Richard Boyd Bransford

Richard Boyd Bransford, beloved husband of Johnnie Carolyn Bransford, dad, granddad and all-round leader of the extended family, died Thursday night, Jan. 15, 2015. He was born in Little Rock on April 10, 1930, lived his life in Lonoke and passed after suffering a severe head injury at home on Wednesday morning. He was a graduate from the University of Arkansas in 1951 and was a member of the ∑AE fraternity. After graduating from the University of Arkansas in only three years, he married his childhood sweetheart, Johnnie Carolyn Singleton. They knew, from the first time they exchanged Christmas presents in the 3rd grade, they were meant to be together. He gave her a bracelet with her name printed on it and she, in return, presented him with a little green turtle named Hector. Their love and her bracelet survived, but Hector did not. In 1951, Dick and Johnnie moved to Pettus and started farming land that had been in the family since the 1840s. Dick planted seeds which yielded 63 crops and three children, Becky, Rick and Roger. Dick dedicated his life not only to his family, friends and church but also to his community. While living in Pettus, he was a member and deacon at Caney Creek Baptist Church. When the family moved back to Lonoke in 1966, they joined Lonoke Baptist Church and built their present day home in town. His local community service included serving on the Lonoke School Board for four years, Lonoke City Council for 20 years and First State Bank Board of Trustees for many years. Dick was also president of the Lonoke Cemetery Association starting in 1980. After five years of tireless dedication to the cemetery, he and Johnnie were awarded the 1985 Governor's Volunteer Excellence Award. At the state level, he served on the UALR Board of Visitors for 12 years, was honored as the 1985 State Farm Family of the year, served on the Arkansas Agriculture Council from 1986 to the present and was inducted into the Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2001. In the Mid-South region, he served as president of the Southern Ginners Association and the Arkansas-Missouri Ginners Association in 1994 and 1995. He received Ginner of the Year honors in 1997. At the national level, he was elected president of the National Cotton Ginners Association, an active Cotton Inc. member for eight years and was appointed an Arkansas delegate to the National Cotton Council for 16 years. He was a life long, die-hard Razorback fan, a season ticket holder from 1958 to the present and has always loved and followed his Hogs, which included a seven year stretch of never missing a home or an away game. The last football game he was able to watch was a win over Texas in a bowl game and anytime you beat Texas its a great day! Whoo Pig! Dick honored his faith, family and farm with passion, especially his beloved Democratic party. A good story was enjoyed as much as a devilish prank. He was generous, almost to a fault, with his time, energy and resources. Loving to solve a problem, he never shied away from a challenge. Dick enjoyed riding a horse through the deer woods of south Arkansas, having a kitty curled up in his lap at home, playing golf at Rolling Hills Country Club and dining out with friends and family. He was comfortable plowing a field one day and the next going to the Oval Office telling the president how to do his job in regards to issues involving agriculture. He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas J. Bransford and his mother, Natalie Barton Bransford Norbury, both Lonoke natives and his brother and sister-in-law, Tommy and Emily Anne Bransford of Hot Springs. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Johnnie Carolyn Singleton Bransford of Lonoke, Becky (Bill) Paxton of Poplar Bluff, Mo.; Rick (Susan) Bransford of Lonoke and Roger (Susan) Bransford of Memphis. His grandchildren are Dr. Sara (Tyler) Blair of Little Rock. Sloan and Taylor Paxton of Poplar Bluff, Ellen Bransford of Memphis and Alex Bransford of Las Vegas, Nevada. There will be a visitation on Sunday, Jan. 18 at 3 p.m. at Boyd Funeral Home in Lonoke. A service celebrating the life of Dick Bransford will be Monday. Jan. 19 at 2 p.m. at Lonoke Baptist Church, 406 Front St. in Lonoke. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lonoke Baptist Church. 406 Front St., Lonoke, AR 72086, the Lonoke Cemetery Association P.O. Box 761 Lonoke. AR 72086-0761, Arkansas Children's Hospital or a charity of the donors choice. You have left a Lifetime of love behind for us all. Words cannot describe how much we will miss you. Thank you for the loving example you have planted in our hearts and minds. Richard Boyd Bransford—husband, Father. Grandfather, Friend--you have left us with memories that shall never be forgotten. Arrangements by Boyd Funeral Home, Lonoke.www.boydfuneralhome.net