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Eric A. Mays. Sr.

May 27, 1958 - July 18, 2025

Eric Alfonzo Mays Sr. was the son of the late Will Mays and Arlena Harris Dove Mays. He was born on May 27, 1958, in Los Angeles, California. His passing was on July 18th at 9:06 P.M. at Christus St. Michael Health Care System in Texarkana, Texas.

His parents relocated to Hope, AR in 1961 when he was three years old. At a young age he found joy in sports, specifically baseball and track.

He graduated with a diploma from Hope High School on May 18, 1976. He would go on to attend college at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and was proud to be on the track team.

While attending Henderson, he decided to enlist into the United States Army where he would spend six years in Germany until he was Honorably Discharged.

After his discharge he spent 10 years working as a Commissioned Security Guard at a bank in Dallas, Texas, before pursuing a career in Law Enforcement.

He attended Arkansas Law Enforcement Academy and became a police officer in Warren, AR before becoming a sheriff deputy in Bradley Co, Ar. He would later rejoin his family in Hope and became an officer for the Hope Police Department in Hope, Arkansas. His final years were spent working at the Barry Telford Unit of the Texas Department of Corrections in New Boston, Texas where he was employed until his health failed and he was no longer able to work.

In the later years of his life, he began studying with the hopes of becoming a Jehovah’s Witness and was regularly attending meetings and service before becoming ill.

He was united in Holy Matrimony to Betty Jean Wood on Feb 14th, 1998. He became a loving father to one son in this union who cherishes his memory: Eric A. Mays Jr.

He was preceded in death by; His sister Eunice D. Mays, his brother Clyde M. (Willie) Mays, his adopted mother Carrie Dell Juanita Hart, his biological mother Arlena Harris Dove Mays, and his father Will Mays.

Graveside Inurnment will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery, North Hazel Street, Hope, Arkansas, Saturday, August 2, 2025 at 1:00 P.M.