Photo courtesy of Bob Neal & Sons - Brinkley Funeral Home - Brinkley
Mar 6, 1939 - Sep 8, 2025
My mother was at Crestpark with Ernestine. She was an awesome friend to my mother, Verna Bluhm. She was always sharing her bingo prizes each time with mother. Ernestine was a friend to mother. Our family will always appreciate her friendship she showed to mother.
Brenda Wilhite
September 12, 2025 | STUTTGART, AR
Prayers for your family during this time
Doug & Brenda Mayhue
September 11, 2025
Our thoughts and prayers are for the family and friends!! Our deepest condolences!
Phil & Linda Jackson
September 10, 2025 | Holly Grove, AR | Friend
Martha "Ernestine" Fannon, departed this life on September 8, 2025, at the age of 86, at CrestPark Nursing Home in Stuttgart, Arkansas. She was surrounded by her loving family.
Born on March 6, 1939, in Holly Grove, Arkansas, Ernestine was one of four children to Ernest and Lena Merritt of Holly Grove. She proudly graduated from Holly Grove High School in the Class of 1957. Ernestine married the love of her life, Sonny Boy Fannon, and together they shared over fifty blessed years of marriage, raising four children and cherishing six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Ernestine dedicated many years as a cook for the Mid-Delta Kitchen in Holly Grove, but her greatest joy was found at home in her roles as a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Her favorite name was "Mamaw" given to her by her grandchildren. She had many hobbies, including cooking, volunteering for the American Legion, working election polls, and keeping up with her grandchildren's many activities. She was often found swinging on her front porch swing or preparing a delicious meal, often creating recipes as she went, always eager to spoil her family and friends with her cooking.
A faithful member of Holly Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Ernestine was saved and baptized at a young age in the Ragtown Community.
Ernestine was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Lena Merritt; her beloved husband, Delbert "Sonny Boy" Fannon; her siblings, John Merritt, Thomas Merritt, and Polly Endsley; her son, Wayne Fannon; and her great-grandchild, Simon Fannon.
She is survived by her sons, Carl (Angie) Fannon of Holly Grove and Lee (M. Cherie) Fannon of Bryant; her daughter, Cathy Tanner of Newport; her grandchildren, Beau (Christi) Fannon, Josh (Jenna) Austin, Matt Fannon, Jared (Kelsie) Fannon, Ashtyn (Seth) Mullinax, and Jake Fannon; and her great-grandchildren, Connor, Vivian, and Benjamin Fannon, Carson Austin, Vera Faye, Annie and Jack Fannon, and Merritt and Mollee Kay Mullinax. Ernestine is also survived by a daughter in law, Alicia Fannon of Hurst, Texas, and a special friend, Shanna Shelton, who became a part of the Fannon family through her dedicated care.
Our family extends special thanks to the staff of CrestPark Nursing Home in Stuttgart and Arkansas Hospice in Pine Bluff for their love and compassionate care during Ernestine's time there.
Services will be held at Bob Neal and Sons Funeral Home in Clarendon with a visitation on Thursday, September 11th, at 10:00 AM, followed by the funeral service at 11:00 AM. Graveside services will follow at Macedonia Cemetery in Holly Grove.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Macedonia Cemetery, c/o Angie Fannon, 6264 Hwy 146, Holly Grove, AR 72069
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