LITTLE ROCK — Friends and family described Philip Wise, who was fatally shot on Christmas Eve, as “low-key, kindhearted, caring” and “humble,” while others called him a “big, gentle giant.”
But each person who spoke at Tuesday’s memorial service for the Salvation Army major told of Wise’s commitment to his faith and to serving the people in the Baring Cross neighborhood of North Little Rock where he was killed in front of his three young children.
“That afternoon they may have killed him, but they couldn’t touch his spirit, they can’t touch his legacy and they can’t wipe out our God,” said Wise’s friend, Capt. Bob Cornett, who gave the sermon honoring his friend.
More than 350 people, including Salvation Army officers and soldiers from several states, gathered Tuesday afternoon to “celebrate” Wise’s life at a public memorial service at the First Assembly of God church in North Little Rock.
Tuesday’s service included worship songs, a sermon, and at its conclusion, an invitation to become a Christian.
The evangelical nature of the service was what Wise would have wanted, his wife said during the service.
“He wouldn’t want us to be boohooing all the time,” Major Cindy Wise said. “He would just want us to honestly and truly grab a hold of God’s word and just spend time with Him.”
But Cornett said there was one thing his friend wouldn’t have liked about the memorialservice: the ties and jackets or dresses many wore at the service.
“If he could pick the dress for today ... we would all be wearing Big Dog shorts and a big floppy T-shirt sitting on couches,” Cornett said.
Cornett and others recalled that Wise’s passions, outside of the ministry, included music and sports.
“There’s one fatal flaw that Phil has. He grew up in Steeler country ... and somehow he slipped through the safety net of Steeler football and became a Dallas Cowboys fan,” said Major Ken Luyk, who led Wise when he was training to become a Salvation Army officer more than 15 years ago.
Major Jimmy Bovender, Wise’s father-in-law, said he originally didn’t know if Wise measured up to the expectations he had for his daughter’s husband.
But, his worries were put to rest early on because he could tell that his son-in-law was called by “God to love people.”
“[Wise] was one of those that gave his heart so that as he reached to the needs of individual people no matter who they were, no matter the circumstances they were in, he was always there for them,” Bovender said after the service.
“It’s hard but we are going to have to accept it and forgive whoever did this to such an awesome man,” said Cody Tripp, who attended Wise’s church at the community center.
“It doesn’t end here. Major wanted us to continue to fight, to serve and to help others in our community,” Tripp said.
North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Hays, who also spoke at the memorial service, agreed that Wise’s work in the Baring Cross neighborhood would continue to bear fruit.
Hays said he had driven over to visit the Salvation Army community center Tuesday morning. As he sat in his car in the parking lot, he said, he saw a young woman and a child walking past the center.
“I couldn’t help but think that that child is going to have a much better chance at a good life, and a kind life, and a life that will be filled with love and warmth because Phil and Cindy Wise were and are in that neighborhood,” Hays said.
Cindy Wise plans to continue working at the North Little Rock center after her husband is buried in West Virginia.
She was inside the center when her husband was killed about 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Philip Wise and his three children had just returned to the center after taking two of the Salvation Army’s kettlecampaign bell ringers home when two armed black men approached him and demanded money.
One of the men then shot him near the back door of the community center at 1505 W. 18th St., where he also pastored a church.
No arrests have been made in the slaying.
A $10,000 reward has been offered through the Pulaski County Crime Stoppers program for any information about the slaying. Anyone with information can call (501) 758-1234.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 11 on 12/30/2009