Willie Ray "Preacher" Bond

Willie Ray Bond, affectionately known as “Preacher”, 81 of Greenwood, Arkansas passed away Monday, April 20, 2015 at Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith with a brain bleed. He was born July 13, 1933 in Stone County, Mississippi to Omar and Eva Bond. Ray married on March 28, 1953 to Stella Meaux in Westwego, LA. He was a scholar of the Bible from Mount Olive’s Seminary, a Missionary Baptist minister for 42 years serving in the states of Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Alabama, a prayer warrior to many, counselor to all he pastored, a witness to all that crossed his path, he was loved and admired by all. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War.

Funeral service will be 2 p.m., Friday, April 24, 2015 at Denver Street Baptist Church, 1413 W. Denver St. in Greenwood with burial at Liberty Cemetery under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home of Greenwood. Brother George Redding and Rev. Ronnie Deal will be officiating. Viewing will be Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon at the funeral home, where the family will visit with friends from 11 a.m. to 12 noon.

He is survived by his wife, Stella Bond; three children, Tony Bond and his wife, Sheila of Wynne, AR, Timmy Bond and his wife, Francis of Marvel, AR and Tammy Jones and husband, Charles of Greenwood; two sisters, Catherine Ladner and Doris Cameron both of Mississippi; fourteen grandchildren, Robin, April and JJ, Dustin and Marla, Kimberly and Kory, Melanie, Amy and Jimmy, Lacy and Chris, Gabrial and CJ; seven great grandchildren, Rylee, Eden, Reece, Cannon, Lane, Toby Brooke, Chandler and baby Luke (on the way) and honorary family members, Kora and husband Seneca, Ethan, Austin and Dina. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Maxine Cuavas, Winnie Faber and Charlene Hickman and one brother, TP Bond all of Mississippi.

His children fondly remember him by his daily question. Do you know what today is? Yes Daddy! Today is the first day of the rest of my life.

Pallbearers will be Charles Jones, CJ Jones, Dustin Bond, Jimmy Yates, Kory Kinslow, and Doug Kinslow. Honorary pallbearers will be Rylee Logsdon, Chris Hensley and JJ Ryan.

The family request that donations be made in Ray’s name to the Minister Resource Services C/O Denver Street Baptist Church, 1413 W. Denver St., Greenwood, AR 72936.

To sign an online guest book, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com