Alma Dean “Deanie” Cantrell, 97, went to be with her Lord and Savior Monday, January 14, at her home in Eads, Tennessee. She was born November 09, 1921 in Smithville, Tennessee and later moved to West Helena, Arkansas. She graduated from Bethany Nazarene College in Bethany, Oklahoma with a major in religion in 1950. She had plans to become a Nazarene pastor. She earned her Master’s degree in education from Oklahoma University. Her second calling was teaching. Her professional career began in education in Guymon, Oklahoma. In 1957 she moved to Memphis and taught at Bruce, Sharpe, and Spring Hill Elementary Schools. She was the last living teacher featured in the documentary, “The Memphis Thirteen” which chronicled the story of the integration of the first thirteen African-American students into the Memphis City School System in 1961. She was honored at the National Civil Rights Museum for her integral involvement in the integration of the Memphis community. Ms. Cantrell taught with her whole heart and loved every student whose lives she touched. Her other greatest love was her family. She was a devout Christian and a former member at Grace and Calvary Nazarene and later joined Kirby Woods Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Alva Bailey and Lena Mae Cantrell; a sister, Mattie Pauline Cantrell; brothers, Robert Wesley Cantrell and Reverend Bailey Cantrell.
She is survived by her brother, Reverend James Wallace Cantrell; her niece, Kaye Cantrell Garino (Vin); grandsons, Blake Patrick Parrish, Brent Cantrell Parrish, and Brandon Robert Parrish.
The family will receive friends on Friday, January 18 from 12-1 p.m.; funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., all at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Avenue, Memphis Tennessee 38119.
Memorials in memory of Ms. Cantrell may be offered to the Memphis Literacy Council or the American Parkinson’s Foundation.
