Deacon Curtis Lee "Kirt" Grayson

Deacon Curtis Lee “Kirt” Grayson, 86, of Parkdale, was born July 17, 1933, in Parkdale. He died Wednesday, November 20, 2019, in Monticello. The 5th child of eleven children, six boys and five girls, Kirt was a life long resident of Parkdale and attended Savage Elementary and High School in Parkdale. To provide for his family, Kirt worked many jobs, including a butcher at Gregory General Store, custodian at Parkdale Bank, bus driver for Parkdale and Wilmot Schools, civil defense worker for Ashley County, as well as a landscaper which led him to create his own landscaping business. At a young age, Kirt confessed his faith in Christ and was baptized in the bayou in Parkdale. The Grayson family faithfully attended the Union Baptist Church in Parkdale where Kirt was a dedicated and loyal member.  He proudly served in several capacities at the church as a committed Sunday School teacher, a proud member of the Deacon Board, and a joyful singer in the choir. Mr. Grayson loved his hometown of Parkdale and was actively involved in his community. He served as a member of the Parkdale School Board, Masonic Lodge, Scout Master for the Boy Scouts of America, and the Singing Union. His favorite hobby was collecting and selling antiques, and he was also known to tell a good story or a hilarious joke.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Louisie Mae Grayson in 1999, whom he married on March 23, 1966; two sons ,Ricky Grayson and Roderick Atron Grayson; a daughter, Mary Catherine Grayson; his parents, Fred and Mary Johnson Grayson; a sister, Juanita Morris; four brothers, Edward Grayson, Frank Grayson, Willie Grayson, and Thomas Curtis “TC” Grayson; two brothers-in-law, Henry Evans and Glady Morris and two sisters-in-law, Inez Grayson and Christine Grayson.

Kirt leaves to cherish his memories seven children: two daughters, Gwendolyn Mershell Grayson Watson of North Little Rock and Kimberly Grayson of Monticello;  five sons, Patric Franklin of Houston, Texas, Mickey Jasper of Humble, Texas and Rickey Jasper and wife, Sheila, of Arlington, Virginia, Donald Bernard Grayson  and wife, Lequieta, of Little Rock, and Kirt Grayson, Jr. and wife, Felicia, of Dermott;  four sisters, Mary Evans of Dallas, Texas, Beulah Bledsoe of Los Angeles, California, Alsenaith Rudolph and husband, Leon, of Fontana, California and Barbara Williams and husband, Hardy, of Olympia Fields, Illinois; a brother, John Grayson of Calumet City, Illinois; nine grandchildren, five great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and his loving family at the Woods Nursing Home of Monticello.

Funeral services are 2 p.m., Saturday, November 30, 2019 at the First Baptist Church of Hamburg with Rev. Rickey L. Jasper officiating.  Burial will be in Childress Chapel Cemetery.  Pallbearers are Randolph Morris, Dennis Morris, Rodney Goodwin, Justin Goodwin, Randy Smith, Wayne Mooney, Herman Black and Larry Grayson. Honorary pallbearers are Eddie Armstead, Glen Armstead, John Armstead, Steve Armstead, John Grayson, Bobby Clark, Ben Alexander, Hardy Williams, Leon Rudolph and Henry Clark.

Visitation will be 1-2 p.m., Saturday at the church.

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