Reba Anne Hargrove

One cool autumn day on October 20, 1943, Mr. and Mrs. Dalton Hargrove hurriedly left their home in Bauxite, Arkansas, and traveled quickly to the local hospital. Their second child and only daughter, Reba Anne, was about to be born. The doctor in attendance used forceps to speed up the delivery, but it was later discovered that irreparable damage had been done to the baby’s ears as a result. She gradually lost more and more hearing over the years.

In little Reba’s early years, the family moved from Arkansas to West Texas and back again. As they grew up, Reba and her brothers learned to hoe, weed, and water the family garden. Reba helped her mother in the house with dishes, laundry, and cleaning as well, learning a work ethic that benefited her professional life later on. She also cleaned and ironed for other people to earn extra money.

Reba, along with her older brother Richard and younger brother Robert, attended church schools in Snyder, Texas; Benton, Arkansas; and Little Rock during their early years. Reba finally finished high school by correspondence, due to hearing difficulties. Later she attended Capitol City Business College, where she studied Key Punch Data Entry for computers. Although she was a good student, she often had to work harder to compensate for her hearing loss.

Reba loved to travel and see new places, so whenever job opportunities opened, she usually followed up with enthusiasm. She enjoyed seeing as many sights and attractions as possible wherever she was living. Her work took her to hospitals in Massachusetts, Dallas, Glendale, Loma Linda, and Little Rock, where she became known for her speed and accuracy in data entry.

In addition to her computer skills, Reba developed her abilities in other ways. She loved to play the piano in spite of limited hearing, try new recipes, take photographs of people and places, and decorate any home where she was living, but her greatest talent was sewing. Much like Dorcas in the Bible, she sewed and mended clothes for family and friends and also made useful items for charities: dresses, shirts, lap blankets, etc. Her skills led her to launch a small business online, sewing and selling quiet books for children in church, but when demand exceeded her output, she decided to close that enterprise.

Although Reba had no children of her own, she accompanied her brother to California in 1975 to care for his two young daughters. Over the next eight years, she cared for and doted on the little girls almost as her own, cooking for them, sewing clothes, taking them special places, and buying many of their needs.

In later years, an unfortunate accident occurred that changed Reba’s life. As she sat in her pickup one day waiting to take her mother and another lady on an errand, she decided to jump out and see what the delay was. Thinking she had shifted the truck into park, she climbed out of the pickup, but it was actually in reverse gear. As she was stepping out, she quickly realized the truck was moving and tried to climb back in. Before she could do so, the truck door knocked her down, and the wheels ran over her thighs, damaging her joints and muscles in such a way that she had pain and trouble walking ever after. In later years, she had to depend on her walker and scooter to get around, on email and text messages to communicate, and on her beloved dog, Buddy, to let her know when people came to the door.

Reba Anne Hargrove—daughter, sister, aunt, and friend— passed to her rest on Nov. 17th, 2021, confident that her Savior would fulfill His promise to resurrect her in newness of life when He returns. She was zealous to let others know of her hope as well and often shared books and pamphlets with neighbors, friends, and even strangers. She also supported outreach ministries wherever she could, asking them to pray for friends and relatives.

Reba’s mother, father, brother Richard, and sister-in-law Rebecca Hargrove preceded her in death. She leaves behind one brother, Robert Hargrove; three nieces, Julie Fallwell, Caroline Hargrove, and Jen Hargrove; two nephews, Rob and Toby Hargrove; two great-nieces, Seraphim Hargrove and Albrey Hargrove; and two great-nephews, Mason Fallwell and Ryder Kubeldis. Although the family mourns the loss of their sister and aunt, they take comfort in knowing they will be reunited with her again when Jesus comes. Then at last she will fulfill her hope of hearing perfectly and walking pain-free again on the streets of gold in Heaven.

Written as a gesture of Sisterly Love on Aug 19th, 2021, By Rebecca A. Hargrove

All friends and family are welcome to join the graveside service at Pinecrest Memorial Park, 7401 Highway 5 N Alexander, AR 72002, 501-847-0265 on Tuesday, June 27th, 2023 at 3pm.

Instead of sending flowers, please send donations to the

Benton SDA, Food Bank, 2615 Lincoln Road, Benton, AR 72019, (501) 778-0641.

https://bentonar.adventistchurch.org/ministries/food-pantry-ministry

CRUCIFIXION

Dark Friday came and went its way,

A sorrowful preparation day,

When Jesus hung 'twix earth and sky,

And rebels watched Him bleed and die.

They heard Him when He said, "I thirst,"

The Best among the very worst.

All were amazed, yes, every one

When there at last the deed was done.

Black clouds hung low about the cross;

All nature felt the cruel loss.

"My God, My God!" the lonely cry,

"Why hast Thou left Me thus to die?

"I cannot see beyond this gloom,

Beyond the portals of the tomb.

'Tis finished, all the work You gave,

And I will sleep in borrowed grave.

"Into Thy hands My Spirit take.

My Father will My soul awake.

Now I will rest the Sabbath through,

While Heavenly watchers wait their cue.

"To roll the stone and break the seal

The enemy has placed with zeal.

He will henceforth defeated be

From here throughout Eternity!"

-Joyce Young Hargrove, 1976