James Bowman McClain, Jr.

James B McClain, Jr. 80, of Lonoke, Arkansas, let go the bonds of earth to be welcomed by Christ, as a faithful laborer in the harvest, on Monday, September 4, 2023.

“Mac”, as I called him, was born May 18, 1943, the first child of the late James B., Sr. and Zelma Henry McClain. He served in the Arkansas National Guard and US Army during the Vietnam War.

James worked at several jobs over the years. The longest and most enjoyed were his twenty seven years as a letter carrier in Lonoke, where he delivered mail to almost eight hundred customers east of Center Street, from the railroad tracks to the interstate. He even enjoyed being chased by the dogs!

James was a Christian, a Baptist, from his salvation as a child. He was currently a member of the New Testament Missionary Baptist Church in Lonoke.

James’ spiritual gift was evangelism. He always had a pocket filled with gospel tracts, which he handed out to everyone he met. In his over fifty years of handing out tracts, he could count on one hand the number of people who declined to read how to be saved. Seldom was he discouraged in his mission to give people the opportunity to know how to be saved.

Even a different language did not deter him from his mission, as I taught him how to say “Buenos Noticias”, which is Spanish for “Good News!”, which I told him to say with his usual wide smile. The Spanish speakers would all see that the tract was in Spanish, and they would take them. They especially loved the bilingual tracts as they were helpful to improve their English skills.

James would learn every evangelism plan that he heard about. Some were more successful than others. The most successful plan was the one known as Evangelism Explosion (EE). James was also certified as an EE Teacher/Trainer, after he attended the one week EE clinic, in Memphis, in 2005. Receiving his diploma was an emotional, and very proud moment for him. Going out each week in Jacksonville, to share Jesus, using the EE plan, was an adventure in seeing God work in people’s lives, and allowing us to be a part in His work!

James was preceded in death by his parents; his wife’s parents, James and Ruby Fisher; sister, Virginia Harper, and son-in-law, Jeff Moore.

Survivors are, his wife of thirty three years, Jaynie Fisher McClain; brothers, Edward (Lana) of Sherwood, Vernon (Kay) of Little Rock; sister, Sheryl (Bob) Thornburg of St. Petersburg, Florida; daughters, Candy McClain of Benton, and Mandilynn McClain of Roseburg, Oregon; son, Buddy (Casey) McClain of Harrisonville, Missouri; six grandchildren, along with his nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Visitation will be held 5-6 PM for family, 6-8 PM for friends, Thursday, September 7, 2023, At Boyd Funeral Home Funeral Home. Services will be held 1:30 PM, Friday, September 8, at Boyd Funeral Home. Interment to follow at Sylvania Cemetery in Ward.