John Hunter

Rev. John Brown (J.B.) Hunter, Jr. of Benton, Arkansas died August 10, 2010 at Saline Memorial Hospice House in Bryant, Arkansas at age 97. He was born May 9, 1913 in LaGrange, Georgia, the son of John B. Gordon Hunter and Emma Hunt Hunter. Mr. Hunter grew up in Troupe County. He attended Mercer University in Macon, Georgia and earned an A.B. degree. Mr. Hunter was a Chaplain in the U.S. Army Air Force World War II, and then attended Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas where he earned a B.D. and Th.M degree. He pastored several churches in Georgia, the latest being First Baptist in Manchester, Georgia and Emory Baptist in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Hunter retired from (then) Benton Services Center in Benton after 19 years as Chaplain. He was a member of Mount Carmel United Methodist Church of Benton. Two brothers, Franklin Hunter, George Willis Hunter and two sisters, Adelle Taylor, May Jo Gedda, all of Georgia, have preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Whatley Hunter; three sons, Carl Mercer Hunter and wife Kay of Bishop, California, Walter Malcolm Hunter and wife Linda of Fairfield Bay and David Edwin Hunter and wife Shirley of Pagosa Springs, Colorado; brother, Fred Hunter and wife Willie Mae of Alexander City, Alabama; sisters, Louise (Jenny) Turner of Fayetteville, Georgia and Elizabeth McWilliams and husband Tommy of Waco, Texas; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; three step-children, Cindy Broadway, Darrell and Robert Sheridan of Benton and several nieces and nephews of Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida and Texas. A visitation time will be in the Fellowship Hall Saturday, August 14 at 10 a.m. with memorial service to follow at 11 a.m. at Mount Carmel United Methodist Church, 2005 Highway 5 North, Benton, Arkansas. A private burial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, send memorial donations to Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church Drive-way Fund or to Saline Memorial Hospice House, 23157 I-30, Bryant, Ark. 72022. The family wants to thank Saline Memorial Hospice House Staff and Hospice Out-Patient staff for the loving care of our loved one. On-line guest book at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com.