FORDYCE — Anna Pearl (Green) Rankin,
age 98, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Friday, March 31, 2023. Born in the White Oak community, she was the daughter of the late Sterling Monroe and Lola Bell Green. She is predeceased by siblings, Harvey Green and Eva Nell Loe, and her beloved husband of 62 years, James M. Rankin.
She is survived by her four sons, Phil Rankin (Patsi) of Fordyce, Richard Rankin of Fayetteville, Charles Rankin (Carol) of El Dorado, Terry Rankin (Tammy) of Hot Springs; 10 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
Anna Pearl was a loving wife, mother, and MeMa who dedicated her life to serving others. She was an accomplished homemaker and excellent hostess. Her homemade rolls and quilts were blue ribbon worthy, but she preferred judging exhibits as a member of the Dallas County Fair Board. At the state level, she served on the Arkansas Extension Homemaker Council. She invited girls and women into her home to teach them how to sew and cook. Over the years, her recipes filled many stomachs and church cookbooks. Outside of the kitchen, her nimble fingers could do it all: alterations, Halloween costumes, and quilts. She honored special moments in the lives of her loved ones by creating a quilt to mark the occasion. Her heart and hands created so much beauty that lifted and nurtured many.
Her nurturing didn’t stop with people; it extended into her backyard garden and bird sanctuary. She was a gifted gardener and nature lover who honed her skills by becoming a Master Gardener. Gardens require patient labor and attention. Anna Pearl’s plants thrived because she nurtured them. The same can be said of the people she devoted her life to. Everything she did was rooted in love.
Her strong and unwavering faith grounded her daily life. She was a faithful member of Temple Baptist Church and served Gideons International as an Auxiliary member. Anna Pearl loved her Savior, the Lord Jesus, with all her heart, and she loved God’s Word. She was a humble, gentle woman, and a powerful prayer warrior. Only heaven knows the impact her many years of faithful praying have had on her family, her friends, and the world.
Visitation will be held at Benton Funeral Home in Fordyce, Ark., on Monday, April 3, 2023, from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. The service will be held in the chapel on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at 2 p.m. Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Ouachita County Medical Center Hospice or Gideon International. We encourage family and friends to honor her memory by committing random acts of kindness to make the world around them a little sweeter.