Willye M. Talley

 Willye M. Newburn Talley

November 2, 1944 – June 24, 2024

Willye M. Newburn Talley, a distinguished retired educator, passed away on June 24, 2024. She was born on November 2, 1944, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and resided in Little Rock, Arkansas at the time of her passing.

Willye dedicated her life to education, having worked as a classroom teacher for Prescott Public Schools, North Little Rock Public Schools, and Little Rock Public Schools. Known for her caring and understanding nature, she was a beacon of encouragement and patience for her students, helping those who struggled and inspiring all to excel beyond their expectations. Her legacy as an outstanding teacher who held her students to high standards while equipping them with a strong foundation for future learning will be long remembered by students, parents, and coworkers alike.

Beyond her professional career, Willye was deeply involved in civic and volunteer activities. She was instrumental in founding and sponsoring the Mt. Morriah Rural School Reunion, which convened for more than ten consecutive years. Her extensive knowledge and research on the Mt. Morriah Rural School have inspired others to seek information on Black rural schools in Clark County. Willye was also an active member of the L’Elite Incorporated civic social club, which promotes community welfare through academic scholarships and other charitable works. Additionally, she was a dedicated member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and served on numerous Peake High School Alumni Committees. She was also a member of the Akili Muata Book Club, reflecting her lifelong love of learning and literature.

Willye’s early education took place in the Arkadelphia Public School System, where she attended the Mt. Morriah Rural School and later Peake High School. She excelled academically and was active in extracurricular activities, including basketball and the 4-H Club. She served as Student Council Vice-President for three years and was Homecoming Queen in 1961. Willye continued her education at Henderson State University, Shorter College, and Ouachita Baptist College, becoming one of Ouachita’s first African American graduates in 1967. She later earned her Master's Degree from Ouachita Baptist University.

Her faith was an integral part of her life. She was affiliated with Mt. Morriah Baptist Church and Mt. Zion Baptist Church, where she worked as a Sunday School Teacher and served on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Black History Committees. She was actively involved in Bethel AME in North Little Rock, AR.

Willye was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Johnny Talley Jr., who passed away on April 3, 2020; her parents, Willie A. and Mattie Rene Newburn; her maternal grandparents, Bennie and Mary Smith. She was the oldest grandchild of Samuel and Josie Newburn of the Mt. Morriah Community.

She is survived by their son, Jonathan Talley, who graduated from Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN, with a degree in Computer Science; her sister Hazel McGhee; aunts, Maureen Owens and Frances Joyce Williams; an uncle, Alfred Jerry Smith; her brothers-in-law, James Thornton (Agnes), Tommie Brown (Marilyn) and Thomas Brewer (Lisa); her sister-in-law, Annie Brewer McGill, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

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