MISSISSIPPI CO, AR - MABEL FLANNIGAN EDRINGTON - Bio ********************************************************************* USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. Submitted by: Sally E. Boyd ********************************************************************* Source: History of Mississippi County, Arkansas published in 1962 MABEL FLANNIGAN EDRINGTON Biography mostly taken from her own book, History of Mississippi County, Arkansas published in 1962 Mabel F. Edrington, (Mrs. John W.) was born is McLeansboro, Illinois, the County seat of Hamilton County. Here she received schooling, also studying piano. Her parents were Wallace B. Flannigan and Melvina (Johnson) Flannigan. The two families were Pioneers in Hamilton County, having come from North Carolina and Kentucky soon after Illinois became a State in 1818. W.B. Flannigan came to Osceola, Arkansas in March of 1903, entering the field of Real Estate Law and Making an Historical Set of Mississippi County Abstract Books, still in use. Mrs. Edrington continued the study of Music in Memphis, Tenn., with Prof. J.G. Gerbig, Piano; Mrs. C.P.J. Mooney, Voice, and Ernest Hawke, Theory and Harmony, later studying voice with Miss Eulalia Wiley of Hot Springs (a pupil of Jean de Rezke of Paris.) and Maestro Fernando Tanara, a Metropolitan Opera Coach of New York City. While teaching Music in the Osceola School she studied Foreign Languages under Prof. L.U. Ragsdale. During World War I she served as Junior Red Cross Chairman and also gave concerts with her sister Madeline in Arkansas and Tennessee to help promote War Bond sales. November 1, 1918, she married John W. Edrington of Osceola, going as a bride into the century old antebellum home on Broadway where Mr. Edrington was born, and died in 1953. After marriage Mrs. Edrington accepted leadership in many community, county and state organizations, among which were the Methodist choir director 30 years, Sunday school teacher 12 years, President Methodist Missionary Society, President of the Osceola Progressive Club 5 years, the Mississippi County Club Federation, 4 years, the Forrest City District Arkansas Federation of Women's Clubs, and numerous state committee chairman. As state chairman of Library Extension in 1932 she advocated bookmobiles and takes pride today in the fact that the Mississippi County Library in Osceola (of which she was finance chairman for the building for 11 years) supports two bookmobiles. The Egyptian Music Camp Scholarship in Arkansas was created by her and now bears her name in Forrest City District. Mrs. Edrington served on the State Board of Control of the Arkansas Boys Industrial School five years. In 1954 County Judge Philip Deer appointed her Mississippi County Historian. As such she represented Mississippi County as a member of the Arkansas Historical Association. In 1958 she was appointed Honorary Mayor of Osceola by Mayor Ben Butler. Also this year at the Annual Library Banquet she was honored with a surprise speech by City Attorney Mitchell Moore tendering gifts from the Chamber of Commerce, the Osceola School Board, the Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, the Garden and Literary Clubs, the Library Building Board of Trustees and an achievement plaque from the Osceola Progressive Club for her effort and accomplishment in the erection of a debt free County Library Building. When the William Strong Chapeter Daughters of the American Revolution was organized she became a member and served as Regent several years. As State Chairman of the Memorial Bell Tower at Valley Forge she placed 400 veterans names on the Arkansas tablet there, also placed the names of Governor Ben Laney, R.E. Lee Wilson, William Bard Edrington and Congressman W.J. Driver on a "special Roll of Honor". She served on the National Board of the Valley Forge Committee 1944- 1952. She helped to organize the Robert Crittenden Chapter D.A.R. and served as Regent two terms. She is now serving as President of the Dr. James Franklin Davis Chapter United Daughters of the Confederacy. She has two children, Madeline Ellen, Mrs. Earl Futch of Ocala, Florida, and William Bard Edrington of Ocala, Florida, who married Miss Nancy S. Wilson of Osceola, Arkansas. This is the biography of Mabel as she wrote it in her book. "Mabel died in Ocala, FL on August 19, 1980. She simply wore out. Both her children are alive and living in Ocala, FL today, 1-13-98. She has 4 grandchildren, William Bard Edrington, IV, Sally Lou Edrington Boyd, Robert Wilson Edrington, and John Edrington Futch. Bard has five children, Sally has four children, and John has one daughter. Bard also has three grandchildren. Most of us are still in Ocala, FL. Bard lives with his wife, Rhonda Randle, and their two boys, in Franklin, TN."