Wilna Maxine “Mack” Phillips Trantham, 86, of Benton, Arkansas, lost her heroic six-year battle with the curse of dementia and kidney disease and was rewarded with an incorruptible crown of glorious victory by Christ, Our Saviour, at 12:33 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2020 otherwise known as Ascension Day in the Christian calendar. She was born on Tuesday, June 13, 1933, in Jay, Oklahoma to the late William Wixon and Eunice Mildred (Gibson) Phillips.
This faithful servant of God was an active member prior to her illness in First Baptist Church of Benton, Arkansas. She was a devoted wife to the love of her life and partner of 68 years of marriage, Jerry Douglas Trantham, and a patient, sweet, and fiercely protective mother to three living children, two sons: Kenneth Darren Trantham and Troy Douglas Trantham (Sandy), and one daughter: Malissa Kay Mathis (Billy, Jr.). She was a fun, proud and loving ‘MiMi’ to her four grandchildren, Tanner Douglas Trantham, Kayce Lynn Trantham, Crystal Hardwick Mathis Jones, and William Riley Mathis, and two great grandchildren, Lilah Kate Nicklaus, and Harper Laine Jones. She enjoyed creating big, festive holiday meals for her family, and friends. Still to this day, no one can make a better peach cobbler, pecan pie, and her famous cheese dip! She loved working outside, caring for her beautifully maintained flowers, and enjoying sunny days outside playing with her children and grandchildren, especially around water. She was the BIGGEST cheerleader for her children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events. She was beyond proficient in sewing, decorating, baking, and all the homemaking arts. After raising her children, she earned service certificates in school nutrition and worked for many years as the Cafeteria manager at Cloverdale Junior High School, where she was the beloved “Mrs. T” to generations of hungry teenagers.
She is also survived by one sister, Betty Sue Middleton (Dusty), and a host of beloved nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Billy Gene (infant), and one sister, Mary Lue Stone.
A celebration of her life will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at the chapel of Pinecrest Funeral Home, 7401 AR-5, Alexander, AR 72002. Burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. in adjacent Pinecrest Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at Pinecrest Funeral Home, Alexander, AR 72202. Due to COVID-19 procedures, all visitors and service attendees will need to wear protective face masks and will be required to practice social distancing.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, www.stjude.org.
To share a memory of Mrs. Maxine Trantham visit www.pinecrestmemorialpark.com
