James Louis Kennedy

“The Extraordinary Man” On October 22, 1951 in the city of Topeka and in the state of Kansas a male angel was born to the parentage of Sylvester and Elvie Spencer Kennedy and they named him James Louis Kennedy. His formal education begin in Gould, Arkansas and upon graduation he attended college at UALR majoring in Business Administration. While attending college he worked for UAMS. In 1977 he moved to Murfreesboro, Arkansas where he became gainfully employed with Weyerhaeuser until its closing. He then went to work for Missouri Plastic in Nashville, Arkansas. On December 2, 1988 James began a new career with the Federal Government that span some fifteen years until his health began to fail with Muscular Dystrophy. In the early eighties he met and married Mary Post and to this union no children were born, but he was blessed with three step-children. In his 57th season on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at Medical Park Hospital in Hope, Arkansas with Mary and his extended family at his side, he surrendered his soul to Christ. Those awaiting his arrival and to welcome him home are his parents, two sisters, Barbara Rhodes and Mamie Gernada, his mother-in-law Maggie Taylor Post and brothers-in-law, Robert V. Post and James E. Post. He leaves to cherish his love, laughter, and smile: his wife of 27 years and 10 months, Mary Post Kennedy, three step-children, Temeka Bolton of Little Rock, AR, Shannon Jones of Dayton, OH, and Wendell Hayden of Hope, AR; a god-son, Craig Jones of Hope, AR; six grandchildren; three brothers, Sylvester, Jr. (Helen) Kennedy of Gould, AR, John Kennedy of Gould, AR, and Eugene Kennedy of Pine Bluff, AR; four sisters, Gurine Ratliff of Chicago, IL, Linda Smith of Benton, AR, Evelyn (Flonia) Ward of Pine Bluff, AR, and Vera (Louis) Brown of Pine Bluff, AR. He also leaves three brothers-in-law, Dave (Lori) Post, Raymond (Oral) Post and Ray A. Post; two sisters-in-law, Cellestean (Bob) Phillips, and Rachel (Carl) Vaughn. His special children include, Kaye Davis, Karla Warren, Debbie Blakely, Linda Harris, Daphne Thompson, Jason and Felicia Koontz. He will forever be in the hearts of his special friends, Ottis Harris, II, Helen Marks, Willie Marks, Sr., Clara Koontz, Terris Marlow, Sue Manning, Ester Walker, Bobbie English, Terry Roberson, Paul and Frances Marlow. Lovingly submitted by his wife Mary Post Kennedy. Final tributes to the life of James L. Kennedy will be shared on Sunday, June 14, 2009 at 2:00p.m. in the sanctuary of Antioch Baptist Church in Emmett, Arkansas where Rev. Russell Laston is the pastor. Rev. Rufus Hatley the pastor of Pleasant Grove and Harrison Chapel Baptist Churches will render words of comfort and hope. The committal service and final resting place will be in Elizabeth Cemetery in Prescott, Arkansas. The bearers of the casket will be Willie Marks, Sr., Terry Robinson, Paul Marlow, McKinley Johnson, Mike Counts, Jake Taylor, and Wardell Everett. The honorary bearers of the casket will be Sylvester Kennedy, Jr., Eugene Kennedy, John Kennedy, Raymond Post, Dave W. Post, and Ray A. Post.