Vernice Brister

Vernice Brister, Jr., 68, of Blytheville, died as a result of an accident while walking on 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, Mo. 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 thru 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 when he graduated from high school in 1964. He loved coming home to his parent's 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 St. 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 on Friday, when he was hit by a vehicle involved in a 4 car accident that he sustained massive chest injuries and died instantly. Vernice was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Blytheville 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, Ark., Melody Brister Mooney of Jonesboro and Dr. Paul Brister and wife Dee of O'Fallon, Mo. and 11 great-nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Don Hall officiating. The family will receive friends Monday, March 12, 2012 from 6-8 p.m. at Cobb Funeral Home. Online register may be signed at cobbfuneralhome.com.