Albert J. Porter

ALBERT J. PORTER, 88, of Little Rock — devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, and beloved friend — passed away on Tuesday, April 17, 2013 in his home. Al was born on Dec. 4, 1924, in Bude, Miss., and was raised in McComb and Jackson, Miss. He was a Little Rock resident since 1966. Al's career embraced both the educational and corporate arenas, through his profession as an accountant and business manager. He served on the business administration staff at Saints Industrial School and Junior College in Lexington, Miss., and continued as the Comptroller at Lane College in Jackson, Tenn. and as business manager at Philander Smith College in Little Rock. He retired as an accountant for Pirelli Armstrong Tire Company. Al attended Bethune-Cookman College and Kentucky State University, and did graduate work at the University of Oregon and the University of Washington. Al was active in a host of civic activities and served on over 17 boards, commissions and committees, including: the Little Rock Commission on Racial and Cultural Diversity; the Arkansas Council of International Visitors; the Central Arkansas Area Agency on Aging; the Governor's Advisory Committee on Aging; the Urban League; the Leadership Roundtable Association; the Sister Cities Commission; the Arkansas Fairness Council; the Centers for Youth and Families; Treatment Homes, Inc.,; Volunteers in Public Schools; the Friends of the Zoo; New Futures for Little Rock Youth; the Pulaski County Historical Society and the Arkansas Repertory Theater. A dedicated member of the Baha'i Faith, he served on the Local Spiritual Assembly for the Baha'is of Little Rock for more than three decades, including several years as the Assembly's chairman. He is survived by two daughters, Portia Porter Mittelman (Mark) of Springfield, Va. and Lois Jefferson Gilder (John) of Memphis, Tenn.; a son, Albert Porter II of Los Angeles, Calif.; one granddaughter, Johnice Gilder McRae (Floyd) of Atlanta, Ga.; three grandsons, Cameron Mittelman of Arlington, Va., Jordan Mittelman of Springfield, Va., and Dariel Gilder (Rae) of Hayward, Calif.; two great-granddaughters, Sterling Gilder and Jayla McRae; two great-grandsons, Jabari McRae and Jelani McRae; a sister-in-law, Blanche Ranger of Fort Worth, Texas; three brothers-in-law, Richard Ranger (Judy) of Walnut, Calif., Stephen Ranger of Fort Worth, Texas, and D. Marcus Ranger (Carla), of Dallas Texas and a host of extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Fanye Ranger Porter; his parents, Annie Jackson Porter Alexander and Sebel Porter; and his step-father, James Alexander. A family hour with tributes and remembrances will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 22, 2013 at Griffin Leggett Healy & Roth Funeral Home, 5800 W. 12th Street in Little Rock. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23, 2013, also at Griffin Leggett Healey and Roth. The family extends special appreciation to the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Little Rock, the Pi Omicron Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and the University Park Neighborhood Association. Please send the family your messages of love, comfort and support to Mr. Porter's online guestbook at www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.