Edith Jewell Sturdivant

EDITH JEWELL STURDIVANT, 81, of McAlester, Okla., formerly of Fort Wayne, died Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011, at Blocker, Okla. Born Sept. 11, 1929, in Kentucky, she was the daughter of the late David Jackson Smith and Sarah Elizabeth Smith. She had worked at Fish of Stroh, Cracker Barrel and Fort Wayne Window Cleaning. Surviving are her daughter, Sarah Howard-Hogle; sons, John Thomas Jr., Donnie David and Joseph Lynn Sturdivant; daughters, Linda Liska Withers, Barbara Sturdivant-Rose and Elizabeth Ann Anderson; 25 grandsons; six granddaughters; 36 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; brothers, Albert, Hughes and Rolland Smith; and sisters, Vernie Cox and Lula Hood. She was also preceded in death by her sons, Walter Dillard, Randall Allen and Boyd Sturdivant; and husband, John Thomas Sturdivant Sr. whom she married in May of 1945. Funeral service is 1 p.m. Friday at C.M. Sloan & Sons Funeral Home, 1327 N. Wells St., Fort Wayne, with calling one hour prior. Truman Smith officiating. Calling also from 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Serving as pallbearers: David and Earl Howard, Shane, Adam, Josh, and Randy Sturdivant, and Daniel and Cody Liska. Burial in Covington Memorial Gardens.