Charles Alfred Culpepper

Charles Alfred "Chuck" Culpepper, 76, of Jefferson County, passed away Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, at JRMC in Pine Bluff. He was born Sept. 26, 1941, in Lincoln County near Sanders Creek to the late Thomas Richard Culpepper and Nellie Mae Mann. Preceding him in death was his brother James Mackie Culpepper of Pine Bluff. He and his family have been lifelong members of the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Palmyra, Arkansas. Charles attended Glendale public schools and later graduated from Arkansas A&M College (now UAM) as a member of Sigma Tau Gamma. He was retired from Vocational and Industrial education with his career spanning over 30 years. He taught many students within Helena, Glendale, Gould, Dumas and Pine Bluff high schools while helping them attain knowledge, confidence and competency within the building trades. He received the Certificate of Honor as an Outstanding Teacher for the 1968/69 school year on April 11, 1969, by the American Industrial Arts Association. He loved his family and friends but also his canine companions. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, music, cooking and sharing a laugh (not necessarily in that order). Past students claim he would burst into song (often loudly) with a favorite snippet from Harold Jenkins or the Statler Brothers during class, but he insisted those random "workshop vocalizations" of classic country hits kept the birds from nesting inside the shop building. Workshop safety, of course, was a top priority but he occasionally joked that he had made it to retirement with all ten fingers still intact! A few older friends may recall his CB handle, Tater Slip or his nickname, Joe-Dobber, but if not, that's fine; he'll explain it all when you catch him on the flip side. Survivors include his sister, Linda Nell Hankins of Palmyra; three sons, Michael Armstrong of Anderson, S.C., Brian Culpepper of Fayetteville, Dr. Chris Culpepper of Hot Springs and five grandchildren. There will be no service at this time. He enjoyed the educational entertainment, the creative arts and all of the Do-It-Yourself programs on public television, so in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to: AETN Foundation, 350 S. Donaghey, Conway, Ark., 72034, or (www.aetnfoundation.org). Arrangements by Roselawn Funeral Service and Crematory in Pine Bluff. Online guestbook at www.griffinfuneralservice.net.