Bill Aldon Dixon passed away on Sunday, April 18, at the age of 83. Bill was born July 19, 1937 in Habersham, Georgia as the only child of William Ellis Dixon and Audrey Sosebee Dixon. After high school, Bill attended Truett-McConnell Junior College and Carson Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee. Bill spent two years teaching Biology at Truett-McConnell before studying at George Peabody College and receiving a Master of Arts in Education. Bill assumed he would spend his career teaching but was surprised by an invitation to join Ouachita Baptist University as Dean of Students. Bill and Snookie moved to Arkadelphia, Arkansas in 1970. During his administrative career, Bill was co-founder of a national professional organization (BASA) with forty-two Baptist-related colleges and universities participating. Bill retired from Ouachita in 2003 as the Vice President for Student Services, but remained for three additional years with the International Program. Bill was an active member of First Baptist Church of Arkadelphia where he was a Deacon, committee member, teacher, etc. In 1988, he was also one of the organizers of AMOR (Amazon Mission Organization) which was founded to take mission groups to remote regions of the Amazon Basin. He was honored by BASA and by Truett McConnell University as Alumnus of the year. Bill is survived by his wife of 56 years, Snookie Dixon and three sons; David (Dana) of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Chris (Misti) Dixon of Amity, Arkansas, Humoy Ravshanov of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and five grandchildren, Hannah Dixon, Erica Dixon, Samantha Dixon, Olivia Dixon and Sawyer Dixon. Celebration of life service to be held Sunday April 25th at First Baptist Church Arkadelphia. Visitation from 3:00 to 4:00 with service to follow. Memorial gifts may be made to Ouachita Baptist University, The Bill and Snookie Dixon Endowed Scholarship for International Studies, 410 Ouachita Street, Arkadelphia, AR 71998.

Millie Gill, 86, went home to be with the Lord on April 12th of 2021 in Grandview, Texas. Millie was a faithful servant for her Lord throughout her life. Millie worked at the Arkansas Baptist News for a number of years where she wore many hats. She played the piano beautifully. She enjoyed reading and cross-stitch and the light of her life was her grandson, Stephen Gartrell. Widowed at a very young age, Millie raised a daughter that she also adored. You were not able to spend more than ten minutes with Millie without hearing about her wonderful family. She was so very proud of all of them. Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Lucretia Gartrell and spouse, Steve; sister, Loretta (Jim) Tidwell; grandson Stephen (Erika) Gartrell and great granddaughter, Leslie Gartrell, as well as several nieces and nephews and numerous friends. A private memorial will be held in Joshua, Texas on May 8. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made in Millie’s memory to the Arkansas Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries, 10 Remington Drive, Little Rock AR 72204.

James Monroe Wilson, age 90, of Rogers, formerly of Little Rock died Friday, April 2, 2021 at Circle of Life Hospice located in Springdale. He was born December 9, 1930 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas the son of John and Lillian Wilson. He married his wife, Betty Marie Miller in 1953, whom he met while attending Ouachita Baptist University. After graduating, Ouachita, he earned his Masters of Divinity degree from Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Following his graduation he pastored churches in Little Rock and Gurdon, Arkansas, then moved his family to Brazil, where he served as a missionary with the International Mission Board for seven years. Following his service on the mission field, he returned to Arkansas in 1970 to serve as pastor of Little Rock’s Baptist Tabernacle, which became Parkway Place Baptist Church when it relocated to western Little Rock. Retiring in 1995, he and Betty served in Germany as missionaries. He and Betty retired and moved to Benton, Arkansas then to Rogers in 2010 to be surrounded by their children and grandchildren. They have been members of First Baptist Rogers since that move. He was preceded in death by his parents and his two brothers, Bruce Wilson and Norton Wilson. James is survived by: his wife of 68 years; Betty Wilson; one son John Wilson and his wife Becky, of Dallas, Texas; two daughters, Debbie Johnson and her husband Gerald of Fayetteville, Victori “Vicki” Wagner and her husband Brice of Rogers, six grandchildren; Jill Goodwin and her husband Clay, Jennifer Richard and her husband Nathan, Ty Wagner and his wife Sara, Brook Smith and her husband Aaron, Rachael Heerwagen and her husband Ryan, and Ben Wilson and his wife Christian; and six great-grandchildren. Memorials may be sent to: Mission Dignity, which helps pastors’ widows with insufficient incomes, or Circle of Life Hospice.

Rev. Lewis Orus Gentry, 71, of Prescott, Arkansas passed away on March 25 at Baptist Health in North Little Rock. Lewis was born on Jan. 24, 1950 in Nashville, Arkansas to the late Irene and Robert Gentry. He served as a pastor in the Southern Baptist Church. Lewis married Nina Coats on August 19 1972, the love of his life for 48 years. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State University and a Masters in Divinity from Mid America Baptist Theological Seminary. Lewis became an ordained minister in 1976. He served in the mission field for three years and worked as a pastor for 45 years. He was also a teacher for several years. He is survived by his wife Nina Gentry, his two sons, Philip Gentry (Tarah) of Delight and Daniel Gentry of Chicago, IL, brothers Bobby Gentry (Mapra) of Bentron, John Gentry (Dianne) of Hope, Dennis Gentry (Annette) of Mineral Springs, Gary Gentry of Stamps, Ralph Gentry (Rita) of Saginaw, TX and Anthony Gentry (Angie) of Hope, four grandsons, Tyler Gentry of Monticello, Rhett Gentry of Magnolia, Dawson Gentry of Delight and Andrew Gentry of Monticello, and great granddaughter Adalyn Gentry of Monticello. A memorial service was held on April 3rd at Marlbrook Baptist Church in Blevins, Arkansas

Paul McClung, 80, of Sherwood passed away peacefully March 14, 2021 at his residence. Paul was born in Hartford, Arkansas to the late J.A. and Minnie McClung. He received an MDiv from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and pastored churches in Kentucky and Arkansas for 55 years. He also served on the Evangelism team at the Arkansas Baptist State Convention for 12 years. He retired from ministry from First Baptist Sherwood in 2009. Survivors include his wife of nearly 55 years, Linda McClung; children: Dave and Christy McClung and Stacy and Carl Jaglal; grandchildren: Sydney, Austin, Carson, and Maggie McClung, Tiffany and Alexa Jaglal, Casey and Jacob Roberts; great-grandson, Amir Stephenson; and sisters: Wanda Millican and Paul’s twin, Thelma Gibson; as well as several extended family members. He was preceded in death by one brother, John McClung, and two sisters, Naomi Parker and Wilma Yocum.

David Blase died on February 23, 2021 at the age of 8o. He was born on December 2, 1940 in Decatur, Texas, the son of Charlie and Nora Blase. He attended Decatur Baptist College where he surrendered to preach sixty years ago. He then attended Ouachita Baptist College in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He later received his Doctor of Ministry degree, but never wanted people to use that title. In his mind, and in the minds of all who knew him, he was “Bro. David.” He pastored churches in Arkansas, Texas, and Kansas. He served First Baptist Church of Nashville, Arkansas for twenty-five years, and most recently served as Interim Pastor at First Baptist Church, Dierks, Arkansas. For fifty-seven years he faithfully walked hand in hand with the rose of his heart—Anna. He is survived by two sons and their wives—John David and Meredith Blase, and Shawn and Tonja Blase; five grandchildren—Mikaela and Jessie Walker, Will Blase, Sarah Blase, Mikenzie Blase, and Abbey Blase. The grandchildren always affectionately called him “Papa,” and they were the apples of his eye. Other survivors include one brother—Olin Blase; one brother-in-law and sister-in-law—David and Priscilla Taylor; one nephew—Curtis Blase; four nieces and their husbands and families—Kim Blase and her children Kelsey and Josh—Jenny and Robert Cervantes and their children Alexander and Emily and Jet— Rebekka and Austin Sebranek and their children Gabe and Logan and Jake—and Amanda and John Hardaway and their children Jack and Sam and Abby. The words “kind” and “generous” describe David Blase to a T. His family said, “He never met a man he didn’t like.” David and Anna worked as a team to provide for their family and to serve God’s larger family in the churches he pastored. If he could see the wonderful outpouring of love today, He’d without a doubt say, “Oh my soul.” Memorials can be made to First Baptist Church , P.O. Box 438 Dierks, Arkansas 71833