Alice Hardie Walters, 70, died Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015.
She is survived by her children, Bradford LeBron Walters, Sarah Alice Gardner and Donald Benjamin Walters; her brothers, LeBron Hardie Jr. and Eldridge Hardie; and her five grandchildren, Emmie, Reese and Carter Walters, and Peter and Abby Gardner.
Alice was a loving and faithful wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was a follower of Christ, dedicated to serving children and families in her work as a teacher, social worker and pregnancy resource volunteer.
Born in El Paso, Texas, Alice graduated from the University of Texas, earning an English literature degree. She went on to earn a master’s of social work degree from the University of Chicago and McCormick Seminary, then a master’s of early childhood education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
She served as a social worker with the Presbyterian Urban Council in Little Rock between 1975 and 1988.
Her son, Brad, was born June 25, 1973; daughter, Sarah, on April 24, 1976; and Ben on Dec. 11, 1979.
She went to work for the Diocese of Little Rock Catholic Adoption Services between 1988 and 1990 while earning her second master’s degree.
She wrote home studies for potential adoptive families, helping to unite children with their forever families. In 1992 she began her career as a kindergarten teacher at Pulaski Heights Elementary School and then at Gibbs Magnet Elementary School.
She taught in the kindergarten and pre-K classroom for more than 18 years until she retired at age 65. She was loved by her fellow teachers, students and parents, and known for leading a prayer group among her fellow teachers.
Alice was a longtime member of Christ the King Catholic Church where she served on the Parish Council, as a Eucharistic minister, as a bible study leader and with St. Joseph’s Helpers. She also was an active volunteer and supporter of the Arkansas Pregnancy Resource Center, Our House, The Stewpot, Focus on the Family, the Family Council, CARE animal foster care, medical missions to Honduras and Catholic Children’s Charities.
She was a political enthusiast, a lover of gardening and the outdoors, and a rescuer of hurt and homeless animals.
She travelled to Honduras, Israel, Rome and China. But her greatest joy was spending time with her family and friends.
Donations in her memory may be made to Hesychia House of Prayer, Focus on the Family, Arkansas Pregnancy Resource Center, or Family Council of Arkansas.
Visitation followed by a memorial service will be held at Faith Family Fellowship in Spanish Fort on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015.
Visitation will begin at 10 a.m., with the memorial service to follow at 11. All are invited to share their memories of Alice.
Expressions of condolence may be offered at www.hughesfh.com.
Arrangements by Hughes Funeral Home and Crematory, Daphne.
