Emma "Vanita" Hill

Emma “Vanita” Hill, age 99 years and 7 months, passed away peacefully on February 25, 2026. Born on July 28, 1926, in Almyra, Arkansas, to James and Eulala McKenzie, Vanita lived a long and beautiful life rooted in faith, family, and service. She attended school in the Bruff Community and carried the values she learned there throughout her life. She was known to many as “Granny”.

She loved Jesus with all her heart, and her faith guided her daily life. She was deeply devoted to her family and cherished every moment spent with them. Granny faithfully served her church, supported various charities, and was always willing to lend a helping hand wherever there was a need.

She enjoyed leading her exercise class, tending to her garden, and was especially known for her exceptional baking. Her delicious desserts and homemade rolls were a treasured gift to family, friends, and church gatherings alike.

Vanita was preceded in death by her parents, James and Eulala McKenzie; her husbands, William Eifling, to whom she was married to for 22 years, and Jay Hill, to whom she was married to for 24 years; and her sisters, Maycel Woodall and Betty Higginbotham.

She is survived by her sons, Dennis (Beth) Eifling, John (Paula) Eifling, and Kenny (Carla) Eifling; her daughters, Debbie Guyot, Sandy (Woody) Bryant, and Joann Putt; 30 grandchildren and great-grandchildren; her dear friend and Sister Doris Hill; and a large, loving circle of friends.

Granny’s legacy of faith, kindness, generosity, and love will live on in all who were blessed to know her. She will be deeply missed and forever cherished.

A MESSAGE FROM GRANNY…

Some day you will read in the papers that I am dead. Don’t believe a word of it. At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now. I shall have gone up higher, that is all--out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to either The Women’s Ministry at Floyd Assembly of God Church or Beebe First United Methodist Church Shepherd’s Center - low impact exercise class.

Visitation will be 2:00-4:00 p.m. Sunday at Smith-Westbrook Funeral Home, 404 W. Dewitt Henry Dr., Beebe, Arkansas. Funeral will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 2, 2026, at Floyd Assembly of God, followed by burial at 2:00 p.m. at Lone Tree Cemetery in Stuttgart. Online guestbook at www.smithfamilycares.com