Perry Dewitt Hope Sr.

Perry Dewitt Hope, 82, of Jonesboro, went to be with his Creator on Wednesday, January 30, 2019, at his home.  He was born August 20, 1936, at Pine Bluff, and the only child of Voy A. and Vera Waymack Hope.

He had been a teacher, choir director, band director, school superintendent, and educational cooperative director.  A 1954 graduate of Pine Bluff High School, he was a member of R. B. ‘Scrubby” Watson band, and was an All-State Band trombone selection in 1953 and 1954.  In 1959 he graduated from Arkansas Polytechnic College in Russellville with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in music education.  At Tech, he was a member of Gene Witherspoon’s Band of Distinction, and a member of The Esquires.

Upon graduation at Tech, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Reserve Infantry, and subsequently served on three separate tours of active duty before separating from the military as a Major in 1974. He was a Vietnam veteran. He received a Masters of Education from Georgia State University while at Fort Benning in 1974, and a Doctor of Education degree in administration in 1976 from the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville).

He had served as public school band director in the Danville, Hamburg, Dollarway and Pine Bluff School Districts during the 1957 – 1969 school years, and as Superintendent of the Yellville-Summit (1976 – 1980) and Piggott School Districts (1980 – 1984).  He was the formational administrator of the Northeast Arkansas Educational Cooperative in 1984 – 1985, while serving as the School District Leadership Director at Arkansas State University, and was the Director of the Cooperative from 1985 until retirement in 1996.  He also had served as a Team Leader at numerous Arkansas Leadership Academy training events, as presented by the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville).

He was a forming member of three Emmaus Communities, ‘Noah’s of Ark’ and ‘Near the Cross’ in Arkansas, and ‘Son Lights’ in Puerto Rico.  He was a former member of the Jonesboro chapter of the Gideon’s international, and in Pine Bluff, Quapaw Lodge #730, F&AM.  A member of The First United Methodist Church and the Believer’s Sunday School Class, He had served as a lay speaker, a member of the choir, and as a Bible Study and Sunday School teacher.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 61 years, Barbara Anne Chalfant Hope of the home, two daughters, Lesli Anne (Steve) Penny of Jonesboro, Melissa Lynne (Mike) Capshaw of Collinsville, Texas; one son, Charles Alexander ‘Chuck’ (Steffi) Hope of Moseley, Virginia; and seven grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by one son, Perry D. (Pedy/Pete) Hope, Jr. in April of 2016.

Visitation will be from 9:30 – 10:30 AM on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at Emerson Funeral Home Memorial Chapel, followed by a Celebration of Life conducted by The Rev. John Miles II.  A private  burial will be held at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery. Pallbearers are Chuck Hope, Steve Penny,  Mike Capshaw, Matthew Penny, Hunter Hope, and  Trey Neal.

For lasting memorials, the family requests considerations be given to the FUMC Pastor’s Fund, 801 W. Main St., Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401.  To sign an online guestbook, go to emersonfuneralhome.com.