2025.03.27 THROW BACK THURSDAY - A+ EDUCATION STILL GOING STRONG AT LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL PLUS CLASS NEWS

THROW BACK THURSDAY - A+ EDUCATION STILL GOING STRONG AT LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL   PLUS CLASS NEWS

The LR Central High Quiz Bowl team is the 7A AGQBA Central Region Champion!

They went undefeated, averaging an impressive 352 points per game. Senior Jeffrey

Robinson earned MVP honors with 20 points per game! Now, they’re headed to the

7A State Finals as the #1 seed on April 12. Let’s cheer them on as they go for the state title!

1956 CLASS NEWS

Jane Goodwin Davis

March 15, 1938 – February 18, 2024

Jane Davis of Fort Smith, Ark., died Sunday afternoon, Feb. 18, in hospice care at Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith. She was 85. Heaven is joyful to welcome her, where she is happy and whole in her Lord’s presence.  She was born March 15, 1938, in the Olena community near DeWitt, Ark., to Harry and Mary Mae Goodwin. She attended public school in Marshall and  . Etched among her most precious childhood memories was the moment when she “received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior as a child in Vacation Bible School at Beech Street First Baptist Church in Texarkana, Arkansas.”  Jane completed a bachelor's degree in Home Economics at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in August 1959.  Jane taught in public schools for 31 years in the fields of science, home economics, and elementary education. She spent the last 21 years teaching first grade at Ballman Elementary.  Alongside her professional commitment to education and the parenting of her own two children, Jane also taught sixth-grade Sunday School at First Baptist Church of Fort Smith, where she also served as an AWANAs Table Leader and loved teaching Vacation Bible School. Perhaps her greatest passion was for telling the stories of Jesus in any setting or program she was called to serve. Hundreds of children who attended FBC classes were blessed by her love for the Lord Jesus and for all His children. Along with Herbert, Jane was active and faithful in the adult Sunday School program at First Baptist, where she was a member for 63 years. Dedicated to spreading the Gospel message wherever and whenever possible, both Jane and Herbert participated in the training of international missionaries through Evangelism Explosion in the 1970s and 80s.  Throughout her 63-year marriage to Herbert, her teaching career, and her hobbies, Jane loved family best of all, completely devoted to her spouse and children, as well as extended family and friends who she treated like family. The Davis home was a haven for kids, teens, kinfolk, college groups, church leadership, lay people in missions, personal friends, and colleagues. It has always been known as a place of welcome, joy, and comfort. And food. Really, really good food.  Jane is survived by her husband, Herbert V. “Bubba” Davis of Fort Smith; one son, Louis Davis of Springhill, Tenn.; one daughter, Barbara Davis Woodring and her husband David of Fort Smith; four grandchildren, Drake Davis, Sydney Davis, Woody Woodring and Abigail Woodring; nine nieces and nephews; and many great nieces and nephews. She is also fondly remembered by scores of former students in public schools and church who she mothered as committedly as she taught.  She is preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Kay Goodwin Coleman of Little Rock; and her brother James “Jim” Goodwin of Little Rock.

James Larry Whitley Obituary

We are sad to announce that on November 10, 2023, at the age of 85, James Larry Whitley of Houston, Texas, born in Little Rock, Arkansas passed away. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family.  He was predeceased by: his parents, James Lothail Whitley and Wilma Corder. He is survived by: his wife Patricia Ann Whitley; his sister Sharon Mosley; and his children, James Larry Whitley Jr., Steven Michael Whitley Sr. (Tammy Whitley), Suzanne Whitley Watkins and Jennifer Whitley Shearer (Daniel Francis Shearer). He is also survived by twelve Grandchildren, sixteen Great-grandchildren, and many Nieces and Nephews.  Larry suffered from Alzheimers.

IF YOU LIVE IN THE LITTLE ROCK AREA AND HAVE HEARD OF LIFE QUEST, please note that our own JOE CROW will be hosting an 8-week class in INSIGHTS ON RUSSIA AND THE SOVIET UNION.  I will give you more information next Thursday.  Hopefully you can sign up for Joe's Class.  Registration is open now.  Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Drive.  (501) 225-6073

1954 CLASS NEWS

 Robert Larry “Bob” Creighton, West Fargo, passed away March 2, 2025, at 2:28pm, at home. Husband and father, Bob had been married to Kathleen since 1958 -- 66+ years! Robert “Bob” was born February 3, 1936. Bob was the oldest child of James Robert “Jimmy” and Priscilla Eugenia “Coupe” (Gordon) Creighton. With sisters Margaret (Creighton) Harding and Jean (Creighton) Noble, he was raised in Little Rock AR. Bob attended East Side Jr. High, Little Rock Central High School and Little Rock Jr. College. He began playing saxophone and clarinet in the 4th grade. In junior high he was band Quartermaster. In high school he became marching band Drum Major. Bob was a member of the AR National Guard Army Band. In 1957, Governor Faubus called out the Guard, as integration of Little Rock Central High began. President Eisenhower federalized the Guard, discharged them, and brought in replacement troops. In Little Rock, Bob was employed with Treadway Electric and played in local dance bands. In 1965, the family spent a year in Oklahoma. Kathleen had hoped to return to North Dakota. So, after Kelly completed kindergarten in Tulsa, the family relocated to West Fargo. Bob took a position with Dakota Electric Supply Company which became Dakota Supply Group (DSG). He retired in 2001. In Fargo-Moorhead from 1966 to 2018 Bob’s music experience included Lake Agassiz Concert Band (now L  

Bob was introduced to handball by brother-in-law Gene F. Lenzmeier. Bob then joined players at the YMCA and participated in the annual Rudy Harris Tournaments. He also played in the 9th World Championship in Winnipeg, Canada in 1999. During years in Arkansas, Bob and Kathleen enjoyed dancing to famous Big Bands. In North Dakota, they joined the Marathon Dance Club. Bob realized his sailing dream when the couple was invited by Skipper Gene Johnson and First Mate Maureta Studebaker to take annual sails on Lake Superior (Apostle Islands). Downhill skiing was not a goal, but when the chance popped up at age 65, Bob and Kathleen tried the sport in Breckenridge CO and White Fish MT. Bob’s SERTOMA membership gave fellowship and service opportunities. He directed riders in Multiple Sclerosis Bike rides. Time in Florida and Arkansas was a nice break from North Dakota winters. The couple joined the choir at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in West Fargo from 1983 to 2023. Bob’s gentle style, gracious demeanor and patience made him easy to be around. Beginning in 2012 he dealt with health issues, which led to a Parkinson’s diagnosis by 2018. In late February, Bob was admitted to Sanford Hospice. Parkinson’s disease had taken its toll. His family appreciated Hospice support. Bob lasted until Sunday, March 2. He had turned 89 on February 3, 2025. 

  Bob is survived by wife Kathleen (Lenzmeier) Creighton, daughter Kelly, son-in-law David Gooch, sisters Margaret Harding and Jean Creighton Noble, VA,  and generations of nephews and nieces. 

********************************************************************************************************************************************

ML