Grace Edith Little

Funeral services for Grace Edith Little a longtime resident of Cleveland will be held Wednesday, February 7, 2007 at 2:00 pm in the Chapman-Black Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Roy Bingham officiating. Burial will follow in the Liberty Freewill Baptist Cemetery under the direction of Chapman-Black Funeral Home, Inc.

Grace was born February 28, 1906 in Galvison, Indiana to Rodney and Lillie Jane (Poe) Marrow. The family moved to Creek County when Grace was two years old. In 1929, while living on the family farm, a young man moved nearby that caught Graceís attention. After eight months of courtship, Grace accepted the marriage proposal of Jarvis Willie Little. On January 3, 1930 they were united in marriage and to this union there were two children born J.C. and Donna. After the birth of their son Jarvis Carol in 1931 and the onset of the Great Depression as well as the infamous Dust Bowl the family packed up and moved to California in 1936. Both Grace and Jarvis began working in the California hills harvesting grapes and cotton.

In the late 1930ís Grace and Jarvis returned to Oklahoma residing in Sperry. While Grace kept up the farm, her husband took a job as a pumper in the oil industry. During this time the couple welcomed their second child Donna Faye. In 1956, Grace and Jarvis moved to Cleveland, Oklahoma. In 1959, Jarvis suffered a fatal heart attack. Grace has continued to reside in Cleveland ever since.

Family, friends and church is what made Grace proud. She often said that ìYou canít make it without church, youíre not big enough.î Mrs. Little enjoyed living in Cleveland, but most of all she loved attending every church at least once and meeting all the new people. Grace was a great influence on her family always encouraging them to do their best.

Grace E. Little passed away Sunday, February 4, 2007 at the age of 100 years 11 months and 6 days. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jarvis, two brothers, Clarence and Benton, daughter in law Freda Little and two granddaughters Betty Little and Jana Kennedy.

Mrs. Little is survived by her son J.C. Little of Cleveland, Oklahoma; daughter Donna and her husband Raymond Byrom of Cleveland, Oklahoma; five grandchildren Brenda Williams of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Major Rex Little of Japan; Linda L. Melton of Detroit, Texas; Randy Byrom of Cleveland, Oklahoma; Vicky Findley of Cleveland, Oklahoma, ten great grandchildren Ashley Totten, Bobby Underwood, Sam and Charisse Little, Betty and Larry Melton, Rebecca Kennedy, Crystal Chase, Melissa Brown and Michelle Floyd; seven great great grandchildren Sydney, Kalob, Edna Belle, Brooke, Bryson, Jonathon and Ashley as well as a host of other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers will be Josh Floyd, Jason Brown, Randy Byrom, Nick Totten, Dean Melton, and Bobby Underwood.