Frank & Bright Funeral Home

Leona Pemberton Totten

Jan 3rd, 1924 - Jun 15th, 2021

   Leona M. Pemberton Totten, age 97, of Flora, Illinois passed away Tuesday, June 15, 2021, at Flora Gardens Care Center.

   She was born January 3, 1924, in Goodwin, Arkansas, the daughter of Louis Elmer and DuRinda “Rinda” (Coble) Hamilton.  She was united in marriage to William Laverne Pemberton on May 17, 1942, in Louisville, and together they shared 41 wedding anniversaries until his death December 27, 1983.  She later married James F. Totten on June 29, 1985, in Flora, and he preceded her in death on April 17, 2015.

   Leona had worked at the International Shoe Company, Sparton Manufacturing, and Clay County Hospital, working in the kitchen.  Her dedication to faith was evident in her memberships at First Christian Church in Flora and Antioch Church in Olney.  She was a 50-year member and Past Noble Grand of the Rebekahs and sang with the Rebekah Quartet.  Leona enjoyed singing and playing the guitar.  She loved fishing, sewing, crafts, playing cards and dominoes, and always looked forward to attending the annual Hamilton Reunion at Charley Brown Park.  Leona also enjoyed time spent traveling and during a trip to Israel she and her husband Jim were rebaptized in the Jordan River.   

   She is survived by a son: Tom (Maria “Button”) Pemberton of Flora; son-in-law: Ed (Dena) McCracken of Clay City; stepchildren: Larry (Nancy) Totten of Olney and Linda Craig of Calhoun; 7 grandchildren: Chris (Alicia) Wildbur, Chad Pemberton, Eddie (Jolene) McCracken Jr., Jami (Tony) Gibbons, Jacki (the late Mike) Sehie,  Keith (Linda) England, John (Mary) England; 13 great-grandchildren; 16 great-great-grandchildren with 2 more on the way; brother-in-law: Elmo Pemberton of Mooresville, Indiana; and many nieces and nephews.

   She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; 2 daughters: Janet England and Vickie McCracken; a grandson: David Pemberton; great-grandson: Mark England; 5 brothers: Earl, Raymond, Clinte, Louie, and Don Hamilton; 4 sisters: Lena Colclasure, Dorothy Stanford VanDyke, Violet Wheeler, and Captola Reynolds Barbee; 3 brothers-in-law: Roy, Harold, and Dean Pemberton; 3 stepsons: George Totten, Leroy Totten, and David Totten; and step-son-in-law: John Craig.

   A graveside ceremony will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, June 19, 2021, at Floral Garden of Memories Cemetery in Flora.  Those attending are asked to arrive directly at the cemetery.  Arrangements are in the care of Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora.  Memorial donations are suggested to Clay County Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry or White Fields Worldwide Ministry and will be accepted through the funeral home.  To share a memory or condolence visit: www.frankandbright.com