✦ ✦ ✦
Claudie Harden Handley, age 93 of Monticello departed this life on December 30, 2020, at the Woods of Monticello Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was born March 18, 1927, in Lacey, Arkansas, to Dan Wesley and Katie Mae Sims Harden.
She joined Pilgrim Rest African Methodist Episcopal Church at an early age where she remained faithful until her illness. She was very active in her church. She served as the President of the Usher Board, member of the Gospel Choir, Class Leader, member of the Mary E. Lee Missionary Society, member of the Pastor Aides, member of the Airplane Club, and a member of the Willing Workers. She was also a member of the Junior Women’s Civic Club.
She worked in a private home for the Wither’s Family. She was also employed with Leisure Lodge Nursing Home which is now the Woods of Monticello and Burlington Industries. She was known as “Mother Handley”, “Grandma Claudie”, and “Mama Claudie”. She enjoyed delivering church bulletins to sick-and-shut-in members, cooking, and delivering dinners to everyone in the community. She went above and beyond the call of duty; including being a taxi driver at the age of eighty-five.
She was preceded in death by her parents Dan Wesley and Katie Mae Harden; five brothers: D. S. Harden, Eugene Harden, Henry Harden, Johnny Lee Harden, and Willis Harden; and four sisters: Larnie Mae Ferrell, Carline Satterwhite, Murl Jean Hendrix, and Sulisteen Riley and two daughters Dorothy Jean Woods and Carolyn Greene.
She leaves to cherish her memory: Sons: Richard (Katherine) Lee Franklin of Detroit, Michigan, Dan (Glenda) Willie Franklin, Camden, Arkansas, Daughters: Pearlie Arrington, Joyce (Dwight) Wells, Kattie Matthews all of Monticello, Arkansas, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
She joined Pilgrim Rest African Methodist Episcopal Church at an early age where she remained faithful until her illness. She was very active in her church. She served as the President of the Usher Board, member of the Gospel Choir, Class Leader, member of the Mary E. Lee Missionary Society, member of the Pastor Aides, member of the Airplane Club, and a member of the Willing Workers. She was also a member of the Junior Women’s Civic Club.
She worked in a private home for the Wither’s Family. She was also employed with Leisure Lodge Nursing Home which is now the Woods of Monticello and Burlington Industries. She was known as “Mother Handley”, “Grandma Claudie”, and “Mama Claudie”. She enjoyed delivering church bulletins to sick-and-shut-in members, cooking, and delivering dinners to everyone in the community. She went above and beyond the call of duty; including being a taxi driver at the age of eighty-five.
She was preceded in death by her parents Dan Wesley and Katie Mae Harden; five brothers: D. S. Harden, Eugene Harden, Henry Harden, Johnny Lee Harden, and Willis Harden; and four sisters: Larnie Mae Ferrell, Carline Satterwhite, Murl Jean Hendrix, and Sulisteen Riley and two daughters Dorothy Jean Woods and Carolyn Greene.
She leaves to cherish her memory: Sons: Richard (Katherine) Lee Franklin of Detroit, Michigan, Dan (Glenda) Willie Franklin, Camden, Arkansas, Daughters: Pearlie Arrington, Joyce (Dwight) Wells, Kattie Matthews all of Monticello, Arkansas, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.