Wanda Jean Gaston, age 77, of Sparkman, passed from this life on Thursday, March 17, 2022, at St. John’s Place in Fordyce. She was born July 25, 1944, in Camden, the daughter of the late Garland and Juanita Dunlap Gaston. After graduation from Sparkman High School Wanda attended and graduated with honors from Ouachita Baptist University. She was a member of the Ouachita Tigeretts basketball team and they won the 1962-1963 AAU State Championship. 

After graduation Wanda taught school in Mississippi and Missouri. She then moved to Los Angeles, where she studied photography and finally found what she loved. Wanda moved back to Arkansas, where she and her friend Mary Norwood organized Gaston/Norwood Photography. They loved doing weddings, baby and family portraits. They were asked to do photographs for President Bill Clinton’s inauguration ball in Washington D.C. This was one of many highlights of her life. She was preceded in death by her parents and one nephew, Johnny Gaston.

Wanda is survived by her brother, Tommy Gaston (Linda) of Sparkman; one niece, Angel Pigott (Walt) of Sparkman; two nephews, Larry and Mike Gaston, both of Sparkman; 11 great-nieces and great-nephews; one great-great-grandniece; and four great-great-grandnephews.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, March 21, 2022, at First Baptist Church of Sparkman with Rev. Peggy Abbott officiating. 

Visitation will be from 2 p.m. until service time Monday at the church.

Interment will be in Sparkman Cemetery.

Nephews will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Sparkman.

Final arrangements are entrusted to The Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia.  Visit www.welchfh.net to sign the guest book.