“She loved this store with her whole heart and put so much love and care into everything about it.”

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A community is mourning after the founder and co-owner of Fayetteville bookstore Pearl’s Books passed away this week.

Leah died on July 14, according to a post made by her husband, Daniel, on the company’s social media. He said the store they owned together was a labor of love.

“She was the spark and driving force behind making this place come together. I have always been a little hesitant to jump into new things, but her energy, enthusiasm, and courage are infectious. She loved this store with her whole heart and put so much love and care into everything about it,” the post said.

Daniel thanked the store’s employees who he said kept the place running while Leah was sick, saying, “I can’t imagine Pearl’s being the place it is without each of their influence.”

“Pearl’s is a legacy that proves that Leah’s love for reading, community, and Fayetteville particularly will live on long after her physical body. I love you all so much,” Daniel added.

Pearl’s Books shared that Leah’s memorial will be 3:30 p.m. on Friday, July 18, at St. Paul’s Episcopal in Fayetteville. The store will be closed that day.

Comments offering well-wishes, memories of Leah, and love for her family and community have flooded in not just from Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas but from across the country.

Dickson Street Bookshop, which itself mourned the passing of its owner in 2024, encouraged support of Pearl’s during this time.

“Our book loving community just suffered a huge loss. And our hearts are broken for Daniel and our sweet friends at Pearl’s. Please support them whenever you can. May Leah’s legacy live on for many, many years to come,” the store said.

Fort Smith bookstore Bookish called Leah a “powerhouse,” noting that she had made a haven for readers in Arkansas.

“Our hearts are heavy with the loss of a true powerhouse in the Northwest Arkansas literary world. Leah was a gem. Her passion built more than just a bookstore; it built a haven for readers. Our book community is better because of the work Leah did,” Bookish said. “To the Pearl’s Books family: as we mourn alongside you, we will celebrate the incredible life of Leah. We will be thinking of you during this difficult time.”