and just the right amount of sass. For Earnestine, cooking was never just a job—it was her way of bringing people together.

Earnestine worked with grit, humor, and an unmatched work ethic until she retired at the remarkable age of 87. Sequins and rhinestones were her armor; Dolly Parton, dancing, and laughter were her soundtrack. Her comedic timing was sharper than a country fiddle, and she had a knack for saying exactly the wrong thing at exactly the right time, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye that could turn any moment into something unforgettable.

At the heart of it all was her family, her little dog Baby, and the countless friends lucky enough to share in her stories, meals, and joy. If you sat at her table, you didn’t just eat—you tasted her love, warmth, and generosity.

Earnestine was preceded in death by her husband, James Ladd; her parents, Joe and Ora Lee Pierce Hawes; her brother, Louis Hawes; her granddaughter, Kelsea Hutchison; and her grandson, Derrick Tatum.

She is survived by:

Three daughters and their husbands: Debbey and Cloud Griffin of Bay, Sandi and Jack Griffin of Bay, and Jodi and Brent Hutchison of Jonesboro;
One son and his wife: Jim and Charlotte Ladd of Bay;
Her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, whose lives are forever brightened by her love and stories.
A celebration of Earnestine’s life will be held on Friday, December 20th, at First Baptist Church in Bay with Pastor Danny Taylor officiating . Family visitation will be from 11:00-12:00, public visitation from 12:00-2:00 p.m., with services beginning at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Nettleton Cemetery under the direction of Emerson Funeral Home.