Rita Marguerite Perkins

Rita Marguerite Perkins, 90, of Jonesboro passed away on October 26, 2016 at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center. Rita was born February 9, 1926 to the late Edward Cecil Perkins and Grace McDaniel Perkins in the Jonesboro area. She graduated high school in 1943 from Arkansas State High and moved to Memphis and Mobile, Alabama to pursue work in the war effort.

After returning to Jonesboro, she worked at Arkansas State College and for Dr. Grover Poole and other doctors as a receptionist. Rita was a member of the Nettleton Church of Christ and enjoyed mission work. She traveled to India several times as well as medical mission trips to Guyana and missions in the United States.

In addition to her parents, Rita was preceded in death by sisters, Genevieve Cooper and Nell Roy Burkhart, brothers, Edward C. Perkins, Kenneth Perkins and Forrest Perkins; nephews, Howard Cooper, Brent Craft, Cecil Perkins and niece, Shirley Kennamer. Survivors include sisters Eva Lee McMahan of Columbia, Tennessee and Glenda Craft (Jim) of Jonesboro; sister-in-law, Clella Perkins of Smyrna, Tennessee; nephews, Charles Cooper, Gary Perkins, James Perkins, David Perkins, Richard Perkins, Michael Perkins, Barry Burkhart, Allen Burkhart, Mark Burkhart; nieces, Linda Kirk, Sheila Cullom, Janice Shelton, Carol Washington, Brenda Daniels, Paula Folkes, Shannon Lease, Jan Hambrick and Judy Ramsey.

Funeral services will be 2:00 PM, Saturday, October 29, 2016, at Emerson Memorial Chapel with ministers Stan Shelton and Mack Ramsey officiating and Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Burial will follow at Pine Hill Cemetery with Dennis Perkins and nephews serving as pallbearers. Visitation will be from 1:00 until service time.

For lasting memorials, the family requests consideration be given to the Pine Hill Cemetery Association, PO Box 16323, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72403 or Crowley Ridge Academy, 606 Academy Drive, Paragould, Arkansas 72450.