Jesse Carl Rider

Jesse Carl Rider, known to many as Carl, passed away Sept. 26, 2023, at his home in Warm Springs at the age of 89.

Carl was born March 17, 1934 in Lynn. He was the son of Edgar Lee Rider and Vera Lavinia Guthrie Rider. Carl went to 13 different schools in 12 years as his family moved to work on various farms in Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri. Carl graduated from Clover Bend High School in 1952, where he met his sweetheart and future wife, Erma Lee Roberts. Carl relocated to Illinois after graduating from high school to work in a steel mill. He returned to Arkansas to get his bride, and they were married on Aug. 9, 1952, in Walnut Ridge.

In January 1955, Carl enlisted in the United States Army, then transferred to the United States Air Force in May 1957, from which he retired on May 31, 1975, after 20 years of service. On June 1, 1975, Carl and his wife, Erma, moved back to Arkansas to raise their two children and be close to family.

Since being licensed on May 17, 1967, by the First Baptist Church of Victorville, Calif., Carl pastored Southern Baptist churches in California, Florida, Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri. He pastored smaller, country churches in Arkansas. Many times, the buildings were older and out back was an outhouse, but by the time he resigned to move on to the next church the Lord led him to, there was indoor plumbing. Carla stated that he tried his best to accommodate her momma and make her happy, and that was one of his acts of love for her momma and the ladies of the churches. Carl was forced to retire the first part of 2021 as he began to lose his eyesight.

In October 2008, Carl graduated from Andersonville Theological Seminary with a Doctorate Degree in Ministry. Carl spent many, many hours studying the Bible so he could do what he enjoyed, teaching God's word.

Carl was a member of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Pitman, Ark., and a board member of Power of Freedom Ministries in Warm Springs from 2004-2012. He also taught Bible studies and helped the men at the ministry anyway he could. Carl helped get the Warm Springs Volunteer Fire Department established.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents; Erma, his wife of 63 years; his son, Michael Rider; his grandson, Jessie Rider; two half siblings, Verdell Rider and Wanda Rider Hammons; and brothers, Bill Rider of Mount Vernon, Iowa, and Tom Rider of Paragould.

Survivors include daughter, Carla (Wesley) Garvin of Pocahontas; daughter-in-law, Joyce Rider of Hoxie; brother, Jerry Rider of Little Rock; grandchildren, Allysa Rider, Magan Garvin (Phillip Secor), and Garrett (Corra) Garvin, all of Pocahontas; great-grandchildren Kalynn, Laken, Madi, Matthew, Sophia and Phoebe, all of Pocahontas; sisters-in-law, Linda (Charles) Milgrim of Black Rock, Norma Tillman and Judy (Jim) Bridges, all of Walnut Ridge, Lois Rider of Paragould, and Nell Rider of Mount Vernon, Iowa; brother-in-law Thomas "Butch" Roberts of Jonesboro; and many nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Visitation was Thursday, Sept. 28, from 5-7 p.m. in the Cox Funeral Home Chapel in Walnut Ridge.

The funeral service was Friday, Sept. 29, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home, with Wesley Garvin and Garrett Garvin officiating. Burial was in Lawrence Memorial Park.

Honored to serve as pallbearers were Legacy Hospice Chaplain Shawn McElhanon, Tommy Milgrim, Marlin Roberts, Kenny Higginbotham, Michael Tyer and Mike Roberts.

The family would like to extend a very special thank you to Tara Parten, home care aide with Preferred Home Care Pocahontas. He said he became spoiled by sitting at the kitchen bar and eating the lunch that Tara prepared for him daily.

Also, the family extends a very special thank you to the staff at Legacy Hospice Walnut Ridge, Salem and Poplar Bluff, who were his caregivers for the past three years. Nurses: Brandi Davis, Christina Camp, Andrea Russell, Jessica Bagwell, Faith Murdock, Bridgette Kazzee Casillas, Ashley Story, Heather McKenzie, Erica Nicholson, Sierra; CNA LaDonna Dougan; Chaplain Shawn McElhanon; Social Worker Amanda Frankenberger; and all behind the scene workers like office manager Tarra Ewing and anyone else I might have forgotten.

In Carla's words, Legacy Hospice Walnut Ridge is a team, a united team. It takes a united team to win a game, no big I's and little U's and Legacy Hospice Walnut Ridge takes the award for THE WORLD CHAMPS!