O'Neal Stevens

O'Neal (Neal) Stevens, 83, of Hampton went to be with the Lord, Thursday, June 21, 2018. He was born to Oscar Stevens and Leona Smith Stevens, Feb. 22, 1935, in Manila, Ark. He was preceded in death by his father; mother; one brother, Phillip Conway; two sisters, Shelby and Sandra. He is survived by his wife of almost 62 years, Gleenda Glover Stevens; one son, Michael Stevens; one daughter, Pamela Carter and one granddaughter, Amie Counts. Neal enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1953 and retired from the Army in 1975. During his years of service, he served three tours of duty in Vietnam. He surrendered to preach the gospel about midway of his Army career and preached wherever he was stationed in many small churches. After he retired, he went to Florida Baptist Bible Institute and served his first church as pastor, in Daleville, Ala. Later he served in four different small churches in Arkansas. He served with the Arkansas Baptist and Pulaski Baptist Association starting churches in mobile home parks. Then he began working with the Home Mission Board (now the North American Mission Board) of the Southern Baptist Convention; one year in Arkansas and four years in Indiana, and over much of the United States doing the same work. He retired from the Home Mission Board in 1997 and soon became the Veteran's Service Officer for Calhoun County, Ark., and served for 11+ years. He had a long and productive life and loved it all. Visitation will be held at First Baptist Church, Hampton, Tuesday, June 26, from 6-8 p.m. Graveside service will be Wednesday, June 27 at 1 p.m. at the Arkansas State Veteran's Cemetery, 1501 West Maryland Ave. North Little Rock, Ark. Funeral arrangements are by Roller-Drummond Funeral Home, Little Rock, Ark. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/drummond.