Howard Whittington

On December 28, 2020, Howard William Whittington graduated from his earthly dwelling to his new heavenly home, after 94 years, 8 months, and 5 days.  He was born to the late William Howard Whittington II and Eunice Cupples Whittington on April 23, 1926, in Urania, Louisiana.  He grew up in the piney woods around Olla, Louisiana.  He joined the US Navy at the age of 17, and received an honorable discharge as a Pharmacist Mate Second Class.  He was assigned as a dental assistant in San Diego, California.  Upon completion of his assignment, he returned home to Olla, Louisiana, where he met Mary Alice Tate and they were married on February 14, 1947, in Urania, Louisiana.  He worked in the oil fields around Olla/Urania, Louisiana, until he received the Acts 2:38 experience.  With his newfound faith and calling into the ministry, he attended the Texas Bible College in San Antonio, Texas.  During this time, he and Mary learned to trust God for everything, including their food.  They told us of many miracles the Lord worked for them during this time in their lives.

Rev. Whittington pastored churches in Louisiana and Arkansas until his retirement in 1994.  He retired from the Pershing United Pentecostal Church (formerly Levy United Pentecostal Church) after pastoring there for a little over 12 years.  He was a great pastor, a brave soldier of the cross, and a prince of a man, gentle and noble.  A couple of his masterpiece sermons include: “Spring Up Old Well,” “Stuff,” and “Others May, but I Cannot.”

He married Dorothy Foster Whittington in 1994 and moved to Potts Camp, MS, where he attended the Bethlehem Church of the Lord Jesus Christ pastored by Bishop Steve Wilson and Pastor Jonathan Vasquez.  He was extremely fond of both of these men, who welcomed him into their fellowship.  He bragged on them to us every chance he got.

Howard is predeceased by his parents, William Howard Whittington and Eunice Cupples Whittington, his wives, Mary Alice Tate Whittington and Dorothy Elizabeth Raines Foster Whittington, his brother and sister-in-law James “Earl” and Joyce Whittington, his step-daughter Kay Foster McArthur.

Rev. Whittington is survived by his two sons:  Richard (Regina) of Scott, and Ted (Anita) of North Little Rock; grandchildren: Heather (Tim) Edwards of Scott; Tiffany Whittington of North Little Rock, Taryn Whittington of Little Rock,  and Jerrod (Holly) Whittington of Gambrills, MD; great-grandchildren: Cameron (Alyssa) Fuller and Autumn Edwards of Scott; Ashton, Payton, & Shelton Whittington of Gambrills, MD; two great, great-grandchildren:  Aden and Adalynn Fuller of Scott; Step-children:  Gary (Teresa) Foster & family of Byhalia, MS, Phillip Foster of North Little Rock, Johnny (Sharon) Foster & family of Vilonia, Rita (Benny) Cook & family of Potts Camp, MS, Ronnie (Lisa) Foster & family of Kokomo, IN, and Steve McArthur & family of Enola, AR, and a host of nieces and nephews who were very special to him.

Memorials may be made in his name to the Pershing United Pentecostal Church Building Fund.

Special thanks to Benny and Rita Cook & the grandkids in Potts Camp for caring for Howard & Dorothy for so many years, and to the brave heroes who cared for him at Presbyterian Village and Conway Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center.

Pallbearers will be Robert Campbell, Gary Dycus, Cameron Fuller, Benny Cook, Johnny Foster, and Eddie Ison.  The family would like to designate as Honorary Pallbearers, Albert Yeager, James Newcom, Bobby Woodall, Paul Billingsley, Calvert Johnson, Theodore Dycus and Danny Hudson.

The visitation will be at 11:00 AM, Saturday, January 2, 2021 at Pershing United Pentecostal Church , with funeral starting at 12:00 PM. Burial will be at Rest Hills Memorial Park.

State of AR COVID-19 directives: Face coverings required.  Maintain social distancing.

Arrangements by Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home , 1921 Main St, North Little Rock, AR 72114, 501-758-1170.