Georgia Alice Hobby

Georgia Alice Pruett Hobby, 98, of Little Rock, died Thursday morning July 9, 2015, in the care of family and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Alvin Hobby, two sons, John Paul Hobby and Dr. George Alvin Hobby, a sister, Claudia Pruett Petty, and a brother, Jack Pruett. She was born in Marmaduke, Arkansas August 8, 1916, and spent her college years at Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas where she met Alvin Hobby and married in 1938. Georgia and Alvin left for Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) Africa soon after their wedding and served as pioneer missionaries from 1938 until 1982. Georgia was an inspirational, creative, and hard-working woman who raised five children and also dedicated much of her life to serving others. During the Africa years at Namwianga Mission, she taught elementary school to African children, taught home economics to teens, and served sick and injured individuals to the best of her ability. She returned to the USA in 1962 to attend Nursing School at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and earned an RN license so that she could serve as a health care provider in Africa. She also earned a master's degree in maternal-infant nursing from the University of Colorado in Denver and used these skills to attend young mothers and infants. She was fluent in the Tonga language, taught Bible classes to women, and wrote infant care books for mothers. She also spent several years in Livingstone, Zambia, teaching Bible to women and children and making trips to villages in her Land Rover. Georgia spent later years in Grove, Oklahoma, and in Searcy, Arkansas, where she participated actively in church groups and took a special interest in the nursing school at Harding University. Her later years were happy and productive, and she was involved in ministering to others even during her final months at Presbyterian Village in Little Rock. Survivors include her son James David Hobby and wife Karen of Arlington, Texas; daughter-in-law Priscilla Hobby of Paragould; her daughter Dr. Anita Hobby Mitchell and husband Dennis of Little Rock, Arkansas; and her son Dr. Kenneth Lester Hobby and wife Ann of Searcy, Arkansas. Grandchildren include Kimberly Hobby Wagner, Jim Hobby, Christopher Hobby, Jonathan Hobby, Brian Mitchell, Joanne Mitchell Fox, Randy Mitchell, Jared Hobby, Dr. Anessa Hobby Westbrook, Tianna Hobby Tripp, and Dr. Gerren Hobby. She also enjoyed her 27 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Sunday from 1:30 until 2:30 pm at Powell Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 2:30 at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with interment to follow at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to Zambia Mission Fund, P.O. Box 3393, Abilene, Texas, 79604-3393; or to the Hobby Scholarship Fund to be used for scholarships for training Zambian teachers and ministers. Hobby Scholarship funds may be sent to the College Church of Christ, account 2220 – 712 East Race Ave., Searcy, Arkansas, 72143. Arrangements by Powell Funeral Home of Searcy.

Georgia Alice Hobby

August 8, 1916 - July 9, 2015