Leandrew Locke

The Locke family has planned a service of Celebration and Thanksgiving honoring the life of their beloved Lee Andrew Locke, to be held on Saturday, November 12, 2011, at 1:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Missionary Baptist Church in Sparkman. Rev. L. A. Craig, the pastor will preach the celebration message. The committal service and final resting place will be at Harmony Cemetery in Sparkman, Arkansas. Those who want to respectively view Mr. Locke may do so, on Friday, November 11th from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The family will receive friends from 6-7 p. m. and share the Images of Life DVD. As we retrace the footprints of Leandrew who we know as “Bay Bay” we can only give thanks for the lives he touched and enriched along life’s journey. A bold man, he was blessed to enjoy many of God’s blessings as a child, a brother, a companion, a father, grandfather and a true friend. On January 14, 1952, Arthur James and Bernice Matlock Locke celebrated the birth of a baby boy they named Leandrew. At an early age he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. He was a faithful member of First Missionary Baptist Church in Sparkman. “Bay Bay” as he was known by his friends and family was educated in Sparkman where he excelled as a student and a talented athlete. The highlight of his life during that time was the day he graduated from Sparkman Training School. He worked as a boiler operator for Ray White Lumber Company in Sparkman. Some of his pastimes were hunting and fishing. Spending quality time with his family was another highlight of his life. He will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to have known him. “Bay Bay” was very outgoing and fun. He loved celebrating life whether it was a birthday, holiday or just a get together. Among his best friends were his children and the apple of his eye, Melendell Hunter. Although “Bay Bay’s” life would seem too short to many, those who were touched by him understood that the quality of his existence far exceeded the quantity of time many of us spent with him. Ecclesiastes teaches us that: To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the Heaven:…….and on Thursday, November 3rd in his 59th season of life he traded time for eternity. Those awaiting his arrival are his father, Arthur James Locke, and a sister Martha Jean Locke. He leaves in God’s care: his companion Melendell Hunter of Sparkman; his beloved mother Bernice Locke of Milwaukee, WI: five devoted and caring children, Kenneth Stone, Alicia Stone, LaShon Stone, Dana Alston all of Milwaukee, WI, and Kristi Locke of Sparkman, AR; four sisters, Mattie Locke of Sparkman, AR, Shirley (Bruce) Curry of Milwaukee, WI, Ethel Faye Newborn of Boulder, CO, and Helen Davis of Houston, TX; four brothers, James (Gloria) Locke of Rockford, IL, Dennis (Paula) Locke of Rockford, IL, Jessie Locke of Milwaukee, WI and David Locke of Sparkman, AR; fourteen grandchildren; three aunts, Juanita Locke of Cleveland, OH, Ailene Matlock of Malvern, AR, amd Rachel Matlock of Milwaukee, WI; three uncles, Richard Matlock of Rockford, IL, Hosea Locke of Cleveland, OH, and Matthew Matlock of Princeton, AR; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous friends. As we honor the passing of this loving son, brother, companion, father, uncle and friend, may we continue to celebrate his life.