The Reverend Gerald Edwin Meeks Sr. (Jerry) was born on December 1, 1941, to Ed and Lois Meeks in Memphis, TN, and passed away on November 15, 2023, at the age of 81. He graduated from Memphis Central High School and married the love of his life, Donna Jane Murphy (i.e., “DJ”), when he was 19 after what was supposed to have just been a “summer romance” at scout camp. That “summer romance” lasted over 62 years, due in large part to his blue eyes and “snowman” romantic attitude.
During that time, he was a lifelong learner who, after getting his bachelor’s degree in education, attained two master’s degrees, one in education from Memphis State University (now University of Memphis) and one in divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary, all while supporting and raising two children, Jed and Margie. After being a teacher, coach, and assistant principal in the Memphis City Schools and principal of Marion High School, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of being ordained an elder in the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church. In that capacity, he pastored UMCs at West Memphis, Crawfordsville, Eureka Springs, Clinton, Walnut Ridge, Gardner, and Trinity in North Little Rock. Upon retirement, he became a Master Naturalist due to his unparalleled knowledge of trees, thanks to his previous Eagle Scout experience.
Most of all, he was the cornerstone for his family, who have tried to mirror his balance of love, compassion, and discipline, coupled with a biting wit and a healthy dose of humor. His favorite sayings were, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without” and “Nothing comes to stay, it always comes to pass.” But, above all, his deep faith supported him through good times and bad, including his last day
when he only let go of this world after receiving a prayer for his soul and his
family.
He leaves all these precious memories to our family who survive him: his wife, Donna Jane Murphy Meeks, his daughter, Margie Meeks Lickert (Doug), his son, Gerald Edwin (Jed) Meeks, Jr. (Laura), his grandchildren, Shelby Kastelic (Kevin), Bradshaw Held, Connor Meeks and Hannah Meeks, his brothers, John Meeks (Sandra) and Paul Meeks (Sharon), and his brother-in-law, Mike Murphy (Sherry).
A private interment will be held at a later date and memorials may be sent to a
charity of your choice.