Pearl Alice Campbell, 92, passed gently into that good night on February 26, 2023.
Pearl was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, to the late Alice Esther White Vance on April 25, 1930, and lived in the spa city all her life. For many years, she ran a small daycare in her home, but when her husband died, she took advantage of his VA education benefits and began her college career at the newly formed Garland County Community College. Having never driven a car, Pearl enrolled in Driver’s Ed for her first class. After completing two years there, she joined a carpool and commuted to Henderson where she received her education degree. She taught in Hot Springs School District for fourteen years, first at Langston and later at Oaklawn Elementary Schools. After “retiring,” she continued her care of children at First Baptist Preschool. In addition to her daycare and teaching careers, “Miss Pearl” taught Sunday School (beginning as a teenager and continuing into her eighties) and Vacation Bible School, ran a Sunday carpool for children who didn’t have a ride otherwise, and babysat her nine grandchildren and later their children. She was a “Proud Presbyterian,” serving her churches in almost every capacity she could and receiving a Presbyterian Women’s Honorary Life Membership for her faithful service.
Pearl is survived by four generations, to whom she was simply “Mimi” – her children, Margaret Alice White, Golden Lenora Lloyd (Andy) and son-in-law Steven Smith; by her grandchildren, Anthony Oliver Lloyd, Erin Sage Scott (Kevin), Robert Noah Lloyd (Misty), Casey Alexander Lloyd (McKenzie), Margaret Amanda Manzer (Emily), Justin Taylor Summers (Summer), Golden Elizabeth Puckett (Todd), and Ryan Sammons Smith; great grandchildren, Grace Elizabeth Miller, Caleb Ethan Lloyd, Jude Hudson Lloyd, Layla Rose Lloyd, Robert Zane Summers, Memphis Jordan Puckett, Jaylen Thomas Puckett, Elias Cole Jones, and Chloe Rae Jones; and one great-great grandchild, Liam Alexander. She is also survived by her sister Margaret Hazel Black and her nieces, Alice Ann Parker (Mike) and Mary Ruth Black.
Pearl was pre-deceased by her husband Robert Vernon Campbell, Sr., a son, Robert Vernon Campbell, Jr., a daughter, Elizabeth Ann Smith, and a granddaughter, Emily Rose Summers.
A special thanks to Casey and McKenzie for the comfort they provided in their home and for filling Mimi’s last months with care and compassion.
Please direct memorials to the Garland County Retired Teachers Association (c/o Sally Pierce, 109 Meadowmere Terrace, Hot Springs, AR 71901) and to Jackson House (705 Malvern Avenue, Hot Springs, AR 71901).
Visitation at Gross Funeral Home from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Friday, March 3. Graveside service will be 10:00 am Saturday, March 4, at Greenwood Cemetery.
