Saying goodbye to two community icons
Longtime JP, educator remembered for 90-plus years of service
Hot Spring County lost two icons over the weekend with the death of longtime educator and Malvern School Board Member Vonda Lee West Cranford and longtime Hot Spring County Justice of the Peace Jewell “Pete” Willis Jr..
Community leaders had plenty of good things to share about these two when they reflected on the difference they made to the people around them and this community as a whole.
When describing Cranford, Malvern Superintendent Brian Golden said she was a “tremendous lady” and “just amazing.”
Golden has known Cranford for several years, starting when he was a student in her classroom. She was also part of the Malvern School Board in 2008 that voted to hire Golden as superintendent. In total, with her teaching career and time on the board, Cranford was involved in the Malvern School District for more than 50 years.
Golden said that she was an excellent teacher and said she was very caring about her students.
As a school board member, Cranford was always learning and she completed hundred of hours of training.
“She won every award you could win,” Golden said adding that she was “always a calm voice of reason.”
Cranford graduated from Malvern High School in 1956. She taught in the district from 1959 through 1996 and served on the board from 1997 to 2017.
For her service, in 2018, she was added to the Malvern Wall of Honor.
Golden said Cranford will be greatly missed.
“I can’t say enough positive things,” he said.
This year Willis was celebrating his 40th year of serving his community.
“Who didn’t know Pete Willis,” said Hot Spring County Judge Dennis Thornton.
Willis served on the county’s Budget and Finance Committee and was always proactive and trying to make a difference, Thornton said.
When he was elected county judge, Thornton said one of the first things he heard was that Willis always supported county employees.
Throughout their time together, the two men were good friends and Willis “accepted me like his own child,” Thornton said.
“He will be sorely, sorely missed by those he served, but also by this entire county,” Thornton said.
Tom Dillard, chairman of the Hot Spring County Democratic Committee released this statement about Willis’ death.
“The death of Jewel “Pete” Willis, Jr. will leave many voids in the lives of people in Malvern and Hot Spring County. He served four decades on the County Quorum Court as a Justice of the Peace. He was active in every effort to improve the lives of his constituents. On top of that, Pete had a great sense of humor and he was always fun to be with,” Dillard said. ”Pete was a dedicated member of the Democratic Party. He believed in the principles of the party, and he fought hard for the working people of our area. Pete was a member of the HSC Democratic Party for many years, and his leadership will be missed. We extend our deepest condolences to the Willis family.”