Edna Arlene Kersey

Edna Arlene (Million) Kersey, 72, of Jonesboro, passed away Wednesday, May 18, while napping in her home. Edna was born in Pocahontas, Arkansas, on December 19, 1949, the youngest of eight children to Duke and Neva Million. When she was 9 years old, she won a hula-hoop contest on the steps of the county courthouse - the first of many life accomplishments. In 4th grade, her family moved from Arkansas to Colorado, with a view of Pike’s Peak from her home. Edna played the accordion at Fountain/Fort Carson High School. She relocated her senior year to Kansas City with her sister (Oleta Cummins) and family. Edna graduated top of her class in beauty school, winning 3rd place in the state of Missouri for hair styling. While visiting her oldest sister (Willene Moulder) in Jonesboro on the night before Thanksgiving, Edna met the love of her life and married the day after Christmas of that same year, 1968. Jerry and Edna became the parents of twin boys in 1971 and had a daughter in 1979. Jerry, Edna and family were members of the Jonesboro Christian Church for many years. Edna was an excellent softball player – selected MVP. Edna also was a very talented seamstress, winning awards at the Mid-South Fair. She was a clogger with the Crowley Ridge Cloggers. She loved to play cards, camp and travel. The warmth of the weather and her beloved family there made Tucson, Arizona, one of her favorite places to visit.

Edna was preceded in death by her son (Jeremy), her parents, three brothers (Kern, Wayne, and Bill), two sisters (Linda Million and Willene Moulder).

Survivors include her adoring husband of 53 years, Jerry Kersey of the home, a son: Jarrod (Amber) Kersey, and a daughter Autumn (Greg) Thetford; one sister, Oleta Cummins; one brother, Hulet Million; and seven grandchildren: Adria (Tanner) Pettigrew, Olivia (Tina) Million, Clayton (Ashley) Kersey, Jonas Kersey; Sara, Maggie, and Libby Thetford, and 3 great-grandchildren: Kennedy and Emmett Pettigrew, and Charlotte Kersey.

Please join us in the celebration of her life, as she loved to laugh and smile. Her visitation will be held Sunday, May 22 at Emerson Funeral Home in Jonesboro from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Graveside services will be at Arkansas Veterans’ Cemetery in Birdeye, AR on Tuesday, May 24 at 10:00 a.m.

For lasting memorials, the family asks that consideration be given to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital or Arkansas Children’s Hospital.