Pearl Reeves Airhart was born on July 28, 1927 and left this world in the company of Jesus on July 7, 2024. 

Over the course of her nearly 97 years, Pearl lived a life of faith and service, filled with love, joy, curiosity and courage. Although she died less than one mile from where she was born in the Barnes Creek area, she traveled the United States from coast-to-coast and visited many countries around the world.

Pearl graduated from Reeves High School in 1944 and attended Louisiana State Normal School, now Northwestern State University, for one and a half years before marrying Eldridge Airhart in 1946. After raising their three children, Pearl returned to college and graduated from McNeese State University with her BA in 1976, at the age of 49. Widowed less than three months later, Pearl always gave thanks that she could graduate with her teaching degree so that she could provide for herself. Pearl went on to receive her MA in 1980. She taught at Reeves High School until her retirement in 1995. 

In 1985, Pearl studied for and received a certificate in missions from Moody Bible Institute, then took a sabbatical to go teach school in Honduras. That trip led to the founding, building, and ongoing support of a school that has since been named in her honor, Escuela Perla. She was a co-founder of Principio, a missions organization, which has continued to grow in service to the Honduran people since 2008, building more schools, homes, clinics, and churches. The year before she retired, in 1993 to 1994, Pearl also spent a year teaching at a mission school in Brazil.

Bookending her teaching career, Pearl sold Avon and was a consistently top-performing and award-winning representative. After first selling it in the 60’s, she was pleased to report that most of her customers returned when she came back to it in the 90’s!

In both her personal and professional life, Pearl lived according to the example she saw in Jesus and was a life-long example for others.

Pearl is preceded in death by her parents, Marion and Dora Reeves; her husband, Eldridge; seven brothers, Jennings, Herman, Oliver, Ray, Eugene, Oscar, and Mancel; one sister, Della, and her great-grandson, Keenan.

Pearl is survived by her baby sister, Bonnie; her three children, Brenda, Joel, and Melvin; 10 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren. Pearl’s immediate and extended family loved her more than words can say, and she was loved by friends, neighbors, and community members the world over.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, July 27, 2024, in the Ethel Green Chapel at Camp Pearl at 5 p.m. The family will welcome visitors from 3 p.m. until the start of services.