Kathleen Benstead Hays

Kathleen Benstead Hays, 94, of Jonesboro died Wednesday, August 29, 2012 at St. Bernard’s Medical Center. She had lived all of her life in Jonesboro and was a member of First Baptist Church. Kathleen was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority; the secretary for her Rotary Club; and the President of the Methodist WMU Kathleen Mallory Circle. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roscoe Hays, her parents and two sisters.

Survivors include her son, John Hays of Jonesboro; daughters, Beth Mason and husband Carl of Walnut Ridge; Jean Firstbrook and husband Carl of Birmingham, Alabama; Dana Childs and husband, Kemp of Jonesboro; seven grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; and nephews, Bob and his wife Kay Thorpe; great nephew, Jay and wife Chris Thorpe: great great niece Cathleen Thorpe; great niece Pam and husband, Scott Williams; and great nephew Greg and Roxanne Thorpe and family.

Funeral services will be 11:00 Saturday, September 1, 2012 at First Baptist Church with Dr. Bruce Tippit officiating and Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery with grandsons and great nephew Jay Thorpe serving as pallbearers. Visitation will be from 10:00 until service time on Saturday at First Baptist Church.

For lasting memorials, please consider First Baptist Church Home Link, 701 South Main, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105. To sign an online guest