Retha Mae Kinsel

Retha Mae Kinsel, 80, of Jonesboro, passed away Sunday at her home.

Born in Enid, Oklahoma, Retha lived in Huntsville, Alabama, before moving to Jonesboro in 1968. She worked over 25 years as office manager for the Mt.Zion Baptist Association.

Retha was a member of First Baptist Church of Jonesboro where she was active in the Women’s Missionary Union, Church Care Center and Women in Prison Program. Retha was also deeply involved in the Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief Program, responding to local disasters in Parkin, Marmaduke and other local areas as well as national disasters and emergencies. Letha worked with the Relief Program in New Orleans for over a year following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and enjoyed traveling, especially to beaches and oceans. Retha also enjoyed taking in the summer sun by her backyard pool. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tennyson Kinsel, and by a sister, Letha Rae Reese.

Survivors include 2 sons, Paul Ray Kinsel of North Little Rock and Mark Kurt Kinsel of Little Rock;

1 daughter, Lisa (Robert Charles) Nichter of Lancaster, New York;

1 brother, Ernie (Marilyn) Fredrick of Medford, Oklahoma;

7 grandchildren: Dustin (Susanna) Kinsel of Fayetteville, Amanda Reynolds, Corey Reynolds, and Carey Reynolds, all of Tremont, Mississippi, and Kayla Nichter, Jessica Nichter and Victoria Nichter, all of Lancaster, New York; and

Great grandchildren: Natalia Kinsel, and Olivia Mae Kinsel in addition to other great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 in Emerson Memorial Chapel with Dr. Bruce Tippit and Kathy Holler officiating. Burial will follow in Jonesboro Memorial Park.

Visitation will be held Wednesday afternoon from 1:00-2:00 in Emerson Chapel.

For lasting memorials, the family asks that consideration be given to the First Baptist Church Care Center, 700 S. Main, Jonesboro, AR 72401, Mt. Zion Baptist Camp, P.O. Box 2515, Jonesboro, AR 72402-2515, or the Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief Services, P.O. Box 116543, Atlanta, GA 30368-6543.