Obituaries

Clarence Perkins

Photo of Clarence Perkins
Clarence Perkins, 80, of Pine Bluff, passed away on Friday, May 31st. He was born in Paris, Arkansas on October 20, 1932 to C.E. and Esther Perkins and grew up in Conway. He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Frances Perkins. He is survived by two children, a daughter, Meredith Whitmore and her husband, Bill Whitmore of Sherwood and a son, Wayne Perkins and his wife, Janet Perkins of Bentonville. He had four grandchildren, Allyse and Tyler Whitmore of Sherwood, and Trey and Payton Perkins of Bentonville. He is also survived by his three sisters, Christine Willmuth, Voisy Heathcott, and Mureau Graham, all of Conway. "Perk", as he was known by, graduated from Arkansas State Teachers College (now UCA) in 1956 with a degree in Physical Education. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy where he served in the Pacific Fleet, stationed in San Diego, California. After his discharge from the Navy, he returned to Arkansas to begin a career in coaching. He coached at Kensett, Southside Bee Branch, and Clinton. In 1962, he moved to Little Rock and began working for Arkansas Rehabilitation Services. He was transferred to Pine Bluff in 1966. In 1968, he became the administrator of the Southeast Arkansas Mental Health Center (now the Southeast Arkansas Behavioral Healthcare System). He remained in this position for 43 years, retiring in 2011. During his illustrious career, Mr. Perkins initiated and assisted in writing most of the legislation regarding mental illness in the state of Arkansas. One particularly noteworthy piece of legislation that Mr. Perkins helped write was the National Mental Health System Act of 1980. During the Carter Administration, Perkins traveled to Washington, D.C. to witness the signing of the Mental Health System Act by President Carter. Mr. Perkins was the first president of the Arkansas Council of Community Mental Health Centers. He served as Legislative Chairman of the Arkansas Council of Community Mental Health Centers, a charter member of the Jefferson County Chapter of Association of Children with Learning Disabilities, and a past member of the National Rehabilitation Counseling Association and the National Association of Mental Health Administrators. Mr. Perkins, along with former Lt. Governor Winthrop Rockefeller, was on the Steering Committee for the State Program Development for Alcohol and Drug Abuse. He also served as Chairman of the Jefferson County Juvenile Detention Commission Facility, appointed by former Governor Mike Huckabee to serve as a member of the Governor's Taskforce on Mental Health in Arkansas in 2002. He is a past Board Member of the Jefferson Hospital Association, past Chairman of the Addictive Studies Advisory Committee at UAPB, and served on the Executive Board of the Mental Health Council of Arkansas. Mr. Perkins received many awards for his contributions to mental health. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Council of Community Mental Health Centers and the John C. Stockburger Life Achievement Award by the Mental Health Council. He was also awarded the Human Interest award by the Jefferson Comprehensive Health Care Board of Directors and was elected by the American Business Women's Association as the Boss of the Year. Most recently, Mr. Perkins had been appointed by Governor Mike Beebe to the Children's Behavioral Health Care Commission. Mr. Perkins was heavily involved in the Pine Bluff community having served on the Pine Bluff School Board and the King Cotton Holiday Classic Board of Directors. Something Mr. Perkins enjoyed for many years was officiating both high school and college basketball and football games. He worked national basketball tournaments and officiated basketball in the Southwest Conference, including officiating in several high school All-Star games. He previously served as President of the Arkansas Basketball and Football Officials Association. Mr. Perkins was a long time member of First Baptist Church serving on the Television Committee for 26 years and the Church's Executive Board. He was also a Deacon. Services are Thursday, June 6th at 1:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Pine Bluff with a reception following. Committal services are Friday, June 7th at 10 a.m. at Crestlawn Cemetery in Conway, Arkansas. Visitation is Wednesday, June 5th from 5 to 7 p.m. at Ralph Robinson & Son. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Clarence and Frances Perkins Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o UCA Foundation, UCA Box 4986, Conway, Ark. 72035. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.

Published June 4, 2013

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