For more than five decades, the Rev. C.K. Yarber Sr. and his wife, Inez, served the congregation of Lonoke Baptist Church as its pastor. The church and community have felt the void after Yarber's death Dec. 22.
"He helped to guide Texarkana through some hard times over the years, and he will be missed greatly," said Dennis Young.
Lonoke was Yarber's first and only church, and he helped it grow from a few dozen members to a membership of more than 600.
Erma White, lifetime member of Lonoke Baptist, remembers Yarber when he came to the church.
"He was young and had a growing family. There were not a lot of advantages for our people then, but he encouraged us to get involved in everything so we could grow spiritually and socially as a church and community," she said. "He was such a giving person. Even with a family to support, he would reach in his pocket to help someone."
Yarber invested a great deal of his ministry in the youth in the community.
"He was able to bridge the gaps between our young people and seniors," said the Rev. Arthur Hill, who became the pastor of Lonoke Baptist Church in March 2014. "He believed kids should have someone they could go to and talk to. He could also be called on by other pastors. He was a strong pillar in our community."
In addition, during his leadership, Lonoke Baptist Church constructed its new facility, where it has hosted several large conferences, such as the Missionary Baptist State Convention and the Texas chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America.
Yarber, a native of Ashdown, Ark., and graduate of the United Theological Seminary in Monroe, La., had many firsts in his extensive ministry, including being the first African-American to serve on the Texarkana school board, as president of the Arkansas school board, and as a delegate from Arkansas at the Democratic Convention in 1966 in Chicago.
His ministerial and community memberships have included the religious advisory committee for the Arkansas Prison System, Southern Regional Council, Chair of the Arkansas Voter Registration committee, president of the Miller County NAACP, Civil Service Commission of the Arkansas State Police, the African American Advisory Council, and moderator of the Southwest District Association.
Julia Mobley, who serves as the chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Commercial National Bank of Texarkana, Ark., knew him well.
"C.K. Yarber was a long-standing friend to my family, the Mobleys and Pecks, and to Commercial National Bank. He only looked for the best in people and pastored his friends, family and his church to be the best that they could be. I was proud to call him my friend. Our community will miss him very much."