Obituary for Reverend Edgar Joe "Jody" Gannaway
Reverend Edgar Joe “Jody” Gannaway, 87, of Arkansas City, Arkansas, left this earth and walked into the arms of Jesus to begin his heavenly celebration on December 11, 2022. Going before him were his infant daughter, Angela Joel Gannaway; parents, Edgar C. and Pauline Borland Gannaway; brother, Cullen Gannaway; son-in-law, Bob Smiley; and brother-in-law, Wes Tucker.
Jody was born February 18, 1935, in Little Rock, Arkansas. Having lived in many towns during his adult life, he always considered Arkansas City to be his home. Growing up on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi River, he claimed to have swam the width of ‘Ole Man River’ a time or two and was proud to be a rowdy “River Rat.” This is where he surrendered to the ministry at the young age of nine years old and returned to his family’s home place to retire and spend the final years of his life.
After graduating Arkansas City High School, he attended Southern Baptist College in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. In the years following, he finished his studies at Ouachita Baptist University where he earned a degree in Religion. It was no secret that he took pride in fulfilling God’s calling of him to be a preacher and spread the gospel.
Being an avid outdoorsman, he loved hunting on the farm, fishing in the blue holes and riding the levee with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Raising a vegetable garden and roses were also at the top of his hobbies along with gathering, cracking and picking out any pecan that hit the ground and sharing his bounty with family and friends. Some of the biggest impacts he left with everyone he encountered was his strong handshakes, that right-handed jab, and his big, booming voice leaving you to know he was tough and strong. Yet he had a way of connecting with people in the most compassionate way, making it known that he loved the Lord and wanting everyone he met to love the Lord the same way.
The beginning of his ministry was served at St. Charles Baptist Church in St. Charles, Arkansas. Followed by Temple Baptist Church in Dermott, Arkansas, where the majority of his pastoral years were served during two separate callings. He also pastored at Northside Baptist Church in Bernie, Missouri; Magnolia Baptist Church in Crossett, Arkansas and First Baptist Church in Glenwood, Arkansas. In January, 2022, he retired while serving at Arkansas City Baptist Church in Arkansas City, Arkansas, his childhood church and where he was ordained to preach in 1956.
Other ministries very close to his servant’s heart included Wolf Creek Baptist Camp, numerous nursing homes and local prisons. Traveling on several mission trips he was able to spread God’s word both domestic and abroad, including Guatemala and Brazil.
Being a young bachelor and pastor at Temple Baptist Church in Dermott, Arkansas, he met Meverine Duncan Long, a widow with four young children. He loved telling the story of how her good looks caught his attention but his heart was captured through the food she brought to church. He called her the “Queen of fried pies” and he was especially impressed with her “wash tub sized” serving of homemade banana pudding. Jody and Meverine married on December 1, 1963. He instantly became a father to four young children and raised them as his own and later completed their family when they had a son together.
Leaving behind to continue his legacy is his loving and faithful wife of 59 years, Meverine Duncan Long Gannaway, along with their 5 children: Rhonda Long Smiley of Jonesboro, Arkansas; Karen Long Tyson and husband Kenneth of Peach Orchard, Arkansas; Tonda Long Franklin and husband Greg of Ruston, Louisiana; Keith Long and wife Melinda of Hamburg, Arkansas; Jonathan Gannaway of Arkansas City, Arkansas. Also continuing his legacy are his pride and joy including 11 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild, affectionately calling him “Papaw G” and cherishing their fond, adventurous and mischievous memories that he was known for. He is also survived by his sister, Mary “Cissy” Gannaway Tucker, of Monticello, Arkansas and a very special grand dog, Blue; along with a host of nieces, nephews and extended family members.
Visitation: Wednesday, December 14, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Arkansas City Baptist Church, 703 Robert S Moore Avenue, Arkansas City, Arkansas.
Funeral service: Thursday, December 15, 2022, at 1:00 p.m., C.B. King Memorial – Adult Center Auditorium, 1008 Sadie Lee Avenue, Arkansas City, Arkansas.
Interment: Dermott Cemetery, 502 West Gaines Street, Dermott, Arkansas
Officiant/Son: Keith Long
Pallbearers/Grandsons: Christan Tyson, Clark Tyson, Brian Smiley, Javan Long, Bradley Franklin and Keegan Gannaway
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to: Arkansas City Baptist Church or C.B. King Memorial – Adult Center
Jody was born February 18, 1935, in Little Rock, Arkansas. Having lived in many towns during his adult life, he always considered Arkansas City to be his home. Growing up on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi River, he claimed to have swam the width of ‘Ole Man River’ a time or two and was proud to be a rowdy “River Rat.” This is where he surrendered to the ministry at the young age of nine years old and returned to his family’s home place to retire and spend the final years of his life.
After graduating Arkansas City High School, he attended Southern Baptist College in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. In the years following, he finished his studies at Ouachita Baptist University where he earned a degree in Religion. It was no secret that he took pride in fulfilling God’s calling of him to be a preacher and spread the gospel.
Being an avid outdoorsman, he loved hunting on the farm, fishing in the blue holes and riding the levee with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Raising a vegetable garden and roses were also at the top of his hobbies along with gathering, cracking and picking out any pecan that hit the ground and sharing his bounty with family and friends. Some of the biggest impacts he left with everyone he encountered was his strong handshakes, that right-handed jab, and his big, booming voice leaving you to know he was tough and strong. Yet he had a way of connecting with people in the most compassionate way, making it known that he loved the Lord and wanting everyone he met to love the Lord the same way.
The beginning of his ministry was served at St. Charles Baptist Church in St. Charles, Arkansas. Followed by Temple Baptist Church in Dermott, Arkansas, where the majority of his pastoral years were served during two separate callings. He also pastored at Northside Baptist Church in Bernie, Missouri; Magnolia Baptist Church in Crossett, Arkansas and First Baptist Church in Glenwood, Arkansas. In January, 2022, he retired while serving at Arkansas City Baptist Church in Arkansas City, Arkansas, his childhood church and where he was ordained to preach in 1956.
Other ministries very close to his servant’s heart included Wolf Creek Baptist Camp, numerous nursing homes and local prisons. Traveling on several mission trips he was able to spread God’s word both domestic and abroad, including Guatemala and Brazil.
Being a young bachelor and pastor at Temple Baptist Church in Dermott, Arkansas, he met Meverine Duncan Long, a widow with four young children. He loved telling the story of how her good looks caught his attention but his heart was captured through the food she brought to church. He called her the “Queen of fried pies” and he was especially impressed with her “wash tub sized” serving of homemade banana pudding. Jody and Meverine married on December 1, 1963. He instantly became a father to four young children and raised them as his own and later completed their family when they had a son together.
Leaving behind to continue his legacy is his loving and faithful wife of 59 years, Meverine Duncan Long Gannaway, along with their 5 children: Rhonda Long Smiley of Jonesboro, Arkansas; Karen Long Tyson and husband Kenneth of Peach Orchard, Arkansas; Tonda Long Franklin and husband Greg of Ruston, Louisiana; Keith Long and wife Melinda of Hamburg, Arkansas; Jonathan Gannaway of Arkansas City, Arkansas. Also continuing his legacy are his pride and joy including 11 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild, affectionately calling him “Papaw G” and cherishing their fond, adventurous and mischievous memories that he was known for. He is also survived by his sister, Mary “Cissy” Gannaway Tucker, of Monticello, Arkansas and a very special grand dog, Blue; along with a host of nieces, nephews and extended family members.
Visitation: Wednesday, December 14, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Arkansas City Baptist Church, 703 Robert S Moore Avenue, Arkansas City, Arkansas.
Funeral service: Thursday, December 15, 2022, at 1:00 p.m., C.B. King Memorial – Adult Center Auditorium, 1008 Sadie Lee Avenue, Arkansas City, Arkansas.
Interment: Dermott Cemetery, 502 West Gaines Street, Dermott, Arkansas
Officiant/Son: Keith Long
Pallbearers/Grandsons: Christan Tyson, Clark Tyson, Brian Smiley, Javan Long, Bradley Franklin and Keegan Gannaway
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to: Arkansas City Baptist Church or C.B. King Memorial – Adult Center