Jonesboro – Loretta Langford Bookout, 87, of Jonesboro went home to be with her Lord and Savior Friday, February 9, 2024. She was born on October 8, 1936 in Jonesboro to the late Lloyd Love Langford, Sr and Janiece Jernigan Langford.
Loretta was a graduate of Jonesboro High School and Arkansas State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science as well as a Master of Science in Early Childhood Education. Teaching was her passion, she loved watching a child discover and learn new things. Loretta helped found the Head Start program educating teachers how to teach through her many presentations and advice. Loretta was instrumental in starting the first public kindergarten in Jonesboro and taught there for many years until she then started a private kindergarten at St. Mark’s where she wrote the curriculum as well as taught. Loretta finished her career at Arkansas State University teaching for 10 years in the Elementary Education Department where she influenced and inspired many young educators to go into teaching.
One of her greatest passions throughout her life was her journey with her husband, Jerry Bookout. Loretta played an important part in working alongside him in their 34 years of public service to this community and to the state of Arkansas. They loved to spend time with family and travel together.
Loretta was an active member of First Baptist Church her entire life, she taught Sunday school at different times throughout the years and enjoyed her own Sunday school class and bible study groups. She was a life member of the Jonesboro Junior Auxiliary, PEO Chapter AJ, and Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority.
Some of Loretta’s greatest joys in life were spending time with her 3 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren who were the loves of her life. Loretta also found joy in being an avid Red wolf and Razorback supporter, prompting her to receive a House divided plaque to put on her car one Christmas which she loved. Loretta was “mom” and “aunt” too many of her children’s friends as well as her own friends’ children, she loved having a house full and just being with them, cooking for them and giving advice. In her later years she loved to travel with her close friends fondly known as the widow’s club.
Loretta was preceded in death by her loving husband of 49 years, Jerry Bookout; twin brother, Lloyd Love Langford, Jr; and a sister, Jan Kirkindall.
She is survived by a son and his wife, Paul and Sherry Bookout; a daughter and her husband, Jill and Bryan Rogers all of Jonesboro; three grandchildren who were the light of her life, Morgan Brunson of Little Rock, PJ Bookout of Jonesboro, and Rachel Rogers of Paragould; three great-grandchildren who were pure joy for her, Beckham and Wynn Paul Brunson and Bryght Bookout; a sister, Jean Langford of Jonesboro and sister-in-law, Carolyn Hilburn of Kennett, MO, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Memorial service to celebrate her life will be 2:30 p.m. Thursday, February 15, 2024 at First Baptist Church with Arliss Dickerson officiating and with Ginia Demaine giving the eulogy. Burial will be private under the direction of Gregg- Langford Bookout Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 until time of service Thursday at the church.
Our family requests memorials be sent to St. Bernard’s Home Hospice or the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House. We could not have made it this past 6 months without Lindsay and Rhonda, Loretta’s special angels.