John Marshall Lewellen

Former State Representative John Lewellen, 87, of Little Rock passed on Saturday November 25, 2017. He was born in Forrest City, Arkansas on September 16, 1930 to Jesse and Cornelius Lewellen. A Korean War Veteran, he served 4 years in the US Air Force then earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from AM&N/UAPB and a Masters from Atlanta University. A former science teacher and high school principal, Representative Lewellen spent 33 years in state government, retiring in 1997. After retired Mr. Lewellen founded the nonprofit ConIvie Courts, Inc. a 501(c)3 senior housing facility. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Former State Representative Wilhelmina Lewellen; children, Ivie Clay of St. Louis, and Connie Biddle (Marlon) of Little Rock; grandchildren, Marla and Kaitlyn Biddle of Little Rock and Carol and Will Clay of St. Louis; 3 sisters, Violet Rispon of Detroit, Garnet Crocket of Los Angeles, CA and Ann Lewis of Atlanta, Ga. He is preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, four sisters, and one child. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., on Friday December 1st at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, 1400 S. Ringo Street, Little Rock, Ark., with Rev. Marion Humphrey officiating. Visitation will be 6–7 p.m., on Thursday, November 30th at Allison Presbyterian Church. Memorials may be made to the John and Wilhelmina Lewellen Scholarship Fund at UAPB Office of Development • 1200 North University Drive • Mail Slot 4981 • Pine Bluff, Ark. 71601 or to ConIvie Gardens, Inc., 2500 Gaines St., Little Rock, Ark. 72206. Services entrusted to: Ruffin & Jarrett Funeral Home, 1200 S. Chester St. Little Rock, Ark. (501) 372-1305.