WILMA QUALLS HOLLEMAN GRAHAM’s
spirit left her body and went to her eternal home in heaven by the grace of the one, true, and proven Saviorher Lord, Jesus Christ on September 2, 2021, after years of a courageous fight against cancer.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Pauline and Claude Brown, brother- Bill, sister-Marvalene McAlister, and husbands-Marvin Holleman and Leo Graham. She leaves to carry on her love and kindness; four children: Randy Qualls (Barbara), Susie Thompson (Reed), Rick Qualls, Ronnie Qualls (Brenda), their father- Frank Qualls, eight grandchildren: Sarah, Andy, Spencer, Connor, Elaine, Lindsey, Lauren and Robert, five amazing great-grandchildren, a host of extended relatives and her friends who were family to her.
Wilma was born in a real log cabin in the woods at Minnow Creek on Feb. 28, 1936. As a young girl, her family moved closer to town (Lamar and Clarksville) onto a farm and into a house that her dad built by hand. She always loved animals, especially horses and dogs. Over her lifetime she had more dogs than we can name. She even sent a picture of her Springers to President and Barbara Bush and they reciprocated with an autographed picture of their Springers. So here’s a good place to say that she’s also survived by the canine member of the family, RALPHIE.
While attending Lamar high school and working in town, she would go to the drug store soda fountain where at age 16 she met and married the dashing, Frank Qualls. After brief stays in various college town pharmacy schools, they had four children and lived in Russellville and later, Camden. No matter where she lived, she loved the towns and the people. She was the type who had never met a stranger and we were always amazed that everywhere we went she would meet someone who she could connect somehow to Camden, Russellville, Lamar, or Clarksville.
Growing up, she was raised on the truth of the Bible from the day she was born. She heard it at church, since her mother taught Sunday school every week of her life, and in their home, since the traveling preachers stayed with them when they came to town.
Next to God, her family was the most important thing in the world to her. She lived in Camden for over 40 years, where she loved being active in her kids’ lives and being a mom to their friends too. She loved her home on Maul Road and pruning all those gorgeous flowers that covered her yard. Her grandkids have so many memories of staying and playing at Nannies house. “Nanny” as we all called her, always found fun adventures for them to do. And Christmas, wow. Her house won multiple Christmas decor awards. On one occasion a car ran off the road into a ditch as they passed while looking at the 20 foot angel in the yard. She made Christmas magical each year for the whole extended family.
As the kids became adults, she went to work decorating for the furniture stores in Camden. There she made even more best friends and stories to recant even as recent as last week. She loved decorating and was a natural at it. She was also blessed to spend several years married to two different amazing widowers. She loved their families and was loved by them.
She retired and moved to Little Rock a few years after she was widowed and had her first bout with lung cancer in 2006. She beat it but it returned five years ago. Thanks to Dr. Mendelson and Carti, she had many more years of good life than one would expect. She was able to share so many memories with us, holidays, trips, life events and fun with her Aberdeen ladies’ group.
She especially loved her church families through the years, and currently the Pinnacle Church of Christ family. She has passed on her spiritual legacy and as Proverbs 31 says of the virtuous woman, “Her children rise up and call her blessed”
Family and friends know that because of her walk with the Lord and obedience to God’s word that she was welcomed into heaven hearing God say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant”.
Wilma’s celebration service will be Tuesday, Sept. 7 at 11 a.m., with a visitation the night before (Sept. 6) from 5-7 p.m. Both of these will be at the Roller-Chenal Funeral Home, 13801 Chenal Pkwy in Little Rock, 72211.
Her body will be buried at Minnow Creek Cemetery in Lamar, Ark., at 3 p.m., Tuesday. Her first burial was as a teen when she was “buried in baptism into Christ and raised from the waters of baptism to walk in newness of life” Romans 6:4 (The Holy Bible)
Memorials in Wilma’s honor may be made to the Pinnacle Church of Christ Missionary Fund, 11801 Fairview Road. Little Rock 72212.
The family requests that you please wear masks if unvaccinated. Guest book at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.