Earl James Briscoe

On May 16, 1950, Irma and Obree Briscoe welcomed their second adorable child, Earl James Briscoe, into this world. Not only were Earl’s parents happy, but his grandmother, aunt, uncle, and sister welcomed Earl, as they all lived together in a loving home. Earl’s sister, Barbara, now had someone to boss around and love.

Earl grew into a fun, loving, adventurous lad. He loved the outdoors and was always eager to explore. After he received his first BB gun, he would go outside shooting anything in sight, especially birds. One day, he accidentally shot a guy while his sister, Barbara, was taking music lessons in Arkadelphia. The guy exclaimed how he had shot him in his behind. The guy went inside and told Earl’s mother. She took his gun and didn’t let him take it to Arkadelphia anymore. Earl became quite a marksman. He would get up early in the morning and put out crumbs for birds while waiting on top of the house. He would shoot bottle caps out of the neighbor's boy’s hands. He and the other guys would make homemade tents, slingshots, and bows and arrows. He was ingenious. His parents inspired good work habits. He started working when he was about ten years old. He cleaned doctors’ offices. Later during the summer, he worked in a restaurant washing dishes, earning $33.00 a week.

Earl attended Henry Bell High School, where he was popular and had many friends who enjoyed his company. He would sit in class during free time, captivating his classmates with jokes. He even captivated Floreda Henry. Earl always had friends who were quite older. Since Earl had a car in the 8th grade and a motorcycle, all the older guys who had cars would drag race him, including Charles Anderson, Julius Marks, and Vernail Simmons. They loved Earl. All throughout high school, Earl was drag racing with the older guys who respected him. He was an excellent and polite student. Earl always had a crush on Floreda starting in primary school. In high school, he and Floreda started courting. They graduated together from high school in 1968, and four years later graduated from college together. They married on July 29, 1972. Earl was a member of Bethel AME Church, and later united with Carrie Street Church of God. They welcomed their first child, Melony, into the world. He adored Melony, and they shared a love of dogs. When Floreda would leave the house, they would let the dogs in, knowing she didn’t allow dogs in the house.

After graduating from college, Earl became the first black insurance agent in Clark County. All his customers loved him. He had an incredibly inviting personality that allowed him to relate to anyone, regardless of age. Earl was patient and enjoyed talking and spending time with the old and young. All the other agents loved him and enjoyed being around him. He reached the apex of his career by achieving awards such as being in the President’s Club, the Leader’s Club, Sales Leader, and Job Well Done.

At the age of about 23, Earl joined the Kansas Deer Club. Later, he helped honorable members, such as Saul Dickens, J.N. Stephens, Johnny Stephens, Lewis Brumfield, the Dickens boys, Stephen Pennington, and others, to reorganize. Earl was the secretary and treasurer. All the members respected Earl. The club has grown into a well-known and respected organization and remains popular. Earl was a great hunter. He made his own shells. He had a bench press, a loading table, and many guns. Earl always bragged that he never missed his target. He helped others sight their guns. He loved to hunt, mostly deer and rabbits. Earl was instrumental in bringing his cousin, Darryl, and brother-in-law, Marshall, into the hunting club.

Earl and Floreda welcomed their second loving daughter, Nikita, into the world in 1986. He spoiled her, too. Later, he welcomed into the world, Melony’s son Jujuan, his first grandson. He then had a partner to go hunting with him. He taught Jujuan how to hunt, and he became his buddy.

Earl retired from work when he became disabled. When the time came that he couldn’t hunt anymore, he didn’t complain. He continued to be the treasurer of the club, and the guys kept him informed. Randy Dickens, the President of the Kansas Deer Club, always came by to check on Earl and continued to keep him informed.

Yes, Earl loved his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He loved his sister Barbara, niece Amy, and nephew Callen. There was so much love demonstrated in his close-knit family: Irma, Obree, Ella (Lou Lou), his grandmother Pernella, and uncle Richard. Earl’s in-laws loved and adored him. They always told him how much they appreciated him. He taught some of his sisters and brothers-in-law how to drive.

Yes, Earl had a full life. He had a wife who loved and took care of him when he became disabled. Like most marriages, they had their ups and downs. They loved each other and knew that it was God’s grace that carried them through.

On June 28, 2025, at his home, Earl made his transition to Glory. He is preceded in death by his parents, Obree and Irma Lee Briscoe, aunt Ella Lee Mitchell, uncle Richard Anthony, and grandmother Pernella Lunon.

Leaving to cherish his loving memory are his wife Floreda Briscoe; daughters Melony Briscoe Sorrells (Michael), Nikita Briscoe Price (Lamont); grandsons Jujuan Marks (Jumilya), Bryan, and Mason; great-grandchildren JuKaden, JuKiyah, and JuBree; sister Barbara Ann Briscoe, niece Amy Briscoe Johnson, nephew Callen Johnson, a host of brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and a caravan of cousins, relatives, friends, and classmates.

Pallbearers will be Randy Dickens, Shafungus Javore Dickens, Deotis Dickens, Jr., Vincent Turner, Tareze Williams, Phillip Stafford, Dana Gentry, Quincy Dickens, Davion Williams, Taquan Ivory and Larry Mitchell. Honorable to mention are Euodias Goza, John Ware, Phillip Stafford, Jasper Henry, Booker Henry, Johnny Henry, Dorsey Henry, Jeff Henry, Marshall Herbert, Calvin Miller and Ken Roberts.

Submitted by the Briscoe Family