Judith Gayle Bender

Mrs. Judith Gayle Bender, age 68, of Forrest City, died Saturday at the Baptist Hospital in Little Rock. She had been in the hospital for the past three weeks. Mrs. Bender was born June 21, 1945, in El Dorado, Arkansas, and was the daughter of Charles Gill Johnson and Byrdie Estelle Russell Johnson. She lived in Forrest City, moving here from Fayetteville, graduated from the University of Arkansas, was a housewife, was a member of the Master Gardeners Club, the Musical Coterie, and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Forrest City. Mrs. Bender married Michael Bender in 1966, and he survives her along with one son, Brent Bender of Forrest City, one daughter, Eden Pagan, husband, Jody, of Stuttgart, one brother, Gill Johnson of El Dorado, and two grandchildren; Hunter and Alexis. Services for Mrs. Bender will be held at the First Baptist Church in Forrest City, 10 a.m. Wednesday. A graveside service will be held Wednesday, 5 p.m. at Strong Cemetery in Strong, Arkansas. Visitation will be Tuesday evening, 6 till 8 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Forrest City with Stevens Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Memorials are to be made to the First Baptist Church Stuttgart, Children's Ministries, 2115 S. Prairie St., Stuttgart, Arkansas, 72160. You may log on the stevensfuneralhome.net for the on line registry.