Willie Amos Newburn

On October 13, 1920, Joseph Samuel and Josie Ella knox Newburn were blessed with the birth of the eldest of their thirteen children, Willie Amos Newburn. He was born and raised in the Mt. Morriah Community Mr. Newburn dedicated his life to Christ at an early age, he was a life long member of Mt. Morriah Baptist Church where he served on the Deacon Board. He was educated in the Mt. Morriah Rural School and a past member of the Masonic Lodge. On January 2, 1943, he married Mattie Rene Smith, to this union one child was born, Willye Mae, several years later the couple was blessed with the opportunity to adopt a daughter, Hazel Marie. Willie served his country by way of the United States Army, from which he was honorably discharged in 1946. He worked in the log woods, and he was injured, after which he became a bus driver for the Arkadelphia School District and was a Gardner for Ms. Jane Ross. He was known throughout the community for a beautiful kept yard and growing flowers.Over the years, he has gained a reputation for carrying pockets full of candy and speaking his mind. If you appeared to be wasting time or going over your limit during church services, he would let you know with his saying “get to it’. Deacon Newburn was known for his worship leading and singing those soul stirring hymns and he was affectively known as Candyman, Bill, Jeff, and Uncle Willie to everyone. For years he smoked a pipe, dipped snuff, chewed tobacco, smoked cigars, and enjoyed his “spirits”, despite what professionals may say, we believe it put “spice in his life”. Deacon Newburn never claimed to be a Saint, he knew God, the people who knew and loved him, saw God in him. He was a member of the Kings of Harmony, one of the first black Gospel Quartets to sing live at KVRC/Arkadelphia, on Sunday mornings. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Joseph Samuel and Josie Ella Newburn, four brothers, Henry Lee Newburn, Albert Newburn, Maurice Newburn and Rev. Franklin Newburn and one sister, Carola Wilson. He leaves his memories with his wife, Mattie Smith Newburn, two daughters, Willye (Johnny) Talley of Little Rock and Hazel McGhee of Arkadelphia, four brothers J. V. Newburn and Rev. James S. Newburn of Arkadelphia, Rev. Douglas P. Newburn of Portland, Oregon, Carl Edward Newburn of Grady, three sisters, Flossie Morgan of Malvern, Evelyn Harrison and Maureen (Freddie) Owens of Arkadelphia, three grandchildren, Jonathan Talley of Atlanta, Georgia, Shari Caradine and Jessica Caradine of Arkadelphia, three great grandchildren, Dylan Savage, Hailey Caradine and Christian Caradine of Arkadelphia. Uncle Willie loved and was proud of all his nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.