Helen Laverne Gilbert, 79, of Pleasant Plains, AR, passed away Monday, September 23, 2024. She was born June 7, 1945, to the late Harvey and Ethel (Allender) Mathes, in Tulare, CA. Laverne served her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and was a faithful member of Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Pleasant Plains, since 1963. She loved ministering to the sick with uplifting cards, phone calls, and prayer. She enjoyed being outside tending to her roses and a variety of other flowers. Laverne was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend whose memory will forever be cherished by those who love her.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband of 58 years, Noel Gilbert; 2 brothers, Edward Mathes and Leon Mathes; 4 sisters, Delpha Ford, Doris Baker, Mildred Osbourn, and Thelma Acklin. Survivors include her daughter, Helen Huskey (Bill); her son, Russell Gilbert (Susie); 7 grandchildren, Matthew Norris (Nicole), Sean Gilbert, Shelbi Davis (Richard), Cody Willard, Chelsea Ronning (Patrick), Courtney Willard, and Casey Willard; 9 great-grandchildren, Hayes Norris, Grant Norris, Bo Gilbert, Olivia Davis, Oaklynn Davis, Octavia Davis, Kenna Davis, Kynnedi Ronning, and Jayden Ronning.

Services are entrusted to Willis Funeral Service of Batesville, AR. Visitation will be held at Willis Funeral Service Chapel on Friday, September 27, 2024, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Pleasant Plains on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 10 a.m., with interment to follow at Union Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:  Union Grove Cemetery Fund, 3340 Batesville Blvd, Batesville, AR, 72501; or, Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church Attn: Building Fund, PO Box 70, Pleasant Plains, AR, 72568.