Melinda Ruth Emerson

Melinda Ruth Emerson, 68, of Jonesboro went to be with Jesus peacefully at her home early Thursday morning, October 9, 2025 after a thirteen-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was the third child born to the late Joe and Bettie Steiger on March 15, 1957 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Melinda graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Ouachita Baptist University in 1978, and then started teaching at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock. She married Dr. Steve Emerson on her birthday in 1980, and moved to Jonesboro in the summer of 1986, where she lived the rest of her life. Melinda was a faithful member of Central Baptist Church, where she served in many ministries over the years. She was an artist who loved making all sorts of crafts, many of which she gave as gifts to friends of hers all over the world.

If there was a need, Melinda was one of the first to recognize it and act upon it. Whether it was organizing a wedding or baby shower, hosting people in her home, serving on the leadership team for the women’s ministry, or being a friend to someone in need, she was truly a servant.

She was always looking for a way to invite someone to church or to tell them about Jesus.

She was also an integral part of the Pure Joy International missions ministry for 20 years. She had a heart to minister to women missionaries who desperately needed community. She traveled to India, Mongolia, Italy, Czech Republic, Jordan, and Israel with Pure Joy, making the arts, crafts, and gifts for all those trips as well as many other trips that she did not personally go on. As the “Artist in Residence,” it is estimated that she made over 5,000 personal gifts for the missionaries Pure Joy ministered to.

Melinda was preceded in death by her parents Joe and Bettie Steiger, and granddaughter Kathleen Felicity (“Kit”) Emerson.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 45 years, Dr. Steve Emerson; her three children, Brandon (Amanda) Emerson of Ovilla, Texas; Bryan (Renee) Emerson of St. Charles, Missouri; and Blake (Victoria) Emerson of Crestview, Florida; three siblings, Marcie (Stephen) Hatfield of Highland Village, Texas; Mike (Kay) Steiger of Arlington, Texas; and Mary Beth (David) Wilson of Corsicana, Texas; and 11 grandchildren, Elijah, Susan, June, Evangeline, Wendy, Diana, Sarah Beth, Joey, Barnabas, Danielle, and Luke.

Burial will take place at 1:00pm on Friday, October 10, 2025 at Oak Lawn Cemetery.

A celebration of life service will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, October 11, 2025 at Central Baptist Church. Honorary pallbearers will include the Central Baptist Church Women’s Ministry and William's Life Group.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be given to the Bailey-Brown Legacy Fund, a ministry of Central Baptist Church, 3707 Harrisburg Road, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72404.