Ada Mae Hunt Arwood was brought home to the Lord on August 2nd, 2023. She was 104 years old. This is a celebration of life for the inspiring and impressive woman that Ada was.

Ada was born on April 4th, 1919 in Randolph, Tennessee to Quentin Doward Hunt and Bettie Mae Curlin Hunt. She was one of four siblings: Ida Lucille Hunt, William Milton Hunt, and Bettie Louise Hunt. After her mother passed away while she was in the 7th grade, Ada decided to leave school and help her father with their family. This challenging and questionable time in her life allowed Ada to grow into the strong woman we will always remember her as.

One hot Summer day in Memphis, Tennessee, Ada was at the Malone Public Swimming Pool on Second Street. She had her back pressed up against the chain linked fence, watching everyone enjoy the pretty day. As she tried to walk away from the fence, she found herself stuck. Someone had tied her bathing suit straps to the links of the fence. Little did she know that someone was Lee Eugene Arwood, the man she would fall in love and start a family with. Lee and Ada married on June 17th 1938 in Hernando, Mississippi. The two eventually grew their family and had 6 children together: Loreita and Juanita, Wanda, Martha, Richard, and Donna.

Ada was known to be one of the best cooks to anyone who crossed paths with her. Some family members vividly remember Ada plucking the Thanksgiving turkey so bald that it reflected in the light. She would spend hours removing every single last pith of an orange for the ambrosia salad on Christmas. From her perfect turkey and dressing to her sweet coconut cake, Ada's legacy in southern cuisine will be passed on for many generations to come.

Ada was a lifelong member of Southaven First United Methodist Church and had a very strong Christian Faith throughout her 104 years of life. She spent the last 12 years of her life at Wesley Meadows in Hernando, Mississippi. She created many relationships and friendships with staff and residents.

Ada was preceded in death by her parents Quentin D. Hunt and Bettie Mae Curlin Hunt, husband Lee Eugene Arwood, brother William Milton Hunt, sisters Ida Lucille Hunt and Bettie Mae Hunt, son Richard Arwood, granddaughter Judi Olsen, and her great grandson Samuel Ellis Davis. She is survived by her daughters Loreita Puryear (Kenny), Juanita Johnson (Johnny), Wanda Arnold (Paul), Martha Davis, and Donna Arwood, in addition to 9 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, 3 great great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

The celebration of life will be held at 12:00 p.m. Monday, August 14th, at Southaven First United Methodist Church with visitation from 11:00 am -12:00 pm before the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations on behalf of Ada Arwood to be sent to Wesley Meadows, in Hernando, Mississippi