Martha Jean Lequieu, age 91, of Benton, passed away Monday, May 25, 2026.  She was born October 18, 1934 to George and Esther Wright Ramsey in the same community where she spent most of her life.  Her parents took her to Sharon Missionary Baptist Church three times a week. Martha Jean was saved and baptized there and spent many years playing the piano, teaching teenagers, working in the office for a favorite pastor, Bro. Glen Tropp.  She spent the last few years at Spring Creek Missionary Baptist Church.

She was a 1965 Mrs. Arkansas, a former Benton City Clerk, and Director of the Saline County Senior Activity Center.

Martha Jean made many friends, planning and escorting trips to all 50 states.  She loved to travel as long as she lived.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her-in-laws, Julian & Anna Lequieu; her husband, Coy; two sons, Bill and Steve Lequieu; five brothers, Jim, George, Billy, Jack, and baby Bobby Joe; four sisters-in-law, Hazel, Claudine, Billye Jean Ramsey, and Darlene Moore; three brothers-in-law, Harold Penn, Bob Lequieu, and Dickey Moore; and a mother of three grandchildren, Judy Kirkpatrick.

Martha Jean is survived by her daughter, Beverly Harlow (Steve) of Rison; son, Brad Lequieu (Missy) of Little Rock; nine grandchildren, Tiffany Wells (John), Laramie Lequieu (Kathy), Britt Lequieu (Crystal), Brandon Lequieu (Ginger), Kelley Clifton (Reid), Kacy Hester (Jarrod), Bradley Lequieu (Brittany), Kaylynn Graber (Matt), and Jessie Cassady (Carson); twenty-seven great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Louise Houpt (Albert), Janie Penn, and Carole Gaiser (Bernie); three sisters-in-law, Mattie Ramsey, Shirley Emond, and Wilma Rogers; and mothers of four grandchildren, Brenda Wells and Vicki Baker.

Pallbearers will be her grandchildren, Laramie, Brit, Brandon, and Bradley Lequieu, Jon Wells, Reid Clifton, Jarrod Hester, Matt Graber, and Carson Cassady.  Honorary pallbearers will be Ralph Warren, Terry Crank, Bill McAdoo, and Spurge Mask.

Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, May 29 at Spring Creek Missionary Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 30 at Spring Creek Missionary Baptist Church with burial to follow at Sharon Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Spring Creek Missionary Baptist Church Golden Hearts or Spring Creek Missionary Baptist Church Children Ministry.