Virginia Stewart DeSio

Virginia Stewart DeSio, age 87, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2025. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to William and Jessie Stewart, the family moved to North Little Rock, Arkansas, where Virginia attended local schools and graduated from North Little Rock High School in 1956.

Soon after graduation, Virginia met and married the love of her life, Francis DeSio, and together they shared 43 years of marriage until his death in 2000. As an Air Force family, they were stationed in several states and traveled across the country, building memories and friendships wherever they lived.

Virginia was a devoted stay-at-home mother for many years and was active in her children's schools, scouting activities, and church life. She was of the Baptist faith and a member of Faith Missionary Baptist Church in North Little Rock.

At the age of 47, Virginia began a second career she dearly loved, working as a cake decorator at Kroger. She retired in February 2017 after 31 years of dedicated service. Many families celebrated special moments with cakes lovingly decorated by Virginia's hands.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Leota Stewart Merritt, Billy Stewart, and Jimmy Stewart. Virginia is survived by her three children; Terri DeSio of Sherwood, Matthew DeSio and wife, Stephanie, of Sherwood, and Nancy Jackson of Malvern; her grandchildren, Nicole Tessier and husband, Steve, of Town & Country, MO, Luke Eldridge and wife, Brooke, of St. Louis, MO, Spencer Eldridge and wife, Randi, of Beebe, AR, and Stewart Jackson of Austin, AR; nine great-grandchildren, and several niceces and nephews whom she loved dearly.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home (1921 Main Street, NLR, AR, 72114) beginning at 11:00 AM followed by a funeral service at 12:00 PM. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Park Cemetery (1504 N J P Wright Loop Rd, Jacksonville, AR 72076) - Good Shepherd Garden in the Stewart family plot, among her mother, sister, and brother.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the local animal shelter of your choice, a cause close to Virginia's heart.