Jeanne Wilson Anthony

Obituary Notice

Jeanne Wilson Anthony, age 90, a lifelong resident of Little Rock, died on January 7, 2005 at home with her family. She was born June 26, 1914, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, to Eunice Martin and Winston Peabody Wilson, Sr., both professors at Quachita University. She graduated from Little Rock High School, class of 1932. Miss Jeanne, as many knew her, attended the University of Central Arkansas and graduated from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She was preceded in death by her husband of nearly fifty years, Allen D. Anthony, who died in 1986.

In 1944, she and her husband co-founded the first secular independent school in Arkansas, The Anthony School, by opening the first kindergarten classroom, renting classroom space at Pulaski Heights Elementary School in Little Rock. Additional grades were developed one year at a time thereafter, ending with the eighth grade. For forty-nine years, she served as the Director of The Anthony School, overseeing its administration while also teaching in the classrooms and knowing every child and his or her progress on a steady basis. She schooled her teachers in a particular methodology that is now common in our educational systems, blending writing and reading to create greater literacy, and teaching in a sequence that was developmentally appropriate. Aside from the academic teaching, Jeanne Anthony directed numerous children's theatre productions with scripts and music written by her parents, and taught many young people to ballroom dance.

She authored several journal articles concerning academic therapies and collaborated with UAMS faculty members, Dr. John Peters and Dr. Sam Clements, to establish the Child Study Center, including the Therapeutic Day School for children with learning disabilities. She co-founded the Arkansas Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, now named Learning Disabilities Association of Arkansas, and served as an officer and board member of the organization. She served as treasurer of the Arkansas Council of Exceptional Children and was a member of the organization's Panel on Gifted and Talented Children. She was a delegate to the first White House Conference for Children and Youth and served as a member of the Governor's Advisory Committee for Early Education.

She developed methodologies individually adapted to the needs of both gifted and learning-disabled children. For this and for her other efforts to improve the lives of Children, Miss Jeanne received the Jean Lukens Award and was honored with a scholarship in her name for teacher training at the UAMS Child Study Center' Day School.

She was a charter member and officer of the Twentieth Century Club and volunteered at Hope Lodge. She also volunteered at the Florence Crittenden Home and the Ada Thompson Home. She was active in church organizations and attended Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church. She enjoyed theatre, dancing, traveling with friends and family, and directing plays.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and older brother, General Winston Peabody Wilson, Jr. of Forrest City and Washington, D.C. She is survived by her brother, Robert Martin Wilson and his wife, Jane McGehee Wilson of Little Rock; her daughters, Andrea Anthony Romine and her husband, James C. Romine of Fayetteville and Dee Ann Anthony Newell and her husband, Frank B. Newell of Little Rock; grandchildren, James Anthony Romine and wife Brandy Shawn Romine of Alma, John Allen Buchanan of Seattle, Washington, Anna Massie Newell of Little Rock, Matthew Moody Romine of Fayetteville, great-granddaughters, Mariah Nichole Romine of Fayetteville, Dylan Kay Romine of Alma, and step-great-grandson, Daniel Grayson Hubbard of Alma; her two nephews, Robbie Wilson of White Cliffs, Florida and Charles Arthur Wilson of Little Rock, and great-nieces, Helen Peabody Wilson and Gillian Herrick Wilson and great-nephew, Robert Martin Wilson III, cousins, Catherine Cockrill and her husband Dr. Howard Cockrill, Virginia Young and Jennifer Wilson Harvey all of Little Rock, and special friends, Elizabeth and Jim Tom Caplinger of Hot Springs, Yolanda Woods of North Little Rock and Evelyn Nwachukwu of Little Rock, Glenda Mosley of Mayflower, and all of the wonderful staff at Arkansas Hospice, Inc.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 15 at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Hampton officiating . Following the service, friends are invited to gather at 5414 Edgewood Road. A private burial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Arkansas Voices for the Children Left Behind at 311 North Elm Street, Little Rock, AR 72205 or Centers for Youth and Families/Parenting from Prison Programs at 5905 Forest Place, Little Rock, AR. Arrangements are by Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.

Register Book

So sorry to learn of your Mother's death, you are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Marilyn Brodie Archer
De Queen, Arkansas
Email: marcher@cccua.edu
Note to Dee Ann: Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in this time of loss which we know is difficult at any age. The following are scriptures that helped us and grow more powerful within us with each passing day. Ecclesiastes 12:6, Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7, Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. 2 Corinthians 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7, (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8, We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Don Keene & Family
Hall 1964 Classmate
Sherwood, Arkansas
Dee Ann: I am really sorry to hear about your mom. She was an extremely nice person who I remember not only as your sweet mom, but as a teacher of mine as well. I learned a lot at Miss Jeanne's including manners and how to dance. I tell friends every now and then that I won "best dancer" at Miss Jeanne's in the seventh grade...I must have been a better dancer then because they don't believe me now. Your mom had a positive impact on me at a young age, and I have not forgotten it. Please know that I am thinking about you and wish you and your family the best during this tough time.
Jim "Jimbo" Callaway
San Antonio, Texas
My three children, Olin, Marianne, and Sheryl attended Kindergarten at the Jeanne Anthony School. This gave them the best start to attend the public schools. Jeanne was very kind and a good friend.
Jackie Wage
Little Rock, Arkansas
Email: jackiegw@aristotle.net
I love you Bobum....Terri
Terri Campbell Korn
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Email: terrikorn@hotmail.com
William A. Smith
Little Rock, Arkansas
Email: wsmith280@comcast.net
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Diane Wightman Battle
Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Email: diane.battle@netzero.net
Dee Ann, Our hearts and prayers are with your family.
Semper Fidelis,
John Richard Bates
Colonel, United States Marine Corps
Oceanside, California
Email: BatesJR@pendleton.usmc.mil
What a wonderful life and so many beautiful memories of our parents together. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Love, Jane
Jane Wood Hulsey
The Woodlands, Texas
Email: janewoodhulsey@aol.com
Jo Kelly Edwards
Mountain Brook, Alabama
Email: JoKeEd@aol.com
Dee Ann and Family, My mom died one week ago and we're still in process ourselves. I've always been so respectful of your mother and her legacy...as well as of you and the work you're now doing. My thoughts will be with all of you in the days to come.
Beverly Montgomery Dunaway
Vice President, Sustainable Strategies, Inc.
Mtn. View, Arkansas
Email: bdssi@aol.com
Dee Ann and Family, Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time.
Dub & Corinne Allen
Little Rock, Arkansas
Email: f4jrider@hotmail.com
Linda Phillips Watts
England, Arkansas
To the Anthony Family. I did not know Ms. Anthony personally, but my deepest sympathy to her family and friends. What I do know is that she was a dedicated person that created a school that is the finest in our city. What a wonderful establishment she created. We were proud to have had our child in the school for the whole 8 years, she would still be there if the school went through high school. Her legacy will go on for years to come through the education that all Anthony students receive in their time at her school.
Jeanenne W. Vowell
Little Rock, Arkansas
Email: Jeanennev@mail.DIST6PA.org
Dear Dee Ann, I just want you to know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Your mother was a wonderful lady who impacted many lives and left her mark on society. She was precious in your sight,even when she grew old. I certainly know what it is to loose someone so dear and close to you and your only hope is that you will see her in Heaven,and that she is in a wonderful place. I love you and will keep you close in my heart in the days ahead.
Mary Kay Wilson Thomas
Little Rock. Arkansas
Email: Marykthomas@ccomcast.net
I am so sorry to hear about the death of your mother. She was a wonderful lady.
Ann Boswell
Magnolia, Arkansas
Email: aboswell@sbcglobal.net
Andrea and Bobum, June, Bunny, Geoff and I are all so very sorry about the loss of your mom. I was one of the fortunate ones to have started with one of her first classes (I think it was her second class) and grew up with her. Nursery school, Kindergarten, summer camps (and a counselor at the camp later) dance lessons, then I helped her teach dancing. She will be missed by everyone who's life she ever touched. Love,
Dr. H. F. "Bunny" Brown, III
Podiatric Physician & Surgeon
Little Rock, Arkansas
Email: drbunnybrown@prodigy.net
Dee Ann, So sorry to hear about your mother's death. My husband, Charlie went to her school in 1947 and has fond memories of his accellerated start in life due to your mother. She is now in heaven "where she was born to be", as Fr. Malone from Christ the King would say. You and your family are in our prayers. God bless you,
Carole Bowman Cook and Charlie Cook, Jr.
Maumelle, Arkansas
Email: ozark541@swbell.net