Biography:


Marion Winona “Mana” Privitt, 78, of Little Rock passed away peacefully on December 29, 2025 in Hospice Home Care with her family by her side.

Mana was born December 19, 1947 to Clara and Jack Johnson in Nashville, AR and moved to Magnolia, AR at an early age.  She lovingly received her name Mana from her brother Charles as the first two letters of her first name Marion and the last two letters of her middle name Winona.  Mana was raised in Magnolia and graduated high school in 1965.  During her high school years, Mana and Van met in his hometown of Nashville during a visit to her grandmother and were introduced to each other through a mutual friend.  They would later be married on June 11, 1967. 

Mana received her Associates Degree in Secretarial Science from then Southern State College (now SAU) and had a career as a Legal Secretary in Texarkana and Little Rock until Melissa was born in April 1975.  She then became a homemaker for Melissa’s childhood and returned to work as an Accountant for South Arkansas Youth Services for many years.  She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Magnolia and Trinity UMC, Little Rock.

Mana’s greatest joys were helping others whether that was volunteer needs at church especially her Women’s Circles, Partners in Education, helping within Melissa’s school, dance or majorette activities, assisting elderly friends or church members and of course she loved spending time with her grandchildren and attending their activities.  Mana always put others above herself, loved deeply those she cared most about and had a very spiritual relationship with God.   She was also at her happiest doing gardening work with Van and she had a real soft spot for her Shi Tzus Fuji, Einstein and Peabody. 

Mana is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Van David Privitt, who went far above and beyond as her caregiver, her daughter Melissa (Brent Morgan), her two grandchildren Mallory and Everett, her brother Rusty Johnson (Tracy) of Magnolia, special nieces, cousins and treasured friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents Clara & Jack Johnson and her brother and sister-in-law Charles and Ruth Young.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Little Rock followed by a visitation and burial at Roselawn Memorial Park under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home with Pastor Roy Smith officiating. 

The family would like to express their sincerest gratitude for the Hospice Home Care team who lovingly cared for Mana as well as her family since January 22, 2025, especially Anna.   You were angels sent to our family and we are forever grateful for the deep love, care and compassion you gave her. 
Memorials can be made to Trinity United Methodist Church. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com