Poinsett County lost one of its finest Christmas Eve with the death of longtime newspaper publisher Hazel Garvey Freeman. Freeman died at the age of 91 at her home in Harrisburg Sunday.

For 50 years Freeman was actively involved in the operation of the Modern News at Harrisburg, a publication that has been owned and operated by the Freeman family since 1888.

For Freeman, publishing a community newspaper was much more than an occupation and a way of earning a living. It was a way of life and an extension of her very personality. She spent more than half her life writing about and recording the births, deaths and weddings of generations of Poinsett County residents. Through her column "Around the Town," she chronicled the events in the lives of local residents.

In 1976 she took over the duties as publisher following the death of her husband, L.D. Freeman Jr., son of the founder of the Modern News. She and Mr. Freeman were married in 1937.

Mrs. Freeman retired as the publisher in November 2001.

In February 2002 she was recognized and presented a Golden 50 Award during the Arkansas Press Association's Winter Convention in Little Rock.

Mrs. Freeman was born May 19, 1915, at Parkin to the late H.T. and Marie Berry Garvey.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Katherine Louise Horton.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, David and Nancy Freeman of Atlanta; a daughter, son-in-law and grandson, Elaine Freeman Nix, Charles Nix and Mark Nix of Harrisburg.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church at Harrisburg, where she had served many years as secretary of Sunday schools, Sunday school teacher, member of the choir and on the Administrative Board and the Council on Ministries.

She was a charter member of the Progressive Century Club where she held offices of president, vice president, secretary, reporter and treasurer. Mrs. Freeman also served in various local organizations such as the Harrisburg PTA, Band Boosters, Friends of the Library, United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Arkansas State Museum.

In 1995 she was recognized by the community by being asked to serve as the grand marshall of the Harrisburg Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 27 at First United Methodist Church at Harrisburg. Burial followed in Harrisburg Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Weston Funeral Service of Harrisburg.

Pallbearers were Mark Morgan, Bart Faulkner, Greg Reddmann, Michael Ames, Larry Jennings and Buzzy Faulkner.

Honorary pallbearers were Danny Clements, Larry Reddmann, Clyde Ford, Jerry Heeb, Don Morgan, Roy Shepherd, Tom Wimpy, Kenneth Branum, Jim Tom Butler, Jerry Rieathbaum, J.F. Winningham, Barry Walls, Bill Carwell, Donald Parker, Twila Ford, Johnita Faulkner, Sharon Heeb, Becky Jennings, Lou Anne Clements, Bonnie Reddmann and members of the Progressive Century Club.