Dr. Roy J Harris

Roy J. Harris, age 91 of Rogers, went to be with his Lord and Savior on July 9, 2024.
There will be two full services held - the first in Rogers, Arkansas and the second in Sherwood, Arkansas. The first will be: Visitation services on Thursday, July 11, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Rogers, Arkansas. A Home-Going Service will be held Friday, July 12, at 2:00 pm at the Gospel Light Baptist Church in Rogers. The second will be: Visitation services on Monday, July 15, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills in Sherwood, Arkansas. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Chapel at 11:00 am on Tuesday, July 16, with the burial to follow.
Roy J. Harris was born in Mayflower, Arkansas to Richmond "Rip" and Jewel Harris on March 29, 1933. Roy's parents were sharecroppers and from an early age he learned to work with his hands. He built his first barn at the age of 14.
He married his sweetheart, Anita Faye Kling, on November 28, 1952. Just a few short weeks later, he went off to serve in the Korean War. Roy returned home nearly 3 years later to not only a wife, but his first daughter, Lavada Ann, who had yet to meet him. Their second daughter, Debra Sue, was born a year after he returned home.
Roy soon started his own construction business and did quite well for himself. However, in September 1967, at the age of 34, Roy trusted Christ as his Savior. Roy had been witnessed to what he later said had to be a hundred times. That night, his friend Fred Shemwell came by and urged him to receive Christ. Fred left the house and Roy got down on his knees by his couch and asked Jesus to save him. That decision changed the course of not only his life, but hundreds or perhaps thousands of lives.
Roy and Anita became faithful members at Twelfth Street Baptist Church in Little Rock until 1972 when they left to attend Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College in San Dimas, California. Roy's college graduation began 28 eventful years in their lives. Following graduation the couple moved back to Little Rock to serve under Dr. Phillips as the Associate Pastor for what was now the Heritage Baptist Temple. Roy was able to serve during his time as Associate Pastor in ministries such as teaching the "Jolly 60's" Sunday School Class, the youth ministry, bus ministry and helping with construction and building needs - including the building of the church auditorium that still stands today.
God soon directed them to their first pastorate at the River Valley Baptist Church of Russellville, Arkansas. What a time of growth and challenge that was in their young ministry. The Lord blessed during their years in Russellville. The ministry was fruitful and the Lord blessed. Roy was able to build a new auditorium and Sunday School space for the church. The Lord used this time to prepare their hearts and lives to pastor the Bible Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Arkansas.
They arrived in Jacksonville in 1978. Within months, the Lord burdened Roy to start the Jacksonville Christian Academy. Those first years of the school were an exceptional challenge, emotionally and legally. At one time they were even faced with government opposition where they wanted to close the doors to the school. Roy's faith and solid conviction that the Lord had opened the doors to the school caused him to refuse to allow anyone to close the doors. Jacksonville Christian Academy is still open today because of the stand Roy took many years ago.
When Roy and Anita moved to Jacksonville the church was meeting in a two-story structure at 2015 North First St. After a period of attendance growth Roy began construction on a new auditorium and fellowship hall for the church. Later, when the school began growing the Lord led the church to purchase 14-acres of property at 3301 North First St. It was here where a new school facility and gymnasium was built.
For eighteen years Bible Baptist Church in Jacksonville was held dear in the hearts of the Harris Family and in many ways still does. Great campaigns, great days and great times of fellowship are only a shadow to the many men and women that God placed in Roy and Anita's hearts.
Roy stated, "What a pride we have for the men and women that have been called out as a result of the ministry there in Jacksonville. Bethel Baptist College also became another gateway for the opportunity to invest in young lives. We praise the Lord for the privilege afforded us to have had a part in the lives of the church family and college family of Bible Baptist Church in Jacksonville. We're grateful for the part we had in the life of the church and as a result a part in lives around the world through missions and those sent out of this ministry."
In May of 1990 Roy was honored with a Doctorate of Humanities from Oklahoma Baptist College in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
In the Fall of 1995 construction began for a new auditorium for the Bible Baptist Church. This placed the church auditorium next door to the school facilities. The old properties were then "transformed" into the JCA Daycare Facilities and college dorms.
The Lord gave Roy and Anita great opportunities to visit many areas of the United States as well as in the world. They have visited nearly every state of the U.S. and have enjoyed vacations to the Northwest as well as the Northeastern parts of the country. They've shared family vacations with their grandchildren and great grandchildren to places like Mt. Rushmore, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. They were also blessed to visit Canada and Mexico. Their most memorable trip was in the Spring of 1995. It was a trip to Kenya, Africa and the country of Wales.
The grandchildren have all said that one of their favorite memories of Pop was the Christmas Celebrations that the families shared. They especially enjoyed Pop playing "Santa" when he would wear a bright, red Santa's hat!
In 1996 Roy retired as the pastor of Bible Baptist Church. He became the Pastor Emeritus. The Lord gave Roy a desire to publish a preacher's helps paper, The Regions Beyond. The Lord blessed that paper tremendously and allowed him to have close contact with pastors and missionaries.
In 2000 the Lord moved them to Rogers, Arkansas to accept the pastorate of the Bible Baptist Church. God gave them tremendous blessings at Bible Baptist, including the sending out of several missionaries to foreign countries.
In what they thought would be their "golden years," Roy and Anita continued working with the paper and he preached out as he had the opportunity. However, shortly after leaving the pastorate, Anita was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Roy became her primary care giver. Anita went home to be with the Lord on November 3, 2011, after 58 years of marriage.
In 2012 Roy met a lady at McDonald's who he would later describe to be "the most interesting lady I've ever met!" He often would also state that Ruby didn't know a stranger and had to have more relatives and friends than anyone else in the world! Over sausage biscuits, apple pie, and coffee they struck up a friendship and fell in love. At the age of 79, Roy married Ruby Ramsey on November 12, 2012. In their early years of marriage, they enjoyed traveling to many places - including Puerto Rico! They also enjoyed family fellowships, gardening together, going to and having garage sales, and fussing at each other in the kitchen. Ruby was a true God-send to Roy and he appreciated her loving care and sharing of Bible verses with him and others when they were hurting. He always got a good laugh when she would tell him that he was being too ornery. Ruby served as his faithful companion for 11 ½ years.
Roy's life verse was II Timothy 2:2, "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." Roy faithfully lived out this verse in his life in the training of hundreds of men and women to "Go out and claim a chunk of this world for Christ!"
Roy was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Anita; daughter, Lavada Ann Autry; son-in-law, Michael Holland; 5 brothers and 3 sisters; and other relatives and close friends.
Roy is survived by his wife, Ruby Ramsey Harris; daughter, Debbie Holland; sister, Mary Carpenter; grandchildren, Stephanie Copeland and husband, Allen; Darby Morris and husband, James; Jason Sparks and wife, Trina; Nicole Lee and fiancé, Steven; and Brett Holland and wife, Sharise; great grandchildren, Roy Andrew Copeland and wife, Hannah; Timothy Copeland and wife, Elisabeth; Nathan Copeland; Lindsey Hack and husband, Troy; Ashley Sparks; Daniel Sparks, Aron Morris and wife, Hannah; Anna Morris; Aidan Morris; Abigail Lee; Ariana Lee; Liam Holland; Hayden Holland; and Haddie Holland; great-great grandchildren, Nathan Copeland; Annalise Sparks; and Alarick Morris; step-children and their children and grandchildren, Beverly Fulkerson and husband, Scott; Barbara Musteen and husband, Alan; Janet Heidelbach and husband, Tom; Kirby Ramsey and wife, Michelle; 8 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and great-great nephews.