France Etta “Francella” (White) Balentine of Newport, Arkansas, the last of the original Tuckers family, established in the 1800s, of Newport, Arkansas, departed this life on Friday, August 29, 2025, at the age of 86. She was born November 3, 1938, in Overcup, Arkansas, the daughter of Woody White Sr. and Mary A. (Tucker) White.
Ms. Balentine was a 1956 graduate of Carvell High School in Augusta. She went on to attend Memphis State University, where she hung out with Al Green, B.B. King, and Fat Sam.
Following some college, she started her family, which included two sons and four daughters. Ms. Francella was always active in her children’s lives; she served as a Cub Scout leader when her sons were young and enjoyed watching her sons play basketball, football, track, especially watching her son play with the Razorbacks, and many activities with her daughters. Her priority in life was raising her family to be productive citizens and, most importantly, devoted Christians. Ms. Francella’s greatest love was her family, and she was so proud of their every accomplishment. Ms. Francella loved supporting her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in all their sports activities.
Never a stranger to hard work, she raised her family and two granddaughters while always working full-time. Throughout her years, she worked at Newport Hospital, a dispatcher for the Newport Police Department and at GPW Nursing Home. Beginning in the 1970s, she worked at Brown Jordan, which later became American Lantern, where she was lovingly called “Grandma” by her team. She always kept all of her work family well-fed. Ms. Francella did private sitting for the elderly for many years and worked as a home health aide at the White River Area on Aging. Ms. Francella showered her patients with love and care. She also took special care and made food for “her boys” the Jackson County Sheriff and Deputies.
She was a devoted Christian and member of the Calhoun Church of Christ before it changed to Fifth Street Church of Christ in Newport. She also regularly attended a Bible study at Cherokee Street Church of Christ and at Holden Avenue Church of Christ, participating in Bible Study, helping in the kitchen, and working on Vacation Bible School.
Ms. Francella was a Newport Greyhound Lifetime member, a member of the Lemonade Committee in the 1980s, and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter #410. She was also a member of the Red Hat Club. She possessed so many talents, including playing the piano, she was a fabulous seamstress and loved to decorate the yard and house for all holidays. Ms. Francella loved fashion; anyone who knew her knew her impeccable taste, always dressing to the nines, with her shoes, jewelry, and handbag, always matching and with her beautiful hats completing her wardrobe. She loved shopping, especially at Dillard’s. She loved to dance, talk on the phone, and listen to her police scanner. Ms. Francella never met a stranger and everywhere you saw her she was visiting with everyone.
Anyone blessed to know Ms. Francella loved her, and she gave that love back in her many acts of love and kindness. She will be missed by so many, none more than her loving family.
Ms. Balentine was preceded in death by two sons, Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel “Nate” Balentine, Jr., and Charles Edward Balentine; one daughter, Mary Balentine Yancey; a granddaughter, Aisha Trenea Marie Young; two brothers, Woody White, Jr., and Chester White; one son in law, Paul Edwards, Sr.; her parents; and her best friends, Irene (Bea) Walker, Mary “Mae Ella” Ratliffe, and Edna T. Armitage.
She is survived by three daughters, Joyce Edwards of Fayetteville, Doris Balentine of Springdale, and De’Lisa Balentine of Jonesboro; two granddaughters she raised, LaShaye Balentine of Jonesboro, and Stephanie Taylor of Sherwood; seventeen grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; and thirty-six great-great-grandchildren; special friend, she loved like a sister, Mattie Dicus, dear friend, Lonnie Crite, special son, Renard Robinson, bonus daughter, Laverne Binkley, her first cousins of the White Family, Mable Mullen, Roxiann Carter, Willa Bogard, and Martha White; a special friend, Mayor Derrick Ratliffe; and a host of family, cousins, and friends.
Friends may visit at Holden Avenue Church of Christ beginning at 10:00 a.m. Friday with the service following at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be in New Hope Cemetery. Repast will follow at Holden Avenue Church of Christ.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are listed in order of firstborn: Paul Edwards, Jr., Brandon Shelley, Dequan Bailey, Tre Crume, NYJA Bailey, Joshua Balentine, James Balentine, Kylan Kendall, Shawn Ellis, Jalen Taylor, Brandon Ward, Jr., and grandson-in-law, Freddy Taylor, Jr.
