Obituaries

DEATHS FOR MONDAY, MAY 12, 2008

Monday, May 12, 2008 10:22 AM CDT

Samuel Jones

Bishop Samuel Lee Jones was born Feb. 5, 1937 in Little Rock to Ouida Mae Hardy. God looked down and was well pleased with Bishop Jones' work; so he called his servant home to claim his rewards on May 7, 2008. He was preceded in death by his mother and his stepfather, the late District Elder William Wilkerson.

He attended Old Gibbs Elementary School in Little Rock until the age of 10. He graduated from C.P. Coleman High School in Pine Bluff in 1956. He attended college at Harris-Stowe Teacher's College in St. Louis. He also completed extended courses from Aenon Bible School of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World of Columbus, Ohio.

At the age of 19, he moved to St. Louis to be with his mother and stepfather. While in St. Louis, he was employed by Barnes Hospital as a Laboratory Technician. He also worked for Dow Chemical Company in Madison, Ill. While in Pine Bluff, he was employed by Florida Drum and Trefilarbed Arkansas.

He was baptized in the Name of Jesus at the tender age of 6 and he received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost at the age of 18 at the Church of Jesus Christ in Pine Bluff under the leadership of the late Bishop A.J. Streets. He later joined Bethesda Temple Apostolic Church in St. Louis under the leadership of Bishop James A. Johnson. While there, he served in various capacities that included President of the Pastor's Aide Department and Chairman of the Youth Department for the Midwestern District Council of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW). He was later named Assistant Pastor of Bethesda Temple Apostolic Church.

On April 23, 1960, Samuel L. Jones and Beverly A. Brown were united in holy matrimony. To this union, five children were born.

Bishop Jones and his wife moved to St. Charles, Mo., in 1970. They joined Grace Gospel Temple Apostolic Church under the leadership of the late Elder Jessie Watts. Bishop Samuel & Evangelist Beverly Jones worked together in ministry in and around the St. Charles and Wright City, Mo., areas for many years.

In 1985, Bishop Jones moved his family to Pine Bluff. He founded Grace Apostolic Faith Church the first Sunday of December, 1985.

He truly loved the word of God and numerous genres of gospel, orchestra and big band style music, which was evident by his amazing collection of albums, tapes and compact discs that he loved to play very loudly throughout the house. His ministry surrounded beautiful gospel music that people loved hearing him sing locally and regionally. Most importantly, Bishop Jones led, guided and mentored many men and women in ministry from various cities throughout the U.S., who later blossomed into bishops, pastors, evangelists, prophets and prophetesses.

Bishop Jones cared about his family, church members and the overall community - especially young people. During the early years of his life, he marched for equality during the Civil Rights Movement. Later in his life, he advocated for residents of long-term care facilities that included nursing homes and assisted living facilities. He did this by serving as a Volunteer Ombudsman for Area Agency on Aging of Pine Bluff and Arkansas' Long-term Care Ombudsman Program. In addition, he served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Dianne's Adult Health Day Care Center in Pine Bluff.

He leaves to cherish his fond and loving memories, his wife of forty-eight years, Beverly Ann Jones; one daughter, Kimberly Jones Sneed of Pine Bluff; four sons, Brian Jones (Judy) of St. Louis, Samuel Bernard Jones of Pine Bluff, Mark Jones (Kenyetta) of Memphis and Benjamin Jones (Wauketa) of Mansfield, Texas; two sisters, Marian Wright of Pine Bluff and Laura Manning (Milton) of St. Louis; five grandchildren, Le'Annah, Candace, Brianna, Darius and Jaylon; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Bishop Jones touched countless lives and leaves behind a legacy that will never be forgotten.

Services will be held Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 11 a.m. at Saint James United Methodist Church in Pine Bluff by Suffragan Bishop Lawrence E. Brown, Sr. The body will lie in state at the church from 10 to 11 a.m.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home in Pine Bluff. Family Hour will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Interment will be at Cypress Memorial Garden in Pine Bluff.

Travis Richart

FORDYCE — Infant Travis Walter Richart of Fordyce died May 6, 2008 at Pine Bluff.

Survivors include his parents, Steven and Tonya Richart of Fordyce; brother and sister, Jimmy and Clara Richart of Fordyce; paternal grandparents Bubba and Wanda Richart of Kingsland; and maternal grandparents Charlie and Sheila Potter of Fordyce.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Kingsland Cemetery by Benton Funeral Home of Fordyce.

Online register: bentonfuneralhome.com.

Madeline Bryant

WARREN — Madeline Utter Cornett Bryant, 96, of Warren, died Saturday.

She was born Aug. 7, 1911 at Kingsland, a daughter of the late Andrew Jackson Utter and Mattie Parnell Utter.

She was a retired sitter, a charter member of Faith Freewill Baptist Church and the widow of Ernest Clyde Cornett and A.E. Bryant.

Survivors include three daughters; a daughter-in-law; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services 10 a.m. Tuesday at Frazer’s Funeral Home. Burial in Willoughby Cemetery.

Visitation 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Online guestbook: www.frazerfuneralhome.com

DALLAS — Reggie J. Lampkin of Dallas, formerly of Pine Bluff died May 11, 2008 in Dallas. Arrangements by Henson Mortuary.Obits

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