Shirley Hood Stover has spent her life quietly serving others, building community and preserving traditions that define small-town South Arkansas.
Growing up in the Corinth community outside Warren, Stover graduated from Warren High School in 1970 and later attended the University of Arkansas at Monticello. She and her husband Larry, whom she has been married to for nearly 40 years, raised one son and are now proud grandparents to seven “grand loves.”
Stover credits her parents, John and Dorothy McKinstry, with shaping her strong sense of responsibility and service. “They taught all seven of us the importance of a good work ethic, being dependable and helping others,” Stover said. She also recalls the practical lessons passed down from her mother — how to make a home, care for a family, garden and can food — skills she still uses today.
Her work ethic was evident early on. Stover’s first job was at her grandmother Kinard’s grocery store in Warren, followed by a position at the Wilmar Dairy Diner while she was in high school. She later devoted her career to education, working in various departments at Pines Technical College, UAM and the Woodlawn School District.
Beyond her professional life, Stover has made community service a cornerstone of her life.
She has volunteered on many occasions with the Bradley County Chamber of Commerce and is a member-at-large of the Bradley County Extension Club, where she has helped with the Pink Tomato Festival All Tomato Luncheon for several years.
“I love doing the luncheon,” Stover said. “I’ve cooked, decorated, washed tomatoes, taken tickets — anything that needs to be done.”
She also volunteers with the Bradley County Fair, helping set up exhibits, and joined the Bradley County Medical Center Auxiliary about seven years ago. Since then, she has volunteered in the gift shop, thrift shop and surgery waiting room and now serves as vice president of the auxiliary.
Through the auxiliary, Stover has helped turn donations into meaningful community partnerships. An abundance of sewing materials donated to the thrift shop led to collaboration with the Bradley and Cleveland County Extension offices to create handmade health care items
— including lap blankets, hats, gloves and teaching dolls — for BCMC patients. The teaching dolls, Stover explained, allow patients who are unable to speak to indicate where they are
hurting, helping health care providers better communicate and respond.
Other donations, including picture frames and art supplies, were shared with art classes at Warren High School and Hermitage High School. The auxiliary’s next project is partnering with the Bradley County Block Builders Quilt Club to create a “Denim and Diamonds” quilt to raffle during Bradley County Medical Center’s 75th Birthday Jubilee in June.
Faith has also played a central role in Stover’s life. She is an active member of Corinth Baptist Church, the same church where she grew up. “The adult members always taught us and led by example,” she said.
In addition to her volunteer work, Stover co-owns Three Farm Girls Soap with classmates Denisa Pennington and Ruth Hargis. What began as a desire for better skin care for their families has grown into a successful soap-making hobby that has it’s own website. The company will celebrate its 10th anniversary in February and is a consistent award winner at the Bradley County Fair. “It’s our baby,” Stover said. “We win blue ribbon and best of show-worthy every year at the fair.”
Despite her many accomplishments, Stover considers raising her son, Labon Hood, her greatest achievement.
“I am also very blessed with a very loving husband who supports all of my shenanigans,” she said with a smile.
When asked what she loves most about Bradley County, Stover’s answer was simple and heartfelt. “It’s home,” she said. “Home is memories, comfort and connection — and Bradley County is that for me.”
For Shirley Stover, service is not something scheduled or recognized — it is simply a way of life. Whether she is cooking for a community, volunteering her time or welcoming a stranger with a
familiar smile, her impact is quietly woven into the fabric of Bradley County.
