Emily Jane Arkansas

Emily Jane Arkansas, age 23, lost her battle with addiction on Friday, 21 April 2023. She was born 21 February 2000 in Sylva, North Carolina to Laura Jane Bair of Athens, Georgia and Martin Arkansas of Bryson City, North Carolina. She grew up in North Carolina and Athens, Georgia.

Emily was a young woman of wonderfully diverse talents and interests. She loved playing volleyball in both Middle School and High School and was fiercely competitive and very talented, playing with a ferocious serve and drive to play well and win while encouraging those around her. She attended high school at Clarke Central High School and Athens Christian School in Athens, Georgia, and graduated from Swain County High School May 2018, playing at all three schools.

She was a voracious reader from a young age, and very creative. She enjoyed baking and was never afraid to try new recipes or just experiment with what was on hand. She made intricately designed threaded bracelets for family and friends, and particularly had fun with makeup and design.

Emily loved music and appreciated all types. She had numerous playlists she listened to often and shared with others especially her sister Audrey. She began playing piano at a young age and taught herself to play the guitar. She loved both, and later enjoyed writing and singing some of her own music, a hobby that was very much a comfort and joy to her over the last year and a half of her life.

Emily loved to laugh, and did so loud, long, and often. She enjoyed playing board games and card games at home and with friends. She was the organizer for game nights after dinner, on vacation, and had a knack for gathering people together. She especially enjoyed playing Gin with her Gramps who taught her well, so much so that that their competitive games (and conversations to match) could last for hours.

Emily had a quiet but strong and loving personality and did not run from difficult situations—she was fiercely protective of children at risk and others who could not always stand up and speak for themselves. She was a hard worker, a tremendously loyal friend, and an endearing daughter who loved us even as she challenged us in good and sometimes difficult ways. She will be cherished and missed.

She is survived by her mother and stepfather, Laura and Todd Bair, Sr. of Athens, Georgia; father and stepmother Martin and Galilee Arkansas of Bryson City, North Carolina; siblings Eli Arkansas, Audrey Arkansas, Harper Arkansas, and Hudson Arkansas; stepsiblings Todd Bair, Jr. (Liz), Tyler Bair (Kelly), Tatum Williams (Alex), and Molly Bentley (Rhett); grandparents Steve and Jane Tillitski and Marjorie Arkansas; and on both sides of her family by many loving and devoted Tillitski and Arkansas aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, 29 April 2023, at 11:00 a.m., at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Athens, Georgia, with Rev. Todd Lowery officiating.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.