FORREST CTIY — Jean H. Vandiver,

age 89, of Forrest City, Ark., died Monday, August 23, 2021, at Crestpark Retirement Inn in Forrest City. Jean was born April 20, 1932, in Macon, Ga., as Jean Micajah Hawks. She was the daughter of James Mills Hawks and Margaret Whitelaw Burton. The family moved frequently in her early years living in Macon, Ga.; Memphis, Tenn.; Fort Smith, Ark.; and Little Rock, Ark., prior to locating in Forrest City in 1947. She graduated from Forrest City High School in 1957, and attended classes at Memphis State University from 1972 to 1974. Jean enjoyed working with children and participated in the Sunday School and Vacation Bible School programs at the First Methodist Church in Forrest City where she was an active member for several years. She later attended Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church in Forrest City and most recently became a member of Calvary Episcopal Church in Memphis. Jean was instrumental in the creation of the Arkansas Board of Education’s Gifted and Talented Education program (AGATE). It is an independent organization that promotes excellence in the education of gifted and talented students in Arkansas. She served as a District Director and then as Conference Chairman for AGATE and later served as Vice-Chairman of the Arkansas Governor’s Council for Development of Gifted and Talented Education. Jean was a recipient of the Martha Ann Jones Service Award as well as the School Bell Award. Jean loved working in her yard, playing golf with friends, and traveling with her husband Francis. Jean married her high school sweetheart, Francis Hal (Budder) Vandiver, the son of Virgil Carey Vandiver and Mattie Pearl Dennis of Forrest City. Jean and Francis lived in Forrest City and raised three sons, Francis Hal Vandiver, Jr., James Carey Vandiver, Sr. and Dana Dean Vandiver. She was preceded in death by her mother, her father, her husband, her older sister, Ann Hawks Nimocks, her younger brother, James (Jimmy) Mills Hawks, Jr. and one grandchild, James Carey Vandiver, Jr. She is survived by her sons, two daughters-in-law, five grandchildren and their families as well as her brother-in-law, Al Nimocks, sister-in-law, Sharon Hawks, cousins, nieces and nephews of the Burton, Hawks, and Nimocks families. The family wishes for memorials to be sent to the Calvary Episcopal Church in Memphis, Tenn., where Jean was a member for many years. The family will have a private memorial service. Stevens Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. You may sign an online guestbook at www.stevesfuneralhome.net.