GREENBRIER — Mary Beth Sudduth,

85, daughter of Afton Elwyn Richards and Mary Bass Richards, died January 18, 2024, in Greenbrier, Ark.

She was predeceased by her husband, Carr Dee Racop, Jr.; her parents; brother, Billie Elwyn Richards; and daughter, Susan Kay Sudduth May.

She is survived by her daughter, Kathy Ann Edwards of Conway, Ark.; sons, Steven Dale Sudduth (Shawn) of Pensacola, Fla., and John Andrew Sudduth of Conway, Ark.; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Also surviving are brothers, Charles Richards (Barbara) of Paris, Texas, Don Richards (Caryn) of Lubbock, Texas, and Larry Richards of Flint, Texas. Surviving children by marriage are Russ Racop of Little Rock, Ark., and Rene Neely (Hank) of Plano, Texas; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Sudduth earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from the University of Central Arkansas and a Juris Doctor degree from the Bowen School of Law in Little Rock, Ark. She was the first female attorney in Faulkner County, Ark., had a private law practice in Conway, Ark., and served as Faulkner County Juvenile Judge. Her working career also included teaching high school history and government at Conway High School, serving as Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division in the office of the Arkansas Attorney General, Executive Assistant to the President at Henderson State University, Associate Director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, and Executive Vice Chancellor at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (UA Fort Smith), where she retired in 2005. She helped draft legislation that enabled Westark College to become UA Fort Smith.

She was a member of Arkansas Business and Professional Women and was a Past State President of that organization. She served on the UA Fort Smith Lions Hall of Fame Committee and has previous service as a member of the Board of the Fountain of Youth, and president of the Bost Human Services Board. She was a loyal fan and member of the UA Fort Smith Lions Athletics Booster Club and in 2019 was inducted into the UA Fort Smith Lions Hall of Fame. She traveled thousands of miles across the country to follow UA Fort Smith teams competing in regional and national tournaments.

She was a member of Goddard United Methodist Church, where her service included Chair of the Board of Trustees, member of United Methodist Women, Joy Goddard Circle, teacher of Pairs and Spares Sunday School Class, and leader of the Lydia Bible Study.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Roberts Funeral Home. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date in Fort Smith, Ark.

Memorial contributions may be made to the food pantry of Goddard United Methodist Church, 1922 Dodson Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 72901, to any hunger organization, or to the UA Fort Smith Lions Volleyball Program.

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