Leonard James Bynum

LEONARD JAMES BYNUM, son of the late Mozella Porch Woods and the late Malvin Bynum; husband of Mable Washington Bynum, and father of Deedra Bynum Lee (Ivan), Melanie Bynum Jackson (Keith), Demetrus "Deme" Bynum and Sherree Bynum, succumbed at Little Rock's St. Vincent Hospital on Thursday, Feb. 14 at the age of 69. Born April 22, 1943, in Little Rock, Ark., he resided in North Little Rock for the major portion of his life, but spent recent years in Mayflower, Ark. on the shore of his beloved Lake Conway. Leonard was a graduate of Scipio A. Jones High School and A.M. & N. College, now known as the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (U.A.P.B.). He always valued interacting with former schoolmates, especially members of the S.A. Jones High School Alumni Association, but none more than his 1960 Dragon Classmates. His 40 year professional career included one year with both the United States Job Corps in Oregon and the Graflex Training Program in Mississippi. For thirty eight years he was a human services worker with the Arkansas Mental Health Services Division, where he retired in 2004 as State Hospital Patient Advocate. Much social time was spent with the Antoine Buckhorn Club in the woods of southwest Arkansas, as well as with the Arkansas Rollin Lions RV Club as they caravanned across the SWAC supporting the UAPB Golden Lions football team and enjoying extended tailgate parties. He was also affiliated with Wonder State Lodge #478 and Trinity Masonic Lodge #33. Others cherishing Leonard's memory are grandchildren, Kenyon and Koilan Jackson, Ivian Lee, and Tristen Bynum; sister, Mildred Bynum Grant (James); special cousins, William Marshall (Linda), Charles and Sean Porch; aunt; Mary King Porch; sisters-in-law, Ardie Washington Funderburk, Blanche Washington James, and Gwendolyn Washington Bush; nieces; nephews; other cousins; and a host of neighbors and friends, including Samuel and Earnestean Holloway, Ralph and Maude "Dee Dee" Nelson, and Arthur and Brenda Reed. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids (PARK) at 6915 Geyer Springs Road-Little Rock, Ark. 72209 or St. James C.M.E Church 1304 Markham Street-Conway, Ark. 72032. Family hour will be held Tuesday from 5:30-7 p.m. at Robinson Mortuary-1201 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive–Little Rock, Ark. 72202. Final Services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church, 811 Scipio A. Jones Drive-North Little Rock.