To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Arkansas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 5/31/19 • Approved: 10/15/19 • Last Updated: 10/18/19 • R1271660-G0-S3
July 24, 1928 - March 20, 2017
Reverend Herschel Herbert McClurkin, Jr, 88, of Alma, Arkansas passed away Monday, March 20, 2017 at his home in Alma, Arkansas. He was born July 24, 1928 in Stephens, Arkansas. He was raised in Mulberry, Arkansas and graduated from Mulberry High School. Herschel received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Master of Science in Animal Husbandry from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas and was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He later received a Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas. Herschel served on active duty with the Air Force and then retired as a Major from the Air Guard Reserves.
Early in his career, Herschel served as Youth Director at First UMC in Fort Smith and First UMC in Garland, Texas while attending Perkins. On August 13, 1967, he married Mardell Christello of Fort Smith. They would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this summer. Through his 30 years in full-time ministry and 18 years of “post retirement part-time” ministry, Herschel served many appointments across the state of Arkansas including Gentry/Springtown/Highfill, Wesley Russellville/London, Walnut Ridge/Alicia, Newport, Wynne/McElroy, District Superintendent of the Conway District, Greenwood, Kibler UMCs and on staff at Ft Smith First UMC.
Herschel also had extensive training in United Methodist camping Ministry where he was a member of the planning committee of Shoal Creek Camp and directed its first camp.
Herschel served on numerous boards and agencies. He was a member of the Board of Arkansas Methodist Children’s Home, Philander Smith College, and the University of Central Arkansas. He served as a member of the Arkansas Inter-Faith Conference, a conference representative to Perkins Alumni Council, a member of the Board of Directors Wesley Foundation at ATU and Arkansas State University, Secretary of the Alma Community Outreach Center, and on the Ozark Chinquapin Foundation board. He was Chaplain of the Ligon Family and Kinsmen Association, and a member of the Fort Smith Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow.
On February 10, 2017, he and Mardell received the Fort Smith Exchange Clubs Book of Golden Deeds Award. Herschel lived his life full of LOVE for the church, his family, friends, and the Razorbacks, Joy for the Lord, Peace through his gratitude in all circumstances, Patience in his marriage, raising children, being a grandfather and father figure to so many, Kindness to everyone he met, Goodness in what he saw in others and through his keen sense of humor, Faithfulness in his work, service for others and devotion to his family, Gentleness in his pastoral care, ministry and how he handled difficult situations, and Self-Control in only eating one serving of ice cream a day! He is survived by his wife, Mardell Christello McClurkin of Alma; brother John McClurkin of Mulberry, Arkansas; daughter Alice Scheer and husband Dr Blake Scheer of Little Rock, Arkansas; son Trey McClurkin and wife Tammie of Conway, Arkansas; grandchildren Graham and Ella Scheer of Little Rock, Arkansas and Emma, Siah and Hayes McClurkin of Conway, Arkansas.
Contributed on 5/31/19 by billsully060
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 1271660