Henry Lee Gilkey, Jr., 74 of Sherwood, Arkansas; a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, friend and Popee peacefully passed on January 5, 2019 at 1:14 am at Hospice Home Care, Inpatient Center on 2200 Bowman Road in Little Rock, Arkansas after a long courageous battle with heart disease, strokes and other complications.
He was born on August 31, 1944 in Danville, Arkansas to the late Henry Lee Gilkey, Sr. and Willie Mae Love Gilkey. He was the sixth of twelve children, better known as Junior, Big Dawg, Uncle Dawg, Dr. Dirt and Gilkey.
He began his adult life after graduating from L.W. Sullivan High School in Morrilton, Arkansas by moving to Little Rock, Arkansas to attend Barber College. His country was in need of a few good men and he was drafted into the US Army during the Vietnam Era. Following his time in service he married his sweetheart, Patricia Ann May from Clarksville, Arkansas on December 23, 1967. To this union, one child was born, Shanda Leigh.
The G.I. Bill provided his opportunity to attend college at U.A.L.R. where he played shortstop on the baseball team. After two years he followed his friends and attended Arkansas Baptist College where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science later obtaining graduate hours from Ouachita Baptist College.
In his professional career, he worked at various jobs. For example: Teletype, Timex, Taxis Cab Driver,Trained school bus drivers, Horticulture teacher several summers months at Petit Jean State Park, Middle School Social Studies Teacher for one semester where he decided being inside every day was not for him. He decided to open his own Barber Shop in North Little Rock,Arkansas. His love for the outdoors lead him to opening his own Lawn Care Business.
Both Barbering and Lawn Care were interchangeable. He worked both jobs until his health failed.
He attended Trinity United Methodist Church in Danville during his youth. After moving to North Little Rock he united with Lee Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) where he became famous for his cooking, especially his smoked turkey legs and his large smoker named “Bruiser!”
Gilkey was a people person and spent his life mentoring young men and extended family members. He gave them jobs that helped financially while learning life’s lessons on how to work,how to be a man and to quote several of them, ”to know that you should go to school so you never have to do that kind of work again!!” He never told them he had a degree.
He participated in numerous projects. He was often found cooking for every church that asked him. His favorite project was cooking for the Horace Mann Transitional Class of 1972 with friend Carl Vault and serving various foods for donations used to give College Scholarships to worthy students.
He loved cooking for the Danville Bar-B-Que at Homecoming. He volunteered to cook turkeys for many neighbors during Thanksgiving free as a gift for the holidays.
He received recognition for 20 years of Service as a Commissioner for Sherwood Fire Department, and the first Sherwood Chamber of Commerce David Gentry Citizen of Distinction Award.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brother James, Roy and Haze. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Patricia Ann Gilkey, daughters, Karen Moody (Marvel) and Shanda Henry, three grandchildren Nicole, Nathan and Myah, two great grandsons, Richard and Andre. He is also survived by his siblings,Charles Gilkey, Betty Taylor (Richard), Ivory Pearson (Stephen), Luther Gilkey(Array), Mary Ann Scroggins, Maxine Reed (Haywood), Ken Gilkey (Angela) Gerald Gilkey (Stephania), God son, Mike Carpenter, special friends Carl Vault, Mike Pettus, Stan Marsh, Floyd Burns,Wilbert Bacum, Willie Fields, Jim Calhoun, Gary
Persons,William Booker and a host of nieces, nephews, extensive extended family and a host of friends that he has met throughout his life.
(Mr. Gilkey will lie in state at the O.T. Smith Memorial Chapel / Kelly Smith Funeral Home on Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. prior to the family hour services)
Funeral Services will be held at Bethel A.M.E. Church, 600 N. Cedar Street, North Little Rock on
January 12, 2019. Public Viewing starting at 10:00 am -11:00 A.M. , Funeral Services begin
11:00.
Family Hour on Friday, January 11, 2019, 5:00 pm-8:00 pm at Bethel AME Church in North Little
Rock, Pastor Marcia Burns officiating. Burial held at Rest Hill Memorial Park Inc, 774 Landers
Road, North Little Rock, AR 72117 immediately following. MUST BE IN CEMETERY AT 1:00 P.M., NO EXCEPTIONS !!!!
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Lee Chapel AME Church, 421 West 22nd Street ,
North Little Rock,72114 in Gilkey’s memory.
WE WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SIGN THE ONLINE GUEST REGISTER, SEND CONDOLENCES/ WORDS OF SENTIMENT AND UPLOAD PHOTOS, VIA THIS MEMORIAL PAGE. THIS AND ALL OF OUR MEMORIAL PAGES WILL REMAIN INDEFINITELY ON THIS SITE SO THAT YOU, THE FAMILY & FRIENDS CAN REVISIT HERE ANY TIME YOU FEEL THE NEED TO DO SO.
(AT THE FAMILY'S REQUEST, PLEASE DO YOUR REFLECTIONS AND REMARKS DURING THE WAKE i.e. FAMILY HOUR / GATHERING OF FAMILY & FRIENDS ON FRIDAY FROM 6:30 - 8:00 P.M.. THANK YOU AND PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE OF THEIR REQUESTS.)
Information from the Kelly Smith Funeral Home
He was born on August 31, 1944 in Danville, Arkansas to the late Henry Lee Gilkey, Sr. and Willie Mae Love Gilkey. He was the sixth of twelve children, better known as Junior, Big Dawg, Uncle Dawg, Dr. Dirt and Gilkey.
He began his adult life after graduating from L.W. Sullivan High School in Morrilton, Arkansas by moving to Little Rock, Arkansas to attend Barber College. His country was in need of a few good men and he was drafted into the US Army during the Vietnam Era. Following his time in service he married his sweetheart, Patricia Ann May from Clarksville, Arkansas on December 23, 1967. To this union, one child was born, Shanda Leigh.
The G.I. Bill provided his opportunity to attend college at U.A.L.R. where he played shortstop on the baseball team. After two years he followed his friends and attended Arkansas Baptist College where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science later obtaining graduate hours from Ouachita Baptist College.
In his professional career, he worked at various jobs. For example: Teletype, Timex, Taxis Cab Driver,Trained school bus drivers, Horticulture teacher several summers months at Petit Jean State Park, Middle School Social Studies Teacher for one semester where he decided being inside every day was not for him. He decided to open his own Barber Shop in North Little Rock,Arkansas. His love for the outdoors lead him to opening his own Lawn Care Business.
Both Barbering and Lawn Care were interchangeable. He worked both jobs until his health failed.
He attended Trinity United Methodist Church in Danville during his youth. After moving to North Little Rock he united with Lee Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) where he became famous for his cooking, especially his smoked turkey legs and his large smoker named “Bruiser!”
Gilkey was a people person and spent his life mentoring young men and extended family members. He gave them jobs that helped financially while learning life’s lessons on how to work,how to be a man and to quote several of them, ”to know that you should go to school so you never have to do that kind of work again!!” He never told them he had a degree.
He participated in numerous projects. He was often found cooking for every church that asked him. His favorite project was cooking for the Horace Mann Transitional Class of 1972 with friend Carl Vault and serving various foods for donations used to give College Scholarships to worthy students.
He loved cooking for the Danville Bar-B-Que at Homecoming. He volunteered to cook turkeys for many neighbors during Thanksgiving free as a gift for the holidays.
He received recognition for 20 years of Service as a Commissioner for Sherwood Fire Department, and the first Sherwood Chamber of Commerce David Gentry Citizen of Distinction Award.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brother James, Roy and Haze. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Patricia Ann Gilkey, daughters, Karen Moody (Marvel) and Shanda Henry, three grandchildren Nicole, Nathan and Myah, two great grandsons, Richard and Andre. He is also survived by his siblings,Charles Gilkey, Betty Taylor (Richard), Ivory Pearson (Stephen), Luther Gilkey(Array), Mary Ann Scroggins, Maxine Reed (Haywood), Ken Gilkey (Angela) Gerald Gilkey (Stephania), God son, Mike Carpenter, special friends Carl Vault, Mike Pettus, Stan Marsh, Floyd Burns,Wilbert Bacum, Willie Fields, Jim Calhoun, Gary
Persons,William Booker and a host of nieces, nephews, extensive extended family and a host of friends that he has met throughout his life.
(Mr. Gilkey will lie in state at the O.T. Smith Memorial Chapel / Kelly Smith Funeral Home on Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. prior to the family hour services)
Funeral Services will be held at Bethel A.M.E. Church, 600 N. Cedar Street, North Little Rock on
January 12, 2019. Public Viewing starting at 10:00 am -11:00 A.M. , Funeral Services begin
11:00.
Family Hour on Friday, January 11, 2019, 5:00 pm-8:00 pm at Bethel AME Church in North Little
Rock, Pastor Marcia Burns officiating. Burial held at Rest Hill Memorial Park Inc, 774 Landers
Road, North Little Rock, AR 72117 immediately following. MUST BE IN CEMETERY AT 1:00 P.M., NO EXCEPTIONS !!!!
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Lee Chapel AME Church, 421 West 22nd Street ,
North Little Rock,72114 in Gilkey’s memory.
WE WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SIGN THE ONLINE GUEST REGISTER, SEND CONDOLENCES/ WORDS OF SENTIMENT AND UPLOAD PHOTOS, VIA THIS MEMORIAL PAGE. THIS AND ALL OF OUR MEMORIAL PAGES WILL REMAIN INDEFINITELY ON THIS SITE SO THAT YOU, THE FAMILY & FRIENDS CAN REVISIT HERE ANY TIME YOU FEEL THE NEED TO DO SO.
(AT THE FAMILY'S REQUEST, PLEASE DO YOUR REFLECTIONS AND REMARKS DURING THE WAKE i.e. FAMILY HOUR / GATHERING OF FAMILY & FRIENDS ON FRIDAY FROM 6:30 - 8:00 P.M.. THANK YOU AND PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE OF THEIR REQUESTS.)
Information from the Kelly Smith Funeral Home
Henry Lee Gilkey, Jr., 74 of Sherwood, Arkansas; a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, friend and Popee peacefully passed on January 5, 2019 at 1:14 am at Hospice Home Care, Inpatient Center on 2200 Bowman Road in Little Rock, Arkansas after a long courageous battle with heart disease, strokes and other complications.
He was born on August 31, 1944 in Danville, Arkansas to the late Henry Lee Gilkey, Sr. and Willie Mae Love Gilkey. He was the sixth of twelve children, better known as Junior, Big Dawg, Uncle Dawg, Dr. Dirt and Gilkey.
He began his adult life after graduating from L.W. Sullivan High School in Morrilton, Arkansas by moving to Little Rock, Arkansas to attend Barber College. His country was in need of a few good men and he was drafted into the US Army during the Vietnam Era. Following his time in service he married his sweetheart, Patricia Ann May from Clarksville, Arkansas on December 23, 1967. To this union, one child was born, Shanda Leigh.
The G.I. Bill provided his opportunity to attend college at U.A.L.R. where he played shortstop on the baseball team. After two years he followed his friends and attended Arkansas Baptist College where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science later obtaining graduate hours from Ouachita Baptist College.
In his professional career, he worked at various jobs. For example: Teletype, Timex, Taxis Cab Driver,Trained school bus drivers, Horticulture teacher several summers months at Petit Jean State Park, Middle School Social Studies Teacher for one semester where he decided being inside every day was not for him. He decided to open his own Barber Shop in North Little Rock,Arkansas. His love for the outdoors lead him to opening his own Lawn Care Business.
Both Barbering and Lawn Care were interchangeable. He worked both jobs until his health failed.
He attended Trinity United Methodist Church in Danville during his youth. After moving to North Little Rock he united with Lee Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) where he became famous for his cooking, especially his smoked turkey legs and his large smoker named “Bruiser!”
Gilkey was a people person and spent his life mentoring young men and extended family members. He gave them jobs that helped financially while learning life’s lessons on how to work,how to be a man and to quote several of them, ”to know that you should go to school so you never have to do that kind of work again!!” He never told them he had a degree.
He participated in numerous projects. He was often found cooking for every church that asked him. His favorite project was cooking for the Horace Mann Transitional Class of 1972 with friend Carl Vault and serving various foods for donations used to give College Scholarships to worthy students.
He loved cooking for the Danville Bar-B-Que at Homecoming. He volunteered to cook turkeys for many neighbors during Thanksgiving free as a gift for the holidays.
He received recognition for 20 years of Service as a Commissioner for Sherwood Fire Department, and the first Sherwood Chamber of Commerce David Gentry Citizen of Distinction Award.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brother James, Roy and Haze. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Patricia Ann Gilkey, daughters, Karen Moody (Marvel) and Shanda Henry, three grandchildren Nicole, Nathan and Myah, two great grandsons, Richard and Andre. He is also survived by his siblings,Charles Gilkey, Betty Taylor (Richard), Ivory Pearson (Stephen), Luther Gilkey(Array), Mary Ann Scroggins, Maxine Reed (Haywood), Ken Gilkey (Angela) Gerald Gilkey (Stephania), God son, Mike Carpenter, special friends Carl Vault, Mike Pettus, Stan Marsh, Floyd Burns,Wilbert Bacum, Willie Fields, Jim Calhoun, Gary
Persons,William Booker and a host of nieces, nephews, extensive extended family and a host of friends that he has met throughout his life.
(Mr. Gilkey will lie in state at the O.T. Smith Memorial Chapel / Kelly Smith Funeral Home on Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. prior to the family hour services)
Funeral Services will be held at Bethel A.M.E. Church, 600 N. Cedar Street, North Little Rock on
January 12, 2019. Public Viewing starting at 10:00 am -11:00 A.M. , Funeral Services begin
11:00.
Family Hour on Friday, January 11, 2019, 5:00 pm-8:00 pm at Bethel AME Church in North Little
Rock, Pastor Marcia Burns officiating. Burial held at Rest Hill Memorial Park Inc, 774 Landers
Road, North Little Rock, AR 72117 immediately following. MUST BE IN CEMETERY AT 1:00 P.M., NO EXCEPTIONS !!!!
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Lee Chapel AME Church, 421 West 22nd Street ,
North Little Rock,72114 in Gilkey’s memory.
WE WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SIGN THE ONLINE GUEST REGISTER, SEND CONDOLENCES/ WORDS OF SENTIMENT AND UPLOAD PHOTOS, VIA THIS MEMORIAL PAGE. THIS AND ALL OF OUR MEMORIAL PAGES WILL REMAIN INDEFINITELY ON THIS SITE SO THAT YOU, THE FAMILY & FRIENDS CAN REVISIT HERE ANY TIME YOU FEEL THE NEED TO DO SO.
(AT THE FAMILY'S REQUEST, PLEASE DO YOUR REFLECTIONS AND REMARKS DURING THE WAKE i.e. FAMILY HOUR / GATHERING OF FAMILY & FRIENDS ON FRIDAY FROM 6:30 - 8:00 P.M.. THANK YOU AND PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE OF THEIR REQUESTS.)
Information from the Kelly Smith Funeral Home
He was born on August 31, 1944 in Danville, Arkansas to the late Henry Lee Gilkey, Sr. and Willie Mae Love Gilkey. He was the sixth of twelve children, better known as Junior, Big Dawg, Uncle Dawg, Dr. Dirt and Gilkey.
He began his adult life after graduating from L.W. Sullivan High School in Morrilton, Arkansas by moving to Little Rock, Arkansas to attend Barber College. His country was in need of a few good men and he was drafted into the US Army during the Vietnam Era. Following his time in service he married his sweetheart, Patricia Ann May from Clarksville, Arkansas on December 23, 1967. To this union, one child was born, Shanda Leigh.
The G.I. Bill provided his opportunity to attend college at U.A.L.R. where he played shortstop on the baseball team. After two years he followed his friends and attended Arkansas Baptist College where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science later obtaining graduate hours from Ouachita Baptist College.
In his professional career, he worked at various jobs. For example: Teletype, Timex, Taxis Cab Driver,Trained school bus drivers, Horticulture teacher several summers months at Petit Jean State Park, Middle School Social Studies Teacher for one semester where he decided being inside every day was not for him. He decided to open his own Barber Shop in North Little Rock,Arkansas. His love for the outdoors lead him to opening his own Lawn Care Business.
Both Barbering and Lawn Care were interchangeable. He worked both jobs until his health failed.
He attended Trinity United Methodist Church in Danville during his youth. After moving to North Little Rock he united with Lee Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) where he became famous for his cooking, especially his smoked turkey legs and his large smoker named “Bruiser!”
Gilkey was a people person and spent his life mentoring young men and extended family members. He gave them jobs that helped financially while learning life’s lessons on how to work,how to be a man and to quote several of them, ”to know that you should go to school so you never have to do that kind of work again!!” He never told them he had a degree.
He participated in numerous projects. He was often found cooking for every church that asked him. His favorite project was cooking for the Horace Mann Transitional Class of 1972 with friend Carl Vault and serving various foods for donations used to give College Scholarships to worthy students.
He loved cooking for the Danville Bar-B-Que at Homecoming. He volunteered to cook turkeys for many neighbors during Thanksgiving free as a gift for the holidays.
He received recognition for 20 years of Service as a Commissioner for Sherwood Fire Department, and the first Sherwood Chamber of Commerce David Gentry Citizen of Distinction Award.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brother James, Roy and Haze. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Patricia Ann Gilkey, daughters, Karen Moody (Marvel) and Shanda Henry, three grandchildren Nicole, Nathan and Myah, two great grandsons, Richard and Andre. He is also survived by his siblings,Charles Gilkey, Betty Taylor (Richard), Ivory Pearson (Stephen), Luther Gilkey(Array), Mary Ann Scroggins, Maxine Reed (Haywood), Ken Gilkey (Angela) Gerald Gilkey (Stephania), God son, Mike Carpenter, special friends Carl Vault, Mike Pettus, Stan Marsh, Floyd Burns,Wilbert Bacum, Willie Fields, Jim Calhoun, Gary
Persons,William Booker and a host of nieces, nephews, extensive extended family and a host of friends that he has met throughout his life.
(Mr. Gilkey will lie in state at the O.T. Smith Memorial Chapel / Kelly Smith Funeral Home on Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. prior to the family hour services)
Funeral Services will be held at Bethel A.M.E. Church, 600 N. Cedar Street, North Little Rock on
January 12, 2019. Public Viewing starting at 10:00 am -11:00 A.M. , Funeral Services begin
11:00.
Family Hour on Friday, January 11, 2019, 5:00 pm-8:00 pm at Bethel AME Church in North Little
Rock, Pastor Marcia Burns officiating. Burial held at Rest Hill Memorial Park Inc, 774 Landers
Road, North Little Rock, AR 72117 immediately following. MUST BE IN CEMETERY AT 1:00 P.M., NO EXCEPTIONS !!!!
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Lee Chapel AME Church, 421 West 22nd Street ,
North Little Rock,72114 in Gilkey’s memory.
WE WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SIGN THE ONLINE GUEST REGISTER, SEND CONDOLENCES/ WORDS OF SENTIMENT AND UPLOAD PHOTOS, VIA THIS MEMORIAL PAGE. THIS AND ALL OF OUR MEMORIAL PAGES WILL REMAIN INDEFINITELY ON THIS SITE SO THAT YOU, THE FAMILY & FRIENDS CAN REVISIT HERE ANY TIME YOU FEEL THE NEED TO DO SO.
(AT THE FAMILY'S REQUEST, PLEASE DO YOUR REFLECTIONS AND REMARKS DURING THE WAKE i.e. FAMILY HOUR / GATHERING OF FAMILY & FRIENDS ON FRIDAY FROM 6:30 - 8:00 P.M.. THANK YOU AND PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE OF THEIR REQUESTS.)
Information from the Kelly Smith Funeral Home
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
