of Little Rock, AR

December 13, 1934 - November 3, 2024

Mrs. Lela ''Lavern'' Talbert went to be with Jesus, her Shepherd, on Sunday, November 3rd, 2024 at 89-years-old. She was born December 13th, 1934 in Leachville, Arkansas. After graduating from Holland High School in Holland, Missouri, Lavern set out on a solo journey to Memphis for Business School, where she was equipped to teach and counsel for decades to come. In her own words, ''During this period I gained a lot of confidence in myself…My morals, religion, love for my family and love for God remained stable.''

Intertwined in all of this adventure was a cotton-pickin' Air Force-bound chap named Lonnie. They'd met at church - famously at the church hayride - where they'd ''courted'' from 1950-1952, ''gone steady'' from 1952-1953 and finally married May 12th, 1953 in Ocean Springs, MS. For 69 years their marriage flourished until Lonnie's passing last April. But their love and legacy overflowed onto all who knew them.

In Lavern's decades of teaching and counseling at schools and churches, of raising two (all-boy!) boys, Mike and Gary, in investing her very soul into her grandkids and great-grandkids and in her marriage to Lonnie, Lavern cherished Jesus most and showed the world what it means to ''come not to be served but to serve'' (Mark 10:45). From non-stop cooking, cleaning, gift-hiding, family-hosting, food-prepping, back-scratching, late-night conversations and always while giggling with that warm, wispy laugh, Lavern provided all of us a glimpse into the heart and mission of Jesus, her Shepherd. Service.

Lavern is preceded in death by her son, Mike; her husband, Lonnie and her siblings, Debbie, Nancy, Troy, Marvin, Ceil and Harvie. She is survived by her sister, Vicky; her son, Gary (Heike) and daughter-in-law, Tina; her grandkids, Anja (and Clinton), Justin (and Megan), Nina (Kyle), Jens (and Molly) and Tristan plus a quiver full of great-grandkids, Ella, Karsyn, Knixon, Roman, Soren, Aksel, Isen, Tatum (and Truett coming soon!).

A funeral service will be held Friday, November 8th at Noon at Cold Springs Events (9578 12th Street, Paron, AR 72122), followed by food and fellowship with the family.

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