LEVADA LEVON PARKER MASON
was one of four children born to the late Arthur Parker and Emma L. Anderson Parker of Washington, Ark. She was the third of four children, all siblings preceded her in death: Chester L. Parker, Arthurine Parker Bradford, and Arthur Parker, Jr.
Levada was joined in holy matrimony to the late Jesse W. Mason, Sr. To this union two sons were born: Michael D. Mason (Sarah) of Little Rock, Ark., and C. Roderick Darryl Mason of Langston, Okla. With this union, Levada gained two bonus sons, Jesse Mason, Jr. (Dr. Gail Reede Jones), Little Rock, Ark., and C. Vernon Mason (Thelma), New York, N.Y.; a bonus daughter, Patricia Mason, Chicago, Illinois.
She is survived by four sons; and one daughter; and additional family members: a stepsister, Carolyn Easter; a sister-cousin, Mary Brown; sister-in-love, Juanita Levine; 12 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Levada grew up in the Rocky Mound Road community of Hope, Ark., and attended Bethel AME Church in Hope. Levada attended Childress Junior High School in Emmett, Ark., and graduated from Nevada County Training School in Rosston, Ark., in 1945. She attended Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark., and graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in education, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics from Arkansas Mechanical & Normal College, now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). She attended State Teachers College of Arkansas, now the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) obtaining a master’s degree in home economics.
She did further study at Prairie View University, Prairie View, Texas, Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, Ala., and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Ark.
Levada’s working career spanned 50 years. After college graduation, Levada taught sixth grade at Gurnsey Elementary School in Gurnsey, Ark. When the cotton-picking season ended, she went to Parkin, Ark., and taught home economics and was the girls’ basketball coach at Central High School. She was employed for 10 years as a home demonstration agent for Negro work in Crittenden County, Marion, Ark. There she and a coworker, Thomas F. Vaughn, supervised 22 4-H clubs. Levada also supervised 12 home demonstration clubs.
After her home demonstration work, she taught at Wonder Junior High in West Memphis, Ark., and at Eliza Miller Jr. High School in West Helena, Ark. In 1965, she moved to Little Rock, Ark. and was employed by the Little Rock School District. She taught at Booker and Southwest Junior High Schools and retired in 1991 from Hall High School.
Levada was a member of Union AME Church, where she served on the stewardess board. She had also served as a deaconess while united with Archview Baptist Church. She was a member of Union’s Elmyra Brown Missionary Unit and the chair of activities. She previously was a member at Bethel AME in Hope, Ark.
Levada was a 50-plus-year member of Alpha Mu Zeta, Zeta Phi Beta, Inc., a past member of the Arkansas Retired Teacher Association (ARTA), the Little Rock Retired Teachers Unit, and of the Retired Educators and other Public-School Employees. She was a past long-standing, active member of the National Association of Federal Employees (NARFE) and the Pulaski County Retired Home Economics Unit.
In lieu of flowers, food, or gifts, donations may be given to Mrs. Mason’s favorite charity, the ‘MI Ladi’s Brunch’ a scholarship program that she started in 1976.
Checks may be made payable to the Zeta Dove Foundation and mailed to P.O. Box 3004, Little Rock, Ark. 72203.
You may also send funds via Zelle: dovefoundationlr@gmail.com
Or cashapp $Dovelr Memorial service Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 11 a.m., at Union AME Church, 1825 Pulaski Street, Little Rock, Ark.
Arrangements by Ruffin & Jarrett Funeral Home, 1200 Chester Street, Little Rock, Ark.