MELINDA MICHELLE THOMPSON NEEDLER,
age 50, of Little Rock, Arkansas went to be in Heaven on March 21, 2020. Michelle was born October 17, 1969 in Harrison, Arkansas to Henry and Linda (Richter) Thompson. She graduated from Pine Bluff High School in 1988 and then attended college at Louisiana Tech University, UAPB, UALR, Concordia and Harding University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She began teaching in Forrest City, Arkansas but later on, thanks to a special friend’s encouragement, she applied for a teaching position at Christ Lutheran School. It was there where she completed Colloquy training and became a commissioned minister of religion. She was also a member of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML). At the end of her career, she transferred to the North Little Rock school district where she taught in the preschool program at Redwood and Pike View Early Childhood Centers.
She married the love of her life, Mark Needler on July 20, 2002 and together they were blessed with two children: Hamilton Rhys Needler age 13, and Marabeth Kaye Needler, age 9. Her children were very dear to her heart and she spent the last seven years of her life making memories with her husband and children that will last them a lifetime.
Michelle was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013 and battled for seven years alongside many other brave women. Even in her hardest times, Michelle was a strong and steady friend to everyone. She spent a lot of time comforting her fellow breast cancer ladies and building bonds within the community. In her remission period, she was very active with the Susan G Komen foundation and was able to share this passion for philanthropy with her niece, Emily Caroline Thompson, age 22 of Fayetteville. Together, they were able to raise almost a thousand dollars for this foundation and ran in the Race for the Cure together multiple times.
She was preceded by her grandparents, her aunt Mary Beth Serine; her uncle, Darral Richter. Michelle is survived by her husband, Mark Needler; two children, Hamilton and Marabeth Needler; parents, Henry and Linda Thompson of Benton, Ark., brother and sister-in-law, Heath and Mandy Thompson of Rogers, Ark.; five Godchildren, Emily, Molly, and Lily Thompson, Addie Woerner, Lauren and Landy Ballard. She loved each of these children as her own and made lasting impacts on all of their lives.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at Christ Lutheran Church off of Hughes Street in Little Rock officiated by Reverend Emil Woerner. Due to the national pandemic, the service will be live streamed for those to tune in from their homes. A larger gathering of family and friends will be held in mid October to celebrate Michelle’s life. Interment will follow at Forest Hills Cemetery in Alexander, Arkansas at 4 p.m.
In honor of Michelle, the family requests donations to Carti Cancer Center or Friends in Christ Lutheran Church. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home & Crematory. (501) 982-2136. www.mooresjacksonvillefuneralhome.com.