Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Paul Choate

The honorable and Rev. Paul B. Choate, 71, of Blevins, passed away Friday, Aug. 5, 2005, at Medical Park Hospital in Hope.

He was born May 28, 1934, in Lonoke, to Sterling Jackson and Lucy Cox Choate. He was the founding minister of the Word of Faith Church in Blevins.

He was the mayor of Blevins, a retired biologist from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the former pastor of Marlbrook Baptist Church in Blevins for seven years, former Lake Maumelle Water District Manager, former Hempstead County Memorial Hospital Board member and instrumental in establishing Medical Park Hospital; former school teacher in Paris, Ark. first juvenile judge for Hempstead County.

He was preceded in death by his parents and foster parents, Roy and Louise Prewitt; also by four brothers, Cecil, Lawrence, Clarence and Ralph Choate, and by two sisters, Rosa Lee and Maxine Choate.

Pauls passion for life was to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. He loved people and had a God-given desire to help those in need. He loved his community, church and family. His positive influence will never be forgotten.

Survivors include: his wife of 40 years, Pamela D. Young Choate of Blevins; four sons, David L. Banister and Juanita, of Blevins, Roy H. Banister and Janet of Blevins, Timothy Paul Choate and Janet of Blevins, and Andrew Ryan Choate of Little Rock; two brothers, William King of Chicago, Ill., and Lee King of Lonoke; one sister, Julia Ann King of Winslow; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Celebration of life and home-going service was 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8, 2005, at Imon and Carol Brown Blevins High School Gymnasium, Blevins, with Martin Jones and the Rev. Joseph Rowe, the Rev. Randy Hughes and the Rev. Lee Little officiating. Burial followed in Marlbrook Cemetery, Blevins, under the direction of Brazzel/Oakcrest Funeral Home, Hope.

The family received visitors Sunday, Aug. 7, 2005, from 2-5 p.m. at Brazzel/Oakcrest in Hope.