Henry Childress, Jr. was born June 8, 1927 in Ft. Smith, Arkansas to Henry Columbus Childress and Mary Cravens Childress. He left this life after 93 years to be with the Lord.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father; his wife of 59 years, Christine Marie Childress; his sister, Willie Louise Deffebaugh; and brother, Charles Henry Childress.
Henry is survived by three children, Rita Childress of Fayetteville, Tony Childress (Pamela) of Shalimar, Florida and Henry Lee Childress also of Fayetteville; two brothers, George Hudgens (Rose) of Silver Springs, Maryland and Donald Childress of Chicago, Illinois; five sisters, Willie Jewel Stone (Willie) of Decatur, IL., Glenda Childress, Dorothy Smith and JoAnn Williams, all of Chicago IL. and Thelma Jean Smith of South Carolina; 8 grandchildren, Cheryl Longan (Rob), Kyle Childress (Brittani), Evan Childress, Jordan Thill (Jared), Quinn Childress, Natasha Emigh (Michael), Jacob Hiltibran and Jeremy Hiltibran (Natosha); and 13 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was a World War II veteran, honorably discharged when the war ended. He was member of St. James United Methodist Church. He was a strong voice in the choir, served on the Board of Trustees, and as Chair of the Administrative Council. He was a faithful member of the Adult Sunday School class. He became a member of the Masonic Lodge #347 in 1969, achieving his Worshipful Master Certification in 1975.
He took pride in being a member of the Human Relations Board in the early 60’s. The board’s function was to assist with the integration of the many segregated facilities in Fayetteville. The City Pool, movie theatres and the public elementary schools are a few examples. His committee was tasked with the integration of Fayetteville’s elementary schools. Many don’t know that even though the high schools integrated in 1954, the elementary schools didn’t until 1965. Henry, along with Lodeane Deffebaugh, and Phil Bashor, were instrumental in getting Peabody Elementary on the U of A campus, to serve as the pilot school for elementary school integration. The following year, Fayetteville public elementary schools were integrated.
Henry worked in many different areas since his arrival to Fayetteville in 1944. Most notably he worked for Chemmel’s Chicken Hatchery, and spent 23 years at Elkhart Production Company. During this time he also worked as a custodian at Underwood’s Jewelers and Fay Jones Architects for 40 years. He always greeted people with a smile and a handshake, and was willing to lend a hand to those in need. He will be truly missed
Visitation will be 2-4 PM Sunday, August 23, 2020 at Beard’s Funeral Chapel.
Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Monday, August 24, 2020 at Beard’s Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow at 11:30 AM at the Fayetteville National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be mailed to St. James United Methodist Church, PO Box 335, Fayetteville, AR. 72702
***Due to COVID-19 Pandemic, only 50 are allowed to attend the funeral service. Only 10 are allowed at the burial. Masks are mandatory. A virtual meeting via Zoom will be recorded for those not in attendance.
I will certainly miss Henry singing in the choir! I can imagine him singing “He Touched Me” to Jesus Himself! Enter Thou Good and Faithful Servant!
Cousin Henry was such a sweet man. I am going to miss him.
Dear Henry, we loved you so much. We will miss your smile and pleasant good morning at the Fayetteville Senior Center.
Also I remember the dear Christine Our condolences to the family. God bless. Chester & Doris Naramor
I was happy to discover Mr. Childress’s history. My father attended University High School, somewhere about 1919-1923, and he was distressed that black students had to be bussed to Fort Smith every day. This must have been a grueling ride, on the old, winding road, and exhausting for these kids; I’m thinking they must have been on those old busses nearly 2 hours each way! He never forgot that and shared it with me decades later.
Sympathy to the family.
What a legacy Henry has left his family and community. We occasionally crossed paths, my having been a friend and co-worker of his sweet wife Christine. Knowing her meant knowing her family, values and commitment to what’s right.
Although he will be missed on this earth, “to be absent in the body is to be present with the Lord.”
Based on 2 Corinthians 5:8.
In remembrance,
Judi Singleton
A hero and community leader was lost when we lost Mr.Childress. I offer my sympathies to the family. I had the honor of teaching two of his grandchildren and knowing his wife and his son Henry,. He brought so much to the Jefferson Elementary community when the school was open and I know that the memories of him, held close by his siblings, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren will keep the memory of him alive for generations. God bless his family as he rests in peace with the Lord.
Remembering Mr. Childress,
A pillar of St. James United Methodist Church and a great who raised a great family.
Nate and Nancy Allen
My love and prayers go out to all that loved this sweet man❤️
Sending thoughts and prayers to Henry Lee Childress and his family on the death of his father Henry Childress Jr.
From your old neighbor,
Wanda Peterson
My condolences to the family. Love Saretta Stewart