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Dora Chrissonberry

March 4, 1928 — June 25, 2021

Dora Chrissonberry

Tribute to My Mom

Written from the perspective of Phyllis Ann Goodwin, with contributions made by Cathey Alexander

Dora Erwin Chrissonberry was born on March 4, 1928, to John and Edna Exie Haney Erwin in Baxter Co., Arkansas. She was the youngest of seven children: Norma, Bill, Oscar, Jim, Bernice, and Nova. She finished the seventh grade in a one room schoolhouse in Cartney, Arkansas. Her teacher all seven years was Mr. Pinkerton.

Mom met Dad when she came to Little Rock looking for work. The first job she had was at Armor Meat Packing Co. Then she worked as a waitress in what she called a “slop house.” It was here that she met Dad. He would come in and sit in the same booth, order a coffee, and just sit there until her shift was over. One day, she asked him if he was ever going to order anything to go with his coffee, and he told her, “No, I’m here for you. You want to have a coffee with me sometime?” She asked him if he had a job, and when he told her, “No,” she said to him, “Don’t come back until you get a job and some money in your pocket.” About two or three weeks later, he showed back up cleaned up in a white t-shirt with the sleeves rolled up with a pack if cigarettes in one. He told her he had a steady job and showed her his pay stub… so shortly after they got married. July 17 of this year would have been their 73rd anniversary.

They bought a piece of property from Earl Bryant on Sherman Rd in Crystal Hill where they built a home and had three children: Thomas Clarence, Jr., Cathey Lee, and me, Phyllis Ann. Junior and Cathy were born at UAMS. Mom said they cost a nickel each, because Dad didn’t have any insurance (he was a taxi cab driver then). By the time I was born at Baptist Hospital, Dad had a truck driver job with Couch Motor Freight that provided insurance… so I cost a quarter.

Mom said she was saved when we were little, and they raised us in a Baptist church. She was a loving, kind, gentle homemaker, but she always kept a switch nearby! She loved to sew and could make a dress just by looking at a picture. She would cut a pattern from newspaper, and she made most of my and my sister’s clothes. She also made curtains for our home, she crocheted, she embroidered, and she quilted with some of the neighbor ladies. Best of all… our mom could cook. She fixed scratch biscuits at every meal unless we had beans; then it was cornbread. Dad’s favorite was upside down peach cake. Junior said he like EVERYTHING mom cooked, and Cathey’s and my favorite was biscuits and chocolate gravy. My favorite cooking story that Dad told was that he once bought a hog head for New Year for Mom to cook. Well, she had never cooked a hog’s head before! So, she cooked it up as it was [given to her] and then sat it on the table… with the eyes facing dad. We all miss her cooking.

Mom loved her family. She was preceded in dead by her husband of 55 years, Thomas Chrissonberry, Sr., who passed away April 15, 2004. She is survived by: her three children, Thomas Chrissonberry Junior and his wife Betty, Cathey Alexander, and Phyllis Goodwin and her husband Travis; seven grandchildren, Shonda Chrissonberry, Thomas (Trece) Chrissonberry, Todd Chrissonberry & his wife Amber, Marsha Chrissonberry, Meloney Willems, Jason Goodwin and his wife Tina, and Jessica Goodwin and Alvin Burton; ten great grandchildren, Taylor Chrissonberry, Dora Howard, Lyla Chrissonberry, Evan Chrissonberry, Shelby Stokes and her husband Rick, Zakkery Willems, Anna Goodwin, Emmett Goodwin, Harley Goodwin, and Elijah Goodwin; four great-great grandchildren, Declan Scott, Kean MenChaca, Emmarie Schneider, and Tarrell Stokes.

Mom was 93 years old when she slowly stopped breathing and ultimately passed. She lived a long, good life! She was a good-hearted, gentle lady, but she was also quick on her toes with a comeback. She was loved by many and leaves behind many memories for a lot of people. Her son-in-law, Travis, loved his mother-in-law and father-in-law, and it was an honor for the Goodwin family to serve and care for them over the years. For my sister and I, we were blessed to be able to spend Mom’s last hour in this life with her to watch her peacefully go home to be with Christ Jesus and Daddy.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Faith Support Ministry .

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at Smith Sherwood Funeral Home (7700 Hwy 107) with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Edgewood Memorial Park.

She’s the smell of certain foods you remember

She’s the cool hand on your brow when you’re not feeling well

She’s your breath in the air on a cold Winter’s day

She’s Christmas morning

Your mother lives inside your laughter

She’s the place you come from, your first home

She’s your first love, your first friend… even your first enemy

But nothing on Earth can separate you; not time, not space, not even death!

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dora Chrissonberry, please visit our flower store.

Past Services

Visitation

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

9:00 - 10:00 am

Smith Sherwood Funeral Home

7700 AR-107, Sherwood, AR 72120

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Service

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Starts at 10:00 am

Smith Sherwood Funeral Home

7700 AR-107, Sherwood, AR 72120

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Burial

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Starts at 11:00 am

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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