Miss Katie Pearl McKoy does not reside in the McCrory Nursing Home. She lives near her daughter, Margo Low, in Brinkley. A friend and former home companion of Miss Katie Pearl's is in the nursing home in McCrory.
I received this information from Margo just recently. In fact the 1952 HGHS senior class is looking forward to Miss Katie Pearl joining us again this year on June 7th for our 56th reunion in Jonesboro.
from the Oct. 3, 2007, Central Delta Argus-Sun: (excerpts of longer article)
BRINKLEY - Katie Pearl Jones McCoy of Brinkley was honored on her 98th birthday Sept. 26 with a celebration in the fellowship hall of the Brinkley First United Methodist Church. ...
Bobby Henard read a short history about Katie Pearl written by her daughter, Margo Low:
Katie Pearl came to Arkansas from Mississippi when she was 10 years old, along with her parents and four brothers. Traveling life back then in 1919 was not luxurious. Horse-drawn wagons were the mode of travel, along with a milk cow. They settled on a cotton farm in the Shiloh Community.
About two years later her mother died of pneumonia. This changed everything. The family worked together and they made it. Katie Pearl also played the piano and organ at the Shiloh Shrine. She did this for 65 years. Her romantic life began when she met Tom McKoy at the church. Soon they were married and in a few years children began to arrive. Margo was the first, and then two sons, U.B. and Thomas McKoy. It was a very busy household. Katie Pearl cared for her ailing father during this time also. After the death of her father she opened a country store, where she sold everything from bologna to imported silk hose. ... She delivered the Arkansas Democrat newspaper for seven years, taking bundles of the papers to Brinkley, Moro, Marianna, West Helena and Marvell.
She worked at Low's Bridal & Formal (in Brinkley) for many years and enjoyed driving her car until she was 92 years old. ... Katie Pearl enjoys her grandchildren, Dorcas and Stan Prince, Rebecca Low, John and Chris McKoy.
Katie Pearl also served as curator for the Shiloh Methodist Cemetery for over 25 years. ... She now resides in the McCrory Nursing Home.
(note: the Shiloh Community is located on Highway 17, just a few miles north of Holly Grove.)
