Carroll Franklin Sites

Carroll Franklin Sites (82), renamed "Poppa" by his grandkids, was born in Sheridan, Ark., on July 4, 1935. He was the youngest of ten children born to William Hamilton Sites and Cora Blanche (Knowles) Sites. He passed into heaven peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family. Carroll graduated from Sheridan High School in 1953 where he lettered in football as the Quarterback and Center for the Yellowjackets, played basketball and played the trombone in the marching band. He attended Arkansas State Teacher's College (now UCA) in Conway, Ark., on a music scholarship. There he met Sarah Loreta Pinkston of Cave City, Ark., and it was love at first sight. They met in Jan. 1955, were married on July 17th of the same year and just celebrated their 62nd year of marriage. Carroll and Sarah moved to Little Rock, Ark., where he enrolled in the military. Carroll served 42 years in the United States Air Force and the Arkansas Air National Guard, retiring as a full Colonel in 1996. In 1960 Carroll became a Christian and felt a strong desire to preach. He served as minister of three congregations of the Churches of Christ during his 52 years of full-time ministry. He preached 21 years at the Lorance Drive congregation in East End, Ark., and four years at the Park Hill congregation in North Little Rock, Ark. He has preached at the Higden Church of Christ in Greers Ferry, Ark., for 28 years where he also served as an elder for 24 years. Carroll's mission work, along with his wife, led them to Ukraine, Scotland, Kosovo and South America. Carroll began preaching on the radio in 1974 and has had two ongoing programs: "Words of Truth" and "Nuggets of Truth," which will continue to air through archived sermons. Always accompanied by his wife Sarah, he held hundreds of gospel meetings across the country. Carroll also served for several years, and nine years as Chairman of the Board, for Southern Christian Children's Home. Carroll was a "fisher of men," but also a fisherman! He loved the challenge of catching "a big one" and has several trophy-size deer and fish decorating the walls of his home office. He is survived by a daughter Debbie Ann Grooms (Tim) of Sherwood, Ark., and a son Jimmy Carroll Sites (Amanda) of Nashville, Tenn. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Kendel Grooms (Carrie) of Maumelle, Ark., Jeffrey Grooms (Amy) of Providence, R. I., Christin Sites of Nashville, Tenn., and Jonathan Sites of Nashville, Tenn. He is survived by three great-grandchildren, Owen Grooms, Jackson Grooms and Freya Grooms. Visitation will be held on Monday, July 31st from 2–3 p.m. with the funeral to follow at 3 p.m. at the Higden Church of Christ on Hwy 16 near Greers Ferry, Ark. The internment will take place Tuesday, Aug. 1st at 1 p.m. at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery, 1501 W. Maryland Ave., Sherwood, Ark., with a reception to follow at Woody's Sherwood Forest Event Center, 1111 W. Maryland Ave., Sherwood, Ark. The family would like to thank Dr. Arnaoutakis and his staff at the UAMS Cancer Institute, who were always in our corner and offered the best care possible. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to the Southern Christian Children's Home in Morrilton, Ark., or to the Carroll and Sarah Sites Missions and Minister Scholarship Fund at Harding University. Please send memorials to: Southern Christian Children's Home, 100 W. Harding St., Morrilton, Ark. 72110,(Please note Memorial for Mr. Carroll Sites). Harding University/Attn. Dan Campbell, 915 East Market Ave. HU 12238, Searcy, Ark. 72149, (Please note Carroll & Sara Sites Missions & Minister Scholarship Fund). Arrangements are by Olmstead Funeral Home. www.olmstead.cc.