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Submitted: 10/5/10 • Approved: 4/28/11 • Last Updated: 2/5/23 • R387064-G0-S3
August 11, 1927 - November 3, 2008
Ersel was born in Beaudry, Arkansas, and grew up in the Antioch Community in Saline County. He graduated as Salutatorian of his class from Paron High School in 1945. He attended the Kelberg Institute of Swedish massage and therapy in Chicago, Illinois. He worked in the Majestic Hotel bathhouse and The Maurice bathhouse of Hot Springs. In 1972 he became the Health Club Director of the Central Branch YMCA in Little Rock, Arkansas and ultimately became the Executive Director.
Ersel was ordained as a minister in the Primitive Baptist Faith August 26th, 1950. At times he served as pastor of three churches simultaneously. The churches served were Old Union Primitive Baptist church in Antioch Community, 31 years, First Primitive Baptist church of Hot Springs, 54 years, Pleasant Hill Church of Hurricane Grove, Arkansas 47 years, and Harmony Primitive Church in Mena, 2 years.
A large part of Ersel's ministry was to the community in which he lived. He was called upon for funerals and weddings by people from all walks of life. One of his greatest gifts was that of comforting people in their time of need.(from Caruth-Hale Funeral Home online obituary)
Contributed on 10/5/10 by pvhwdh
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Record #: 387064