Jamaal Devon Golden

As we retrace the footprints of Jamaal Devon Golden, we can only give thanks for the many lives he enriched along this life’s journey. A strong, and quite young man, he was blessed to enjoy many of God’s blessings as a son, a brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, and true friend. On August 12, 1985, in Pomona, California Yolanda Johnson and George Golden welcomed the birth of a bouncing brown bubble of joy who they named Jamaal. From the beginning they knew he would grow up to be a very active and talented child. As a kid he was active in basketball, baseball and football. There was nothing too hard for Jamaal. Jamaal often attended Greater Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church with his grandparents, Betty and Robert Helms who raised him. He was educated in the Arkadelphia Public School System. He made friends easily and gained much respect from his peers in the Class of 2003. “Boog” as he was known to his family and friends was that cool, laid-back friend who was in tune with the latest trends and music. Though tall in stature he had a big heart, a great sense of humor and never met a stranger. He lived life to the fullest and there was never a dull moment when he was around. He enjoyed listening to hip-hop music….as loud as he could turn it up, riding 4 wheelers and he never lost his passion for “shooting hoops”. As he grew older he found a love for raising and breeding pit bulls. He worked as a team member of Petit Jean Poultry in Gum Springs, Arkansas. On Monday, March 14, 2016, Jamaal passed into the Lord’s embrace. His independent spirit, iron will and strong character will never be duplicated, but leaves an impression on the lives of those he touched and enriched along this life’s journey. He leaves to remember and cherish his moments on earth: his father, George (Betty) Golden of Arkadelphia; his mother, Yolanda (DWayne) Stegers; his grandparents, Robert and Betty Helms of Arkadelphia and Dorothy DeLone of Lincoln, Nebraska; a sister, LaKeisha Golden of Rialto, CA; a brother, Kenneth T. (Jennifer) Golden of Little Rock, AR; aunts, Claudetta Golden (Terry), LaShawn Golden, Dianna Johnson, and Zelda (Victor) Bolden; uncles, Levi (Cora) Garland, Julius (Kathy) Golden, Bruce Golden, Carl Johnson, and Michael Johnson. He also leaves a special friend, Becky Calloway, a host of great-aunts, great-uncles, several cousins and numerous friends. Public visitation will be held on Saturday, March 19, 2016 from 12 noon until 5:00 p.m. A service of celebration will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 20, 2016 at Greater Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church where Dr. Lewis A. Shepherd, Jr., is the pastor and Officiant.