John Lee Butler, Jr.

John Lee Butler, Jr., “Junior” was born February 23, 1949 in Banks, Arkansas to Juanita Estella Pumphrey Johnson. He was adopted by Rev. Eunice Butler and Mollie Lee Butler. Family played a key role in the development and shaping of his life. His father, was a well-known Baptist preacher who pastored Harrison Chapel Baptist Church in Rosston, Arkansas and St. John Baptist Church in Bluff City, Arkansas and his mother, Mollie taught school in Antoine. Together they taught him to adhere to high morals, spiritual and educational values. John grew up in Arkadelphia and was a known local artist. He accepted Christ at a young age and was a member of Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. He excelled as a student at Peake High School where he played the saxophone, drums and trumpet in the band. John graduated in 1966 and later received his barber’s license. In 1968, he enlisted into the United States Army where he received the National Defense Service Medal and the parachute badge. His completed education and training included Basic Training, Code of Conduct, CBR Training, Geneva Convention MJA & MCM and Basic Airborne. On June 8, 1970, he married Carolyn Randall and to this union five sons were born Jeffery, Lamont, Wesley, John and Terrell. He was an active father who coached various little league baseball and t-ball teams. John worked as an independent truck driver for several years. He was a jazz, funk and soul music enthusiast. He loved to collect Jet Magazines - an American weekly magazine that focused on news, culture, and entertainment related to the African-American community. Junior passed from this life on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at the Greenwood Retirement Center in Greenwood, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his mother, Juanita; his parents Rev. Eunice and Mollie Lee Butler; his wife, Carolyn Butler and siblings, Rotine Johnson-Thomas, Mary Johnson, Martha Johnson, and Lonnie Johnson. Junior leaves to cherish his memory five sons, Jeffery Butler of Los Angeles, CA, Lamont Butler of Indianapolis, IN, Wesley Butler (Freddie Mae) of Arkadelphia, John Butler of Arkadelphia and Terrell Butler of Arkadelphia; twenty-two grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; one sister, Christine Martin-Johnson of Milwaukee; sisters and brothers-in-law. He also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Public visitation will be Wednesday, October 6, 2021 from noon until 5:00 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 7, 2021 with Military Honors at Williams Funeral Home with Rev. Llewellyn E. Terry, Sr., officiating. Interment will be at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock on Monday, October 11, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Pallbearers honorable to mention are Jeffery Butler, Lamont Butler, Wesley Butler, John Butler and Terrell Butler.