Margaret Anne Haywood Kenward

Margaret Anne Haywood Kenward, 81, of Jonesboro died Sunday, January 15, 2017 at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House. Margaret Anne was born on August 2, 1935 in Jonesboro. As a child, she attended elementary schools in many states while her father, Fred worked for the TVA as a civil engineer. She attended Annie Camp Junior High and graduated from Jonesboro High School in 1953. While in school, she was very active as a cheerleader, singing in the choir, and beauty competitions. She graduated from Stephens Junior College in 1955 with a degree in religion and art. She loved music and the arts, equestrian events and competitions, modeling and designing her own clothes. Margaret won the 1955 Miss Arkansas Maid Pageant, was runner up in the Miss USA Pageant and runner up for the Miss World Pageant in London also in 1955. She was a homemaker, a member of the PTA and the Jonesboro Junior Auxiliary. She was an active member of the First Christian Church and enjoyed working with the youth, including a missionary trip to Mexico as president of the Arkansas State Christian Youth Fellowship. In later years, she became a very active member of the First Baptist Church in Jonesboro. She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Georgia Haywood and daughter, Deborah Anne Kenward.

Survivors include her husband of 60 years, John Clay Kenward of the home; daughters, Becky York of Paragould; Tami Lyn Kenward of Little Rock; Kristi Kenward Easom (David) of Maumelle; aunt, Minnie Ruth Wiles Osment; seven grandchildren and several great grandchildren.

Celebration of Life services will be 6:00 PM, Tuesday, January 17, 2017, at Emerson Memorial Chapel with Kathy Holler officiating and Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM until service time. Honorary pallbearers are Steve Mayville, “Sonny” Carter and Lavelle Dryer, William and Jeanie Roberts, Terry Bare, Jeremy and Ryan Holler, June Disinger Lacy, Deloris White, Missy Murray, Debbie Spence, Amy Goza, Cindy Wilson and Jan White. Burial will be private.

For lasting memorials, please consider the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House, 1148 E. Matthews, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401; American Cancer Society, 3614 Hudson Drive, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401; or the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), 1012 Autumn Road, Suite 1, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72211-3763.