of Paris, AR

April 15, 1919 - November 6, 2021

Mabel Melbalene Serpa, 102, of Paris, Arkansas passed away on Saturday, November 6, 2021 in Paris. She was born on April 15, 1919 in Magazine, Arkansas to her parents Bethel and Mae (Ellington) Jordan.

Mabel began her education in a one-room schoolhouse in Barnhill, Arkansas until the fourth grade when Barnhill School was consolidated with Magazine Schools. Mabel was the last surviving member of her graduating class of 1937. After graduating, Mabel taught Kindergarten, worked for the Department of Human Services, and served the late Superintendent of the Paris School System, W.S. Morgan.

In 1943 Mabel started her Federal Civil Service career in the Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, California. She then transferred to Sacramento, California and continued her Civil Service working at the Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs as well as the Sacramento Army Depot from which she retired in 1969 from the position of Chief of the Accounting Branch of the Comptroller's Directorate. The position necessitated that she attend meetings at the Department of Army Finance Offices in Arlington, Virginia, and the Army Finance Center in Fort Benjamin Harrison, Evansville, Virginia. During one year's time she attended scheduled meetings for six months traveling to the Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania for the purpose of assisting in rewriting of the Army Finance Regulations.

After retiring in 1969, Mabel took a real estate course at a local University in Sacramento, California, which started another 25-year career. Mabel worked with a company that only built shopping centers, and at the time was building a center in Oahu, Hawaii, which provided her the opportunity to visit all of the islands and take care of any residential requirements for the new center.

Mabel was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Paris. In 1950 Mabel was initiated into Alpha Tau Chapter of Delta Chi Sigma Sorority International. Mabel served all of the chapter offices and served as chapter president many times. Mabel also served as California State President and held three International positions before returning to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas in September 1995. Mabel also served as President of the Sacramento Women's Club.

Mabel was preceded in death by her first husband Selvin Turner and her second husband Walt Serpa, two sisters Arweila Davidson and Anita McGrath, and two brothers Thurman Jordan and Donald Jordan. She is survived by a daughter Marcia Serpa-Garcia, One sister Dorothy Rhinehart, a granddaughter Stephanie Philipopsoulos, three great-grandchildren Jessie, Justin and Niki Philipopsoulos all of San Mateo, CA, and many nieces and nephews. Among them are Sharon Bunting of Maumelle, Leslie Benge and Sandy Maddox of Paris, Lindsey Robertson of Benton, Nic Allen of Washington, and Pam Man of Washington.

Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m., on Monday, November 8, 2021 at Roller Funeral Home Chapel in Paris.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at Roller Funeral Home Chapel in Paris with burial to follow in Ellington Cemetery under the direction of Roller Funeral Home. Online guestbook www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/paris

Pallbearers will be Mike Core, Chris Benge, Laine Harris, Austin Maddox, Gene Davis and Mark Jordan.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller Funeral Home
1700 East Walnut Street
Paris, AR  72855
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com