Malinda "Cheryl" Atkins Minshew

Malinda “Cheryl” Atkins Minshew, 80, of Austin, died Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Hospice Home Care Comfort Center in Little Rock, following a long illness. She was born in Crossett on November 15, 1944, and spent her childhood in Kansas City then to Hamburg to start school. An accomplished majorette, she graduated as an honor graduate from Hamburg High School in 1962, and attended Henderson State College then UAMS. She was licensed as a medical technologist, working at UAMS and the hospital in Warren. She met the love of her life, soldier Jimmy Wayne Minshew, while they were both in summer school at Arkansas A&M and they married in December of 1966, starting 42 wonderful years of marriage that included years of travel as an officer’s wife, stationed at Army bases in Germany and in many states. After Jimmy's retirement, they settled and started a beautiful home in Austin, Arkansas, where they were joined by their two beloved children and their evolving menagerie of cats, dogs, and horses. As an adored mother and Nana, she loved sharing her love of animals, education, and Elvis's music and movies.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Ret. Maj. Jimmy Wayne Minshew, and her parents Lois Kathryn and William Clark "Buddy" Atkins.

Left to remember her sharp wit, fierce honesty, and love of sports are her brother, Gary Atkins of Maumelle, her sister, Debbie and brother-in-law Benjamin Carpenter of Hamburg; her children, Angelica Witcher (Eric) of Beebe and Joshua Minshew; a daughter-in-law, Kathryn Hodges; nine grandchildren, Ashlyn Rycraw (Lee), Shaye Allen (Dontrell), Taylor Bradshaw, Scarlett Witcher, Dawson Witcher, Austin Minshew, Jordan Minshew (Kira), Ava Minshew, Hunter Minshew; three bonus grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Funeral services are 11 a.m., Friday, March 7, 2025, in the Jones-Hartshorn Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Gary Clark Atkins, Jr. and Jim Atkins officiating. Burial will be in Pinewood Memorial Park. Pallbearers are Jim Atkins, Dontrell Allen, Lee Rycraw, Ilya Gordeev, Benjamin Carpenter and Jonathan Carpenter. Memorials may be made to P.A.W.S., 1322 N. Cherry Street, Hamburg, AR 71646. 

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m., Thursday at the funeral home.