Jessie Walter Trantham

Jessie Walter Trantham, 85, of Crossett, passed away on Tuesday, July 25, 2017, at the Crossett Health and Rehabilitation Center.  He was born on March 11, 1932, in Manila, Arkansas to his parents, Jessie Floyd, and Florine Nicks Trantham.  He was a graduate of Dell High School and married his wife, Joy Dyer on September 7, 1952.  From 1952 to 1954 he served in the United States Army as a machine gunner and was a Veteran of the Korean War.  After the war, he returned home and graduated from Arkansas State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree followed by a Master’s Degree from the University of Arkansas. He was an instructor at the Cotton Boll Vocational-Technical School from 1969 to 1975, an Assistant Director at the Forest Echoes Vocational-Technical School in Crossett from 1975 to 1982, and Director at Forest Echoes from 1982 to 1986.  From 1986 to 1992 he was Director of the Mid-South Vocational-Technical School and President from 1992 until his retirement in 1994.  After retiring, Jessie worked part-time at the Cotton Boll, enjoyed building things, including birdhouses and benches, and loved to work in the community garden. In 2005, he and Joy returned to Crossett to be near family.  Jessie was an educator, a member of First Baptist Church of Crossett, and a true Christian patriarch to his family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, and one infant son, Jessie Mark Trantham.  He is survived by his wife of sixty-four years, Maurine Joy Trantham of Crossett; four daughters, Sherry Bowman of North Little Rock, Kim Rhodes of Meridian, MS, Angela Bost and husband, Steve of Poplar Bluff, MO, and Carla Edney and husband, Jim of Crossett; one cousin, Ira Burrow of Alamo, TN; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 29th at Medders Funeral Home Chapel, 1564 Hwy 52 W, in Crossett with Pastor Jamie Staley officiating, followed by an interment at Pinewood Memorial Park under the direction of Medders Funeral Home.  Pallbearers will be Jim Edney, Ryan Edney, Kyle Rhodes, Steve Bost, William Bost, and Samuel Bost.  Honorary pallbearers will be Mr. Phil Gilmore’s Sunday School Class.

Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Friday, July 28th at Medders Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Crossett.

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