Lillian (Lea) Hanna

Lillian Eugenia “Lea” Hanna passed from this life on 9 January 2026 at the age of 86 years. The third of five daughters of Everett Ray and Lillie May Murphy Fortson, Lea was born 11 December 1939 in Leachville, Arkansas. That is where she met Jim Hanna, whom she would marry on 7 Sept 1957. She graduated from Leachville High School in the class of 1958, where she played clarinet in the band. Later, Lea competed in archery with Jim and others. Lea and Jim celebrated 66 years of marriage before he passed on 5 November 2023.

Lea grew up in the cotton fields of northeast Arkansas and, as a little girl, was tasked with providing the meals for the other family members as they worked. That work ethic stayed with her throughout her life as she made a comfortable home for her husband and their three children. No one ever left her house hungry. She fed her family Sunday dinners for years, as well as provided food for holidays, church dinners, and funerals. Even in her later years, she cooked the grand- and great-grands' favorites and sent the food home with them. She loved music and taught herself how to play the guitar as an adult. She sang in the church choirs at Parks Baptist and Temple Baptist and regularly played and sang specials on Sundays and at other events. Lea was a willing worker in different areas at both churches for decades, helping in the kitchen, the nursery and children’s church, and VBS.

Lea loved decorating her home, growing beautiful plants and flowers, having a large garden, setting up at shows and sales with Jim’s woodcrafts, and fishing. While she enjoyed being a homemaker, she also worked for several years at the Waldron Furniture Factory as an upholsterer and later, worked side-by-side with Jim on their Parks farm where they ran a successful broiler and feeder calf operation. She was a hard worker at whatever she did and was always busy.

Lea is survived by a son, James Hanna and wife Ginger; a daughter, Elainea Allen and husband Joe; a daughter-in-law, Carolyn Hanna; six grandchildren: Jimmy Hanna (Terra), Charlie Allen, Jenny Ravey, Hannah McCullah (Blaine), Montana Jennings (David), and Michael Hanna (Sarah); a step-grandson Indy Luther; great-grandchildren: Braden, Caden, Kennedy and Kadie Hanna; Briar Allen; Jacob and Rylee Ravey; Allen McCullah; Legend and Ellis Turpin and Onalee Jennings; step-great-grandchildren, Gabriel Luther, Hunter Covey, Breanna Vaughan and Jackson Vaughn; and several nieces, nephews, and many friends.

Welcoming Lea in Glory is her husband Jim, her parents; a son, Kenny Hanna; a grandson Christopher Hanna; and four sisters, Billie, Mary, Barbara, and Brenda.

Lea’s visitation will be Sunday, January 11, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas.  A graveside celebration of life will be Monday, January 12, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at Square Rock Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to Heritage Funeral Home.

The family would like to thank the caring staff at Dalton’s Place, the wonderful hospice staff at Gentiva and Brooken Hill, the helpers who stayed with her, her Temple Baptist Church family, and Heritage Memorial. Memorials may be made to the Gideon’s Bible Ministry or the charity of your choice.