Deacon John Thomas Newkirk was the son of the late Reverend Thomas Jordan and Mary Ellen Newkirk, born on April 21, 1936, and departed this life on June 13, 2016.
Deacon Newkirk graduated from Valena C. Jones High School in Bay St. Louis, MS, and then furthered his education by graduating from Alcorn State University receiving a bachelor degree in trade and industrial education. He was the owner of Newkirk Construction Company, a truck driver, a vocational trade instructor and a bus driver at Hancock High School, Kiln, MS.
Deacon Newkirk was a life member of the Alcorn State University National Alumni Association, Inc., and a member of the Mount Olive Masonic Lodge #83.
Deacon Newkirk joined the Little Providence Baptist Church at an early age where his father, Reverend Thomas Newkirk, was the pastor. Later in life at Little Providence Baptist Church he became a deacon, he was the Sunday school superintendent, and a trustee board member. He was the one who performed the maintenance on his church, and who was instrumental in the rebuilding of Little Providence Baptist Church after Hurricane Katrina. But, most of all, Deacon John T. Newkirk was a child of the King.
Deacon Newkirk leaves to cherish his memories five (5) sons: Thomas (Towanda) Newkirk of Picayune, MS; Patrick Hall of Atlanta, GA; Reverend Gary (Omeka) Hall of Kiln, MS; A. J. (Kristyan) Carlock of Fort Worth, TX; and, Jamaal Terry of Waveland, MS; five (5) daughters: Angela (Craig) Tucker of Ann Arbor, MI; Janice (Julius) Jackson, Andrea Newkirk and Sonja Lather of Picayune, MS; and, Debra Harrison Samoura of Dayton, OH; two (2) sisters: Mary Blakely of Picayune, MS; and, Janie Mitchell of Denver, CO; nine (9) grandsons, nine (9) grand-daughters, three (3) Goddaughters, a pet named Dixie, and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Deacon Newkirk is preceded in by his father and mother, Reverend Thomas and Mary Ellen Newkirk; a wife, Evelyn Newkirk; one (1) grandson; two (2) brothers: Eddie Newkirk and Lester Newkirk; and six (6) sisters: Corletha Newkirk, Mattie Thomas, Esther Newkirk, Daisy Lyle, Dorothy Dell and Masline Cooley.
Funeral services for Deacon John T. Newkirk will be on Saturday, June 18, 2016, at 11:00 AM, at Little Providence Baptist Church, 21150 Highway 43, Picayune, MS 39466, in the Catahoula Community.
Visitation will be at Little Providence Baptist Church from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Catahoula Cemetery. The repast will be in the fellowship hall of the Little Providence Baptist Church. Entrusted to Brown’s Funeral Home.