Joe Baylor Mason

Bishop Joe Baylor Mason, 73, of Crossett, Ark. died Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at Life Touch Hospice in El Dorado, Ark. He was a native of Lawson, Ark. and a resident of Crossett for 49 years. Bishop Mason was the pastor of Living Word Church of God in Christ, a veteran of the U.S. Army, and a retiree of Georgia Pacific Chemical Division as a lab technician after 25 years of service. He received a Certificate of Theology from C.H. Mason Bible College in Atlanta, Ga., and a Master of Theology Degree from United Seminary and Bible College in Monroe, La. He was a board member of United Theological Seminary Crossett Campus and founder of Northside Mission COGIC in Bastrop, La., where he pastored for 38 years. On November 11, 2012, he was consecrated to the Sacred Office of Bishop and appointed Jurisdictional Prelate of the Arkansas Third Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ, Inc. Bishop Mason was preceded in death by a son, Kenneth B. Mason; his father, O.B. Mason; two sisters, Roberta Williams and Lillie Faye Mason. He was an inspiration to all who knew him. He loved leading people to Christ, watching westerns, and going fishing. He never met a stranger. Survivors include his wife of over 52 years, Laretta Manning-Mason; one son, Victor B. Mason of Crossett, Ark.; one daughter, Loretha Johnson of Crossett, Ark.; one god-daughter, Monique Cooper Hollingquest(Virgil) of Bastrop, La.; mother, Arcie Norman-Gentle of El Dorado, Ark.; two brothers, Ray Charles Gentle of El Dorado, Ark. and James Mason of Chicago, Ill.; three step-brothers, Cal, James, and Chris (Katherine) Tucker all of Hamburg, AR; four sisters, Alberta McBee (Elmore), Flora Moody Crumes (Keith), both of Lake St. Louis, Mo., Mary Ezell Wallace (Samuel), of El Dorado, Ark., and Ollie Faye Mason, of Chicago, Ill.; four step-sisters, Sue Gibbs, of Gena, La., Annette Davis, of Winfield, La., Maxine Tucker, of Little Rock, Ark., and Marva Jo Gumble of Memphis, Tenn.; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Monday, September 24, 2018, 5-7 p.m., Living Word Church of God in Christ, 2109 South Main, Crossett, Ark. Arkansas Third Jurisdiction Celebration Service will follow at 7 p.m. Funeral Service will be Tuesday, September 25, 2018 at 11 a.m., Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 1533 Hwy. 52 West, Crossett, Ark. with Bishop Charles Edward Blake, Sr. officiating. Active pallbearers are National Adjutancy of the Church of God in Christ. Honorary pallbearers are Superintendents, Pastors, and Elders of Arkansas Third Jurisdiction Church of God In Christ. Burial, with military honors, will be in Westview Cemetery under the direction of Cromwell Funeral Home, Inc. of Hamburg, Ark.