Bruce Anthony Junior

Bruce Anthony Junior was born into this life on December 23, 1964, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas to parents Raymond and Earnestine Junior. He accepted Christ as his lord and savior and was a member of Second Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas.

He was a 1983 graduate of Sparkman High School. He excelled as an athlete, playing both basketball and football. After graduating high school, he joined the national guard and went on to study Secondary Education at the University of Arkansas. Bruce was a man of service, so upon graduating with his Bachelor of Science in Education in 1987, he officially enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.

After 20 years of service and 3 assignments overseas, Bruce retired in 2007. After a brief stent as a stay-at-home dad and husband, he rejoined the workforce as a civilian contract worker with Blackson Arrow. Bruce was a man deeply dedicated to his family and life’s simple pleasures. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing cards, dominos, and looking after his family farm in Sparkman. During his 20 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, Bruce’s greatest accomplishments in life were marrying his wife Shirley and raising their two children Braylon and Briana.

His family, friends, and work family will miss his strength, leadership, and love, but will never forget his spirit of encouragement and sense of humor. He was called home to be with the Lord Monday, November 27, 2023, at Baptist Health Hospital in North Little Rock, Arkansas. He joins his father, Raymond Junior, who made his transition on July 17, 1995, and mother, Earnestine Junior, who made her transition on August 17, 1999.

His legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of all those who were impacted by the inspiring life he lived. Bruce leaves his wife, Shirley Junior; their son, Braylon (Erin) Junior of Nashville, TN and daughter Briana (Justin) Sims of Little Rock, AR; two grandsons, Justin Sims II and Jhi Sims of Little Rock, AR; a sister, Margie Foote of Mabelvale, AR and brother Stevie Joe (Tressie) Junior of Mabelvale, AR; three brothers in-law, Alvin (Minnie) Dangerfield of Sparkman, AR, George (Trevalon) Dangerfield of Mineral Springs, AR, and Calvin Dangerfield of Arkadelphia, AR; three sisters in-law, Lynn (Emmanuel) Watson of Blytheville, AR, Geneva Harper of Warren, AR, and Shelia Hill of Sherwood, AR; two special nieces, Antoinette Pugh, of Conway, AR, and LaDana Junior of Little Rock, AR; a special nephew, Steven Junior, of Little Rock, AR; two aunts, Edies Matlock of Benton, AR, and Elease Harrison of Portland, OR; three Uncles Freddie C. (Dollie) Ross of Kosciusko, MS, Elmer Lee (Mildred) Juniel, and Leon Junior, both of Bearden, AR; a God daughter, LaKeisha Adams of Little Rock, AR; and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.  

Visitation will be held from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm on Friday, December 8, 2023, at Williams Funeral Home and from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Second Baptist Church, 1709 John Barrow Road, Little Rock with the family hour from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

A celebration of his life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at Second Baptist Church with Pastor Wilkins, officiating and Rev. Terrance “Scottie” Long, eulogist. Interment will be at Piney Grove Baptist Church in Arkadelphia. The pallbearers will be Darius “DJ” Walton, Travis “Dobie” Smith, Gregory McCray, James Harper, Calvin Dangerfield and Steven Junior. Honorable to mention are Bert Zinamon, Justin Sims, Terry Barnes and Tim Lee.