Joe David Belk Ii

On March 21, 2024 Joseph David “Joe” Belk II was welcomed into the gates of Heaven.

Born on April 9, 1930 to Harry and Mary Belk, Joe was reared on the family farm located in Lawrence County, Arkansas and graduated from Walnut Ridge High School.

Joe’s love of family, farm and community continued throughout his lifetime. He and his brother, Charles Belk, began farming at an early age and operated a dairy farm until 1974. They began producing rice in 1973 and continued the rice and soybean operation until their retirement in 2000.

He was married to Julia Ann Green on October 25, 1959. Their 55-year marriage was blessed with four children including Joseph David Belk III (Susanne); Mark Alan Belk (Jill); and Carol Ann Belk Howard (Terry), all of Jonesboro; and Laura Lynn Belk Wilcox (Ric) of Mountain View, AR.

Joe was a longtime member of Hoxie Methodist Church in Hoxie, AR before moving to Jonesboro and becoming part of Cornerstone United Methodist Church.

Joe is survived by his children and by his nine grandchildren which include: Jayson Belk, Mark Aaron Belk, Kaitlyn Belk Middleton (Sam), Kristyn Belk Shatzer (Heath), Nathan Belk (Taylor), and Ryan Wilcox, all of Jonesboro, AR; Megan Wilcox Denson (Jacob) of North Little Rock, AR; Jordan Wilcox of Dallas, TX and Jamie Howard of Fayetteville, AR. He was blessed with two great grandsons, Joshua Middleton and Jax Middleton of Jonesboro.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and his brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Mary Imogene Belk.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Emerson Funeral Home in Jonesboro. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, March 24, 2024 at 2:00 at Cornerstone United Methodist Church, 1910 Disciple Drive, Jonesboro, AR.

Memorials may be made to Arkansas Children’s Hospital or Cornerstone United Methodist Church.