James McArthur Britt

James McArthur Britt was born to Walter Lee and Mayola Goodman Britt on September 8, 1943, in Wynne, Arkansas. He graduated from Childress High School and attended Mt. Omah Baptist Church in Wynne. At the age of 22, he served in the US Army from 1965 to 1966. On April 22, 1967, he married Maxine Embry, the two moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and to this union was born a beautiful daughter, Carla Britt. Maxine transitioned on August 8, 1988. James became a member of New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church on April 11, 1976, and announced his calling into the ministry on March 27, 1988. He was a faithful member and associate minister of New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, until his health began to decline. He was known as the best salesman at Sears and Trotter Ford and was their lead car salesman.

 Years later, he married Jo Ann Britt on July 30, 1994, and the two shared 30 wonderful years together.

James was affectionately known by the youth as “Papa”. For 28 years, he worked at the Boys and Girls Club of Jefferson County as unit director, and in 2008, he received the Leader of the Year Award. He retired from the club on January 17, 2019, and was named “Club Hero”.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Walter Lee and Mayola Britt, siblings: Beulah Mae Taylor (Robert), LeRoy Britt, Velma Dorothy Hill (Odell), Jimmy Lee Britt (Jewel), Ginny V. Marsh (James), Charles Edward Britt, Walter Lee Britt (Willie Lee), Nina Aline Jones (John), and Maxine Embry Britt, as well as a grandson, Trendon Spiller.

 He leaves to cherish his memories, his wife, Jo Ann Britt; two sons, Erik (Joyce) Edwards, Jonathon Britt; one daughter, Carla Britt; two bonus daughters, Latrenda (TJ) Stubbs and Ashlee Jones; four grandchildren, Taela Spiller, Erika Edwards, Cydnee Tisdale, and Aubree Butler; three great-grandchildren, Bradyn Griffin, Bronx Griffin, and Brazier Griffin, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and especially the New Jerusalem Baptist Church Family of Pine Bluff, Arkansas.