On March 18, 2024, Mrs. Esther Marie McCullar Chapman, 75, of Forrest City entered the place she sang and taught about her entire life, Heaven.
She was one of the most steadfast Christians you would ever meet. Even through her many earthly trials and sickness her faith never wavered. Raised in a Pentecostal home, she knew very well the power of the Holy Spirit. She was an avid Sunday school teacher and choir director. She sang with the voice of an angel. The impact she has had, and her legacy will carry on through her family and the countless children and adults she has taught over the years.
Mrs. Chapman was born July 16, 1948, to Rev. John McCullar and Minnie Esther Loftis McCullar in Lonoke, Arkansas.
She spent most of her life in eastern Arkansas where in 1965, she married the love of her life, Bobby A. Chapman after he simply said, “I reckon we gonna get married ain’t we?”
She worked several years at Southwestern Bell and later spent most of her career in the local banking industry, finally retiring from Armor Bank in Forrest City.
She was a very active member of the Oak Hill Church of God where, over the years, she taught Sunday school to every age group and was the church choir director for many years.
She leaves to carry on her legacy, one son, Mark Chapman and wife, Kathie, of Forrest City; one daughter, Amy Pettus and husband, Kendall, of Forrest City; four grandchildren, Carlton Pettus and wife, Jessica, Allison Pettus, Ethan Pettus, and Maddie Chapman; two great-grandchildren, Cayden Weddington and Drew Pettus, all of Forrest City; two brothers, Milton McCullar and wife, Sammie, and Leroy McCullar; two sisters, Johnnie Parish and Diane Rogers and husband Calvin.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one grandchild, Austin Taylor Chapman.
Visitation with the family will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2024, in the chapel of Stevens Funeral Home in Forrest City.
Funeral services are slated at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oak Hill Church of God in Forrest City with Bro. Kendall Pettus officiating assisted by Bro. Patrick Tucker. Burial will follow at Forrest Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Oak Hill Church of God, 91 SFC 309, Forrest City, AR 72335.
