Wilma Yancey Black

On Monday, July 27, 2020, Wilma Black, loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister, passed away in Fort Smith at the age of 74. She was the first baby born at Scott County Hospital in Waldron on June 20, 1946 to Edgar and Lucy Yancey. She adored her big sisters, Iva Lee Whedbee of Dayton and Imogene McAlister of Texarkana. She attended school in Huntington, Mansfield and was part of the first graduating class of Northside High School in Fort Smith.

As a young woman, she fell in love with her husband, Galen. She often shared the story of how Galen and she had prayed similar prayers asking the Lord to let them know when they had found the right mate. For 57 years they were partners in life and during that time she set a wonderful example as a Proverbs 31 wife and mother. She blessed her children, showing them how to love, live a virtuous life, serve others, and be a provider.

Wilma was a consummate professional and approached her work with extremely high standards. She was analytical, highly organized and had tremendous drive to complete the job at hand. She was a highly respected colleague for more than 30 years in her roles at Fort Chaffee and the USDA Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center.

She was a voracious reader and was an early digital adopter, enjoying her time on Facebook and surfing the web. She played a mean game of Scrabble and had a very creative vocabulary. Most all she loved to be ‘Mamaw’ to her grandchildren, playing games like Skip-Bo and Chicken Foot. She was a great cook and loved watching her grandson Colton eat her special breakfasts or listening to her son-in-law, Rob, rave about her blackberry cobbler. Even though she didn’t understand hockey she loved watching her grandson Harrison chase a puck down the ice. Finally, in 2004 she had a granddaughter, Faith. She loved sharing her love of dolls with Faith and having another little girl in the family.

Wilma loved her Lord. She was an active leader and contributor to her church communities. She touched others with her caring and the way she lived her life. Her children will miss dearly the knowledge that she was praying for them each and every day.

She is survived by her husband, Galen; son, Sherman Black and his wife, Lynnette, their children, Harrison, Colton and Faith, all of Minneapolis; daughter, LeAnn and husband, Robert Lee of Fort Smith; two sisters, Iva Lee Whedbee of Dayton and Imogene McAlister of Texarkana.

A celebration of her life will be held at 11am on Friday, July 31, 2020 at her church, Rye Hill Baptist. Family and friends are welcomed, and we ask that you wear a mask and practice social distancing. Local arrangements are under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home of Greenwood.