Rev. Al Sparkman

Rev. Al Sparkman of Rogers, Ark. was born Sept. 24, 1931 in Smackover, Ark. to Lloyd Sparkman and Edith Spillman Sparkman. He graduated from Pine Bluff High School in 1949 and graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in 1953, earned his master of divinity degree in 1956 from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. and master of theology in 1957. His pastorates' were Anderson Chapel Baptist Church, Dumas, Ark., Cedar Creek Baptist Church, Bardstown, Ky., First Baptist Church, Mt. Washington, Ky., Shively Baptist Church, Shively, Ky., Levy Baptist Church, North Little Rock, Ark., First Baptist Church, Crossett, Ark., staff associate, First Baptist Church, Rogers, Ark., interim pastor, Faith Baptist Church, Sandusky, Okla., Crow Mountain Baptist Church, Russellville, Ark., interim pastor, First Baptist Church, Atkins, Ark.; pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church, Atkins, Ark. Through the radio ministry of First Baptist Church in Crossett, Ark., his sermons were broadcast to Arkansans for a number of years. Other ministries including revivals in many states, teaching and preaching on college campuses, teaching seminary extension, preaching and teaching in New Zealand and Baumholder, Germany. He served his denomination as a member or chairman of the State Baptist and associational committees and boards in Kentucky and Arkansas, and on the Kentucky Baptist Executive Board three years and Arkansas executive board 11 years, served as president of the Former Students Association of Ouachita Baptist University and president of Arkansas Alumni Association of Southern Seminary. He served on the board of trustees, Ouachita Baptist University; Board of International Baptist Ministries. He served on the Stewardship Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, 1984 – 1992. Rev. Al Sparkman died Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015 at the age of 83. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Bobbie Stephens Sparkman; his children, Susan Bradford and her husband, Vic of Rogers; Stephen Sparkman and his wife, Sandy of Stillwell, Okla.; his grandchildren, Leslie Cotton, Crystal Mullen, Laura Young, Jacob Sparkman; four great-grandchildren and he was eagerly awaiting the arrival of his fifth. Memorial services will be at Grace Baptist Church in Rogers, Ark. at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015, with Pastor Randy Parks officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Circle of Life Hospice, 900 NE Verdant, Bentonville, AR 72712, Grace Baptist Church, 2409 West New Hope Road, Rogers, AR 72758 or to the charity of the donor's choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to Stockdale-Moody Funeral Services of Rogers. Words of comfort may be made at stockdalefuneral.com.