Mary Garrigan Lumpkin

Mary Garrigan Lumpkin of Rogers, Arkansas, age 75, passed on Sunday, June 30, 2024 at the Promenade Health and Rehab where she had many dear friends, staff, and family there. Mary always wanted to dance but she never could. Now we know she is dancing with the Lord!!!

Mary is respected for her mental toughness of grit and determination. She chose to push through hard things and overcome challenges in her life with a positive attitude and outlook. She was not one to dwell on sadness, bitterness, or anger but to remember the good. She was also good at forgiving others and loving well. Mary is an overcomer.

At 9 months of age, Mary contracted a severe case of the polio virus that drastically affected both legs. She is one of the last surviving polio victims. Mary did not let walking with crutches and leg braces keep her from pursuing many of her goals and ambitions.

She was born on October 13, 1948 in Memphis, Tennessee to Hugh and Margaret Garrigan of Union City, Tennessee. Mary grew up in Union City and graduated from Union City High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin. She married the love of her life, Walt Lumpkin in Union City in 1969.

During her school age years -she showed beef cattle in the fairs, participated in 4-H clubs, served in school government leadership roles as well as various academic and extracurricular clubs, honor student, and even learned to become a master seamstress (later making her daughter’s wedding gown from her pencil sketch). In her adult life, she was involved in many honors clubs in college and a sorority where she filled some leadership roles. In her working years- she used her bachelor’s degree to become a respected preschool and elementary school teacher. Later, she was a Child Development Specialist for the state of Arkansas. She mostly enjoyed teaching the classes for childcare workers to help them develop materials and techniques for activities they could do to meet the needs of children in their developmental milestones.

Mary enjoyed encouraging others in all aspects of life and love. Her favorite motto was “life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful”.

After retirement, Mary enjoyed attending many games and events with friends and family, going to the library, participating in church activities, and serving others in the community.

Mary’s main hobbies included sewing, cooking, reading, and puzzles. Her favorite hobby was watching the Razorback games- ALL Razorback sports- and attending as many football, baseball, and softball games as she could with her husband, Walt of 55 great years of marriage.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Hugh and Margaret Garrigan.

Mary is survived by her husband of 55 years, Walter Lucious Lumpkin, and their two children; Deedra Branscum (married to Ron) of Rogers, and Hugh Lumpkin (married to Priscilla) of Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Mary is also survived by one brother; HE Garrigan III (Sherie).

Mary and Walt’s daughter, Deedra, and her husband, Ron, have been married 29 years and have 7 children ages 21 to age 8; Cade, Parker, Payton, Carrie, Jeremiah, Caroline, and Daniel.

Mary and Walt’s son, Hugh, and wife, Priscilla Lumpkin, have been married 21 years and have a daughter, Grace Fallon Lumpkin, age 1.

Mary is also survived by many loving family and friends. She is respected for serving the Lord with her love of people and especially her husband, Walt, parenting well her children, Hugh and Deedra, serving children and families in their church and community many years, and the many grandchildren that adored her.

A celebration of life will be held in her honor at Grace Baptist Church in Rogers on Sunday, July 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM. Pastor John Nauman officiating. Mary will be laid to rest at the Fayetteville national cemetery in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to “Encourage Others” in Mary’s honor to support efforts and events for better living and loving.

Donations can be sent to:
“Encourage Others”
2510 West Hudson Road
Rogers, AR 72756