James Gillespie Jr.

Reverend JAMES GILLESPIE JR., 61, of Little Rock walked straight to the arms of his Savior on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010. "Big Daddy" as he was known was born on Nov. 7, 1949, to the late James Gillespie Sr. and Ozelma (Butler) Gillespie in Little Rock. A high man of faith, James never let circumstances get him down. He continued to strive for the higher calling of his Lord and Savior. He was proud to serve his country in Vietnam from 1968-1974 and then spent over 20 years as a police officer. Big Daddy was a baseball coach for years and impacted the lives of many boys and girls. He was a member of the American Legion. Big Daddy was everyone's confidante and was loved by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him. He will be deeply missed. He was preceded in death by two brothers, LeeAndrew Miller and Donald Gillespie. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Valerie; his children, James Gillespie III and his wife, Linda, Talena Gillespie and her husband, Harold, Kareem Gillespie and his wife, Dana, Lenorris Hughes and his wife, Wendy, Shana Howard, James Garrison, Chelsye Gillespie, Kyle Travis, Kellee Travis and Kameron Muhammad; his brothers and sisters, Gloria Henderson, Ray Gillespie, Ronald Gillespie and his wife, Sherry, Barbara Ann Miller, Denise Gillespie, Melvin Miller and Shena Gillespie; his 14 grandchildren and his six great-grandchildren and a host of extended family and friends. Memorial service will be on Monday, Dec. 13th, 2010, at 3 p.m. in the chapel of Griffin Leggett Healey and Roth Funeral Home with Reverend Shay Gillespie officiating. Homer Wells will read Words of Encouragement and Norris Hughs will read from the Old Testament. Memorials may be made to the Veterans Hospital in Little Rock. To sign his guestbook, please visit www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.