Dr Ralph Lee Douglas
- This eternal flame burns forever -
- in remembrance of Dr Ralph Lee Douglas
Born
April 6, 1906
Springfield, Arkansas
Dr Douglas went to meet our Lord
January 5, 2006
Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Age:99
Interment
Monday January 9, 2006
Roselawn Memorial Park
Little Rock, Arkansas
Dr Ralph Lee Douglas, 99 of Springdale, Arkansas. Died at Jefferson Regional Medical Center on Thursday, January 5, 2006. Born in Springfield (Conway County), Arkansas on April 7, 1906. He is the son the Late Robert Lee and Martha Antha Walker Douglas. He attended High School in Morrilton and England, Arkansas, Graduating from high school Wewoka, Oklahoma. A four letter athletic in high school and a three letter earner in college. He attended College of the Ozarks and graduated from what is now Ouachita Baptist University.
Dr. Douglas was in business in Lake Village, Arkansas for five years where he owned a grocery store and an automobile agency, farmed and was music director of his church.
Surrendering to preach in 1939, his first pastorate, First Baptist Church, Gould. He became pastor of First Baptist Church, Luxora, then First Baptist Church, Truman, then moved to First Baptist Church, Hiseville, Kentucky with the understanding he could attend the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Later, he served 10 years on the Seminary's Board of Trustees. He graduated with a Doctorate in Theology from seminary in 1945 and was called as pastor of The First Baptist Church of Helena, where Sunday school enrollment increased from 372 to 950 and membership increased from 372 to 1,234 in less than eight years. While he was pastor, new churches were built in Luxora and Helena.
He joined the Arkansas Baptist State Convention as associate executive secretary and business manager where he worked for 18 years, serving on their Board's Administrative Committee and as first vice president of the convention. He helped organize the Frontier Life Insurance Company, International Mercantile Company and Universal Holding Company, serving on the executive committee of these boards for 25 years without missing a meeting. He also ran a Butane gas company and 500 acre soybean and rice farm.
He served as Chaplin of the Arkansas National Campers and Hikers Association for 18 years and Chaplin of the Arkansas Good Sam Campers. A member of Campers on Mission, he served as their president for 2 years.
Serving on a committee with Dr. Morris Ashcroft, Dr. Daniel Grant, Dr. H. E. Williams and Dr. W. O. Vaught, they raised $5,000,000.00 for Ouachita Baptist University and Williams Baptist College.
During his ministry, he preached in 112 revivals with 2,006 conversions, conducted 204 stewardship revivals and clinics and held twelve interim pastorates.
A deacon and member if First Baptist Church, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, he served as assistant teacher of the Pastor's Sunday school Class and sang in the church choir. A 32nd degree Mason, he was a member of West Pine Bluff Rotary Club and the Jefferson County, Pulaski County and Phillips County Historical Societies.
He married Blanch Riley in Little Rock on September 3, 1933. Mrs. Douglas died May 27, 1994. After her death he made his home with his daughter and son-in-law, Rosalee and LaRon Scott of Pine Bluff.
His survivors include one son, Hunter Riley Douglas and his wife Martha of Little Rock: one daughter, Rosalee Douglas Scott and her husband LaRon of Pine Bluff; four grandchildren, Ralph Douglas Dempsey, Robert Lee Dempsey, Hunter Douglas and John Douglas; granddaughter-in-law Tracey Dempsey; and eight great-grand children. He was also preceded in death by a son, Ralph Lee Douglas, III, a brother Earl Douglas, a sister, Lela Arnold, and a grandson, Joey Dempsey.
Funeral Services were held Monday, January 9th, 2006 at 1:00 PM at First Baptist Church in Pine Bluff with Dr. Bill Brown, Rev. Pete Petty and Rev. Gordon Topping officiating. Committal Services followed at Roselawn Memorial Park in Little Rock. Family request that memorials take the form of contributions to the Ralph and Blanch Douglas Scholarship Funds at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia or Williams Baptist College at Walnut Ridge.
Though Dr. Douglas is gone, He is not forgotten.
Though Dr. Douglas is absent, He remains in spirit.
Though once a worker, He now rest.
by The Arkansas Goodsams
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