Mary Elizabeth Gage Pilcher, 59, of Jonesboro, died May 9, 2003, at St. Bernard's Medical Center.

She had lived in the Jonesboro area all of her life. She was on the faculty of Central Elementary in Trumann. She was a teacher for 39 years and had been awarded School Teacher of the Year for 2001-2002. She was a member of the Church of Christ and Delta Kappa Gamma. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Pilcher, and her parents, Cecil A. Gage and Verna Daugherty Gage.

She is survived by one sister, Nancy Kay Gage of North Little Rock; one nephew, Matt Herring of Little Rock; two nieces, Shanda Taylor of Rocky Mount, N.C. and Sherri Cherry of Little Rock and 10 great-nieces and nephews, Justin, Amber and Sean Huggins, Kevin and Holly Cherry, Stasha Burton and Jessica, Erica, Alex and Logan Herring.

The funeral was Monday, May 12, at Roller Farmers Union Chapel in Jonesboro. Kevin Edgar officiated the ceremony. Place of burial was at Philadelphia Cemetery. Active pallbearers were Justin Huggins, Kevin Cherry, Phillip Ballard, Bobby Benson, Cecil Daves and Richard Taylor. Honorary pallbearers were Oliver Worley, Richard Pilcher, Sonny Ballard and Randy Pilcher.