Mr. James Henry (Jim) Abel, age 81, long time resident of Forrest City, Arkansas, went to be with his Lord on Friday, March 16, 2007 at his home in Jonesboro. Jim was born May 25, 1925 in Grenada, Mississippi to James Henry Abel and Jessie Ward (Cooper) Abel. At 6 months of age, the family moved back to St. Francis County where Jim's ancestors had lived since the beginning of the 1870's. He was a 1943 graduate of Forrest City High School and attended James Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. In July of 1943, he entered WWII where he served as 1st Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. On February 19, 1945, he married Virgimai Porter, daughter of Forrest City Mayor, Jack Rosamond Porter and his wife Virgie Belle (Moore) Porter. They settled in Forrest City where Jim became actively involved in multiple businesses in the area. They included; J. H. Abel & Son Wells and Irrigation Systems, Abel Hardware, A & T Stores, Inc. of Forrest City, West Helena, and Marianna, and Best Western Motels. He was active in supporting the Forrest City Chamber of Commerce and the Merchants Committee. Although he was a very busy businessman, the most important thing in Jim's life was service to his church and his Lord. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Forrest City where he began serving as a deacon at the age of 21. He served as various officers in the deacon body, which included Chairman many different times. He served on the Finance Committee of the church, Pulpit Committee, was a Sunday School Superintendent, and an active member of the church choir and men's quartet. He also served the area as a lay preacher. Outside of his community, he served as President of the Arkansas Baptist Brotherhood and was honored by the Christian Life Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. Since moving to Jonesboro about 9 years ago, he has been an active member of Central Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his father, James Henry Abel, Sr. and mother, Jessie Ward (Cooper) Abel; four brothers, Charles Edward Abel, William Wright Abel, Curtis Elton Abel, and Richard Eugene Abel; and two sisters; Anna Bell Greenacre and Lucy Mae Howard. He is survived by his wife, Virgimai Porter Abel of the home, two daughters; Donna Karen (Abel) Shoemaker and her husband Ron Shoemaker, and Linda Rosamond (Abel) Crawley and her husband Dr. Michael E. Crawley; one son, James Henry (Jimmy) Abel, III and his wife Kathy all of Jonesboro. He also leaves five grandsons; Michael Crawley, Brad Crawley, Christopher Abel, and Carter Abel all of Jonesboro and R. Craig Crawley of Ocean Springs, Mississippi; and five great-grandchildren; Bethany Crawley, Braden Crawley, Alexandra Crawley, Lilly Crawley, and Bella Crawley. A celebration of Jim's life will be held Tuesday, March 20, 2007 at 2 o'clock at Forrest Park Cemetery in Forrest City, Arkansas. Visitation will be held at Steven's Funeral Home in Forrest City from 12 noon until 2 p.m., prior to the graveside service. Brother Kerry Powell of Newport, Tennessee, former pastor of First Baptist Church of Forrest City, will officiate the service. Pallbearers will include Michael Crawley, Craig Crawley, Brad Crawley, Christopher Abel, Carter Abel, Samuel Lucus, Ron Shoemaker, Dr. Michael Crawley, Emmett Slayton, and Bryan Collins. Honorary pallbearers will include the Wisdom Seekers class of Central Baptist Church, nephews Harry Chism, Pat Chism, and Jack Lofton, and caregivers Patricia McDaniel, Angela Allen and Crystal Jones. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be sent to Gideon' International, Central Baptist Church Building Fund, or the Alzheimer's Association. Paid obituary
Published: 2007-03-19 Forrest City Times Herald

RESIDENCE: STATE 87 ARKANSAS
RESIDENCE: COUNTY 123 ST FRANCIS
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT 4262 MIAMI BEACH FLORIDA
DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY 26
DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH 07
DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR 43
GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION PVT# Private
GRADE: CODE 8 Private
BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION AC# Air Corps