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Submitted: 7/8/14 • Approved: 7/8/14 • Last Updated: 7/11/14 • R1019508-G0-S3
1943 - 2012
*Obituary
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BLYTHEVILLE Vernice Brister Jr., 68, of Blythe?ville died as a result of an accident while walking on Friday, March 9, 2012.
He was born May 20, 1943, to Margery Ross Brister and Vernice Brister Sr. of Yarbro. He grew up in the Yarbro community where his father farmed. Mr. Brewster was a 1964 graduate of Arkansas School for the Deaf, where he played football and basketball.
When he was 10 months old, he was seriously ill with pneumonia. As a result, he gradually developed a profound hearing loss. He began to say a few words and then stopped speaking.
He was almost 4 years old when the diagnosis was finally made that he was profoundly deaf. At that time, the choices for educating a deaf child were very limited either the state school for the deaf in Little Rock or expensive private schools the closest being in St. Louis. The decision was made for him to attend a class for the hard-of-hearing in the Memphis City Schools.
Therefore, his father would drive Vernice and his mother to Memphis every Sunday so they could stay in an apartment while he attended school through the week, and he would return to pick them up on Friday afternoon to come home for the weekend. When his father became very ill, his mother had to return home.
Vernice, then 10 years old, went to the Arkansas School for the Deaf where he graduated from high school in 1964.
He loved coming home to his parents farm every summer where he spent his happiest times as a child.
Vernice was employed by Nibco Blytheville for 34 years. He retired from Nibco in 2005. He was an avid runner for over 30 years and was frequently referred to as the deaf man who runs. He was a regular in runs around the area for many years and had the trophies to prove it.
Later, when he had to give up running, he took long morning walks from his home on Broadmoor Street to Yarbro. In addition, he rode an exercise bike and lifted weights. Many people were the recipient of his lectures on the importance of exercise. It was on his walk Friday that he was hit by a vehicle involved in a four-car accident that he sustained massive chest injuries and died instantly.
Vernice was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Blythe?ville where he was a member of the praise team and taught sign language classes.
Vernice was an enthusiastic fan of Arkansas Razorback Football and Gosnell High School Athletics, especially basketball where his nephew, Len Whitehead, is coach.
Mr. Brister was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his bother, Steve Brister and wife Donna of Jonesboro; sister, Elizabeth Brister Franks and husband Don of Knoxville, Tenn.; nephews and nieces, Dr. Alice Franks and husband Rod North of Greensboro, N.C., Ray Franks and wife Andrea of New York City, Len Whitehead and wife Angel of Blytheville, Sean Brister and wife Stephanie of Alma, Melody Brister Mooney of Jonesboro and Dr. Paul Brister and wife Dee of OFallon, Mo.; 11 great-nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. today at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Don Hall officiating. Visitation was Monday. Cobb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Contributed on 7/8/14 by hawkinsdonna
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Record #: 1019508