Funeral services for Arnell Mayes will be held at 1:00 PM, Wednesday, August 5, 2015 in the chapel of Kilpatrick Funeral Home West Monroe with Rev. Betty Swanson officiating. Interment will follow at Salem Cemetery, Eros, LA, under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home.Eunice Arnell Mayes is now a beautiful Angel singing in the Heavenly Chorus. She reached this destination August 1, 2015 at 4:08 PM a trip she had been preparing for-for many years.Nell was born into a large loving family on January 2, 1936 in Jackson Parish. She faced many challenges, being born with a handicap-one hand and other structured problems, but somehow Nell just never caught on to the fact that she had a handicap. Nell finished high school in 1955 then set out to work in church. She helped many years in Children Church at Southside UMC with Rev. Lea Joyner when the church was located on Temple Drive. Since Nell taught herself to read music she was instrumental in the music department of Children Church.Nell was a wonderful poet, a published song writer and her poetry appeared in Christian publications. She was also an accomplished seamstress and made her very own clothes until the 1970 when eye sight began to fail her. Nell always surrounded herself with quality people. Dr. Leary and Rev. Lea Joyner were in her conversations until the end, and now they have been reunited. Her nieces and nephews were her children. We dared not punish them in her presence, she loved her cousins as well.Growing up, Nell was a very athletic person, she had a very competitive spirit and it was a lot of fun playing with her. This competitive spirit as she became an adult, helped her succeed in many areas. But her first love was Jesus Christ. She loved to get at the old piano and bang out those hymns of praise as family sang. Our children would be hanging on us whimpering, but she would not take no as an answer.Arnell was preceded in death by her parents, Henry C. Mayes and Geneva Neal Mayes, three siblings, Henry L. Mayes, Lucille and Mary Anniree and 2 nieces, Sherri Edwards Mills and Beverly Ann Griggs.Left to carry on her legacy are her 4 siblings, Elsie Cordani of League City, Texas, Reva and Jesse Griggs of Texas City, TX, Hazel and Jim Coker of Shepherd, TX, Ruby M. Williams, Arnell companion and care giver of Monroe.A very special thanks to the compassionate, professional nurses and entire staff on 6th floor at St. Francis, Dr. ONeal and Dr. Barron for their caring efforts.Special friends of more than 40 years are Rev. Betty Swanson and Elaine Chapman, and a dear friend, Shirley Mayhar of West Monroe.Memorials in Arnell name can be made to: Lea Joyner Memorial UMC, Sanctuary Fund, 4390 Old Sterlington Road, Monroe, LA 71203.Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 5, 2015 from 11:00 AM until service time at Kilpatrick Funeral Home West Monroe.