Herman Lee "Choke" Gulley, Sr.

On June 4, 1938, Tom and Irene Piggee Gulley gave birth to a handsome baby boy they named Herman Lee Gulley, Sr. “Choke” as he was fondly called grew up in Bluff City, Arkansas. He was baptized and united with Union Grove Baptist Church. He was raised in the church and learned to always put our trust in the Lord. He attended Union Grove Elementary School and the Upchurch Training School. His parents knew right away that he would be a loving father, grandfather and a true friend. Believing in God’s word “and the two shall become one flesh”, he married the apple of his eye, Lula Merele Stuckey. They built a life of over 50 years together until her passing in 2005. They laid a solid foundation at home; which enabled their children to love and be loved. Choke by all accounts was a hard worker and was taught the value of handwork by his parents. He worked a Cabe’s Mill and International Paper Company for several years until his retirement. He joined New Bethel A.M.E. Church, now New Bethel Independent Church where he served as the church treasurer, trustee, choir member and an ordained deacon. His hobbies included singing and fishing. If you ever needed anything done, he would “just do it”. He was a person who didn’t mind helping anybody. He enjoyed listening to the music and just having a good time. Choke was the life of the party. One of his greatest joys was spending memorable moments with relatives and friends, both young and old. He will live on in the hearts of his loved ones and friends. He possessed a friendly spirit and never met a stranger. He meant what he said, and said what he meant. His natural wit and humor could never be duplicated. Family, as well as friends, will miss his strength, smile and love, but will never forget his spirit and compassion. He passed into the Lord’s embrace Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at home with his family near his side. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Bobby Joe Gulley, his beloved wife Lula Gulley (July 15, 2005), and his daughter, Bunnie Belinda Dixon (November 17, 2010); his siblings, Artie Taylor, Richard Gulley, Grady Gulley, Eddie Gulley, Elizabeth Haynie, Hestley Gulley, Narves Purifoy, I.C. Gulley, Icy Nell Brown, Ora Lee Purifoy, Gloria Dean Marlow, Tommy Gulley, I.W. Haynie and Georgia Haynie Johnson. He leaves to cherish his memory: four children; Shirley (Howard) Bell, Herman Lee Gulley, Jr., Lola (Odell) Powell, Thomas (Mary Ann) Gulley all of Gurdon, AR; a special son-law, Howard Dixon of Gurdon, AR; one sister, Burna Dean Purifoy of Bluff City, AR; and one brother, Vernall (Dorothy) Gulle of Gurdon, AR; two-sisters-in-law, Hattie Mitchell and Gwendolyn Smith both of Arkadelphia, AR; and one bother-in-law, Plas (Beverly) Stuckey of Little Rock, AR. He also leaves 14 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, countless friends and his beloved New Bethel Independent Church family. Public visitation will be held on Monday, July 25, 2016 from 12 noon until 6:00 p.m. A service of celebration will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at Kingdom Authority Christian Ministries where Rev. Quintin Radford is the pastor and Pastor Jewel Danner the pastor of New Bethel Independent Church will deliver the eulogy. Interment will be in Rose Hedge Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Delano Henry, Derrick Gulley, DeAngelo Fields, Howard Bell, Kelvin Tidwell, Jr., Eddie Rodgers, Franklin Smith and Terrance Gulley. Honorary pallbearers will be Nehemiah Hardamon, Barkley Lambert, Michael Crow, Earnest Bergeant, Jeff Harper, AJ Johnson and Christopher Harper.