Jefferson Donald Corley

Dr. Jefferson Donald Corley was born in Seminole, Oklahoma. He was a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University and the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a Doctor of Theology in 1954. He served as the Director of Pastoral Care in three metropolitan medical centers and as pastor of three Presbyterian congregations. His hospital based pastoral activity included the years from 1952 until 1976 in the Baptist Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana; the Arkansas State Hospital, Little Rock, Arkansas; and the Baptist Medical Center System, Little Rock, Arkansas. In each of these medical centers, he established clinical pastoral educational programs for clergy persons and supervised pastoral counseling services. His pastorates (from 1976-1991) included: First Presbyterian Churches in Bastrop. Louisiana; Arkadelphia, Arkansas and Gonzales, Texas. After his retirement from the pastorate in 1991, he was an adjunct faculty professor at Henderson State University, teaching classes in Introduction to Philosophy. Dr. Corley was a writer of fiction, loved golf and fishing. He spent much time as an amateur radio operator. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie Lynell Corley and a daughter, Donna Maria Lovelace. Survivors are two daughters, Betty Colgrove of Conway, Arkansas and Cindy Viala of Rogers, Arkansas, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Graveside funeral services will be 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Arkadelphia, Arkansas with Rev. Kendal Land officiating. Memorials may be made to the Memorial Fund of The First Presbyterian Church, 1220 Pine St. Arkadelphia, Ark. 71923. Sign on-line guest book at www.ruggleswilcox.com.