Henry Lee Ankton

God’s child Henry Lee Ankton was born into time on May 31, 1948, in the Dalark Community to the blessed union of Roosevelt & Odessa Johnson Ankton. During his early childhood, he gave his life to Christ and united with the Mt. Olive AME Church family. Henry graduated from Sparkman School and married the apple of his eye, Minnie Hayes. He later enlisted in the United States Army and was a Vietnam War Veteran. He received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal with the 1960 Device. He was also an M-14 sharpshooter. Henry was a faithful employee of the Acme Brick Company and jovially called “Chicken” by his friends and family. Henry faithfully attended Mt. Olive where he served as a Trustee until his health would no longer permit him to do so. Trusting in God’s word “Be thou faithful until death and I will give thee a crown of life.” and in his 60th season, Henry answered the call that no man can refuse. He was born into eternity on Tuesday, February 24, 2009, at Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. His life & legacy will be forever cherished by his wife, Minnie Hayes Ankton, two beautiful daughters, Sandra Ankton and Latasha Evans both of Arkadelphia, AR; his loving mother Odessa Nelson of Dalark, AR; two beloved grandchildren, Michael Evans and Anyah Evans of Arkadelphia, AR; his sister, Wanda Browning of Arkadelphia, AR; his brothers, Vernon Ankton and his wife Finas of Bencia, CA; Aaron Nelson of Arkadelphia, AR; Jerry Ankton and his wife Mary of Little Rock, AR; and Samuel Ankton of Ypsilanti, MI. He also leaves his aunts, Frankie Palmer, Flordia Mae Craig, Myrtle Jackson and Maude Jones; his uncles Horace Johnson, Algie Johnson, Oliver Delamar, George Delamar, Charlie Ankton and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, numerous friends, as well as, the Mt. Olive AME Church family. “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye………” I Corinthians 15:51-52 Henry L. Ankton will lie in state at Williams Funeral Home on Tuesday, March 3, 2009, from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The Ankton family will greet friends and share with them the Images of Life DVD from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Baptist Church. A Service of Triumph & Thanksgiving will be shared at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 4, 2009, in the sanctuary of Mt. Olive AME Church in the Dalark Community where Rev. Linda Butler, is pastor and will preach a message of comfort and hope. The committal service & earthly resting place will be in Dalark Cemetery Bearers of the casket will be Charles Middleton, Kenny Hamlin, Carl Johnson, Terry Wright, Claude Delamar and Larry Johnson. Honorary bearers will be Freddie L. Owens, Joe Brownlee, Horace Carter, Sammy Johnson, Mack Hughes, Jr., George Hayes, Ezekiel Leonard, Sr., Elmore Wiley, Sr., and Elmer Carter.