Sidney Lee (Shankle) Weaver, 78, of Mansfield, Arkansas passed away Tuesday, November 12, 2024 in her home. She was born December 30, 1945 in Miami, Arizona to Leon and Mildred Shankle. At birth she was a “Blue Baby” and wasn’t expected to live. As the story goes, the night she was born, the Catholics were lighting candles and the Pentecostals were having a prayer meeting in that little mining town and God healed the baby. She attended school in Monroe, Oklahoma and Hartford, Arkansas.
Sidney married Bill Weaver on December 31, 1963. Their first baby was born a year later and together Bill and Sidney have been raising kids ever since. They were married 60 years, 11 months and 12 days. They opened their home to foster kids in 1988 and through the years over 50 children have lived in their home. Some spent one night and some never left. Sidney loved every on of them, prayed for them and worried about them daily. She was proud that all nine of her kids graduated from high school. From 1971 to 2018 they had a kid, or kids enrolled in either Mansfield or Hartford High School.
She was a lifetime member of the Mansfield First Assembly of God Church. She loved teaching the little kids Sunday School Class and Leading the Booster Band. If you knew Sidney, you knew that the Lord was the most important thing in her life. She loved going to church and loved her church family at Mansfield Assembly of God. She was always ready to give her testimony.
She worked several years for Scott County DHS. She was a member of the Huntington VFW Post#8245 Auxiliary. She was a proud military mom and mother-in-law. She spent many hours in prayer for our soldiers and reading her bible. She was also known to tuck pictures of the grands and greats into her bible. Before her health declined, she and Ryan sang with The Gospel Gang, traveling to area nursing homes. She met many people and made many friends.
She devoted her life to her family and kids. She never met a baby she didn’t love and never met a person she didn’t want to talk to. In person, or on the phone, she loved to talk.
She was one of the most stubborn women to ever live, but also one of the best. She would tell you what she thought, why she thought it and what you could do to correct the situation. She was a tough woman, but her ex-sons-in-law still loved her. She had a big heart and kept $100 tucked in the back of her wallet in case somebody needed it. She cooked three meals a day and she expected everybody to eat, anyone was welcome.
She always read the obituaries and called to discuss them. She enjoyed a “good funeral” and she enjoyed weddings as well. The Annual Hartford Songfest was something she looked forward to every year. She loved every holiday and decorated accordingly. Christmas was her favorite. She started shopping in January and all presents were kept in her closet. She was an avid shopper and would drive back to the store for a .15 cent discrepancy. Her wallet was always full of coupons.
She loved gospel singing, a potluck dinner, visiting other churches and the family getting together. She had a large family and married into a large family. She was an enrolled citizen of Ouachita Cherokee of Cherokee Nation West. “Donadagohvi” (until we meet again)
She is survived by her husband, Bill Weaver; nine children, Billie Blanchard (Marty) of Slaytonville, Justin Weaver (Sherri) of Mansfield, Jared Weaver (Beth) of Booneville, Amanda Woodhams (Josh) of Bentonville, Ryan Weaver of Mansfield, Dillon Weaver of Benton, Kris Weaver of Iowa, Dakota Weaver of Fayetteville and Destiny Castleberry (Zach) of Greenwood; grandchildren, Raymond Blanchard (Tayler) Slaytonville, Cherokee Blanchard-Hartsell (Dominic) of Broken Arrow, Shayne McBee (Kody) of Clarksville, Judson Weaver (Chloe) of Mansfield, Mason Weaver (Abrianne) of Booneville, Austin Weaver of Booneville, Madison McBride (Kobe) of Booneville, Sophia Knowlton of Bentonville, Jaxson and Allie Woodhams of Bentonville, Valerie, Michael and Kyle Barnum of Fayetteville, Ethan Weaver of Russellville, Kaylinn Weaver of Malvern; great grandchildren, Ruby Jae Blanchard, Winnie Jo Weaver, Nova Lee Ballin, Ryder Lee Weaver; one brother, Shon Shankle (Frances) of Monroe; three sisters, Mary Roberts (Jim) of Hartford, Jean Shankle of Hartford and Sherry Barnes (Don) of Monroe; two sisters-in-law, Emma Lee Elmore and Doris (Joyce) Holleman; one brother-in-law, Sam Weaver (Kathy); many nieces and nephews and several cousins on both the Shankle and Weaver side.
She was blessed with lots of grandkids and great grandkids and was very proud of them. She was known to brag on her grandkids. She spent the last few days of her life loving on grandbabies.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Sharon Kay Shankle, granddaughter, Sadie Rae Woodhams and a great granddaughter, Kayla Neal.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, November 19 at McConnell Funeral Home Chapel in Greenwood with burial at Pine Log Cemetery. Viewing will be Monday from 1 – 7 p.m. at the funeral home, where the family will visit with friends from 5 – 7 p.m. Les Elmore, Keith Elmore and Ricky Elmore will conduct the service and Ricky and Linda Elmore will provide the music.
Pallbearers will be Raymond Blanchard, Judson Weaver, Mason Weaver, Austin Weaver, Josh Woodhams and Zach Castleberry. Honorary pallbearers will be Ryan Weaver, Bob Dunmeyer, Ronnie Black, Martin Morris and Matt McConnell.
To share a memory or leave a message for the family, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com.
