Theodis Warren, Jr.

Life’s RefLections

Theodis Warren Jr., affectionately known as “Sonny,” was born January 15, 1951, in Forest City, Arkansas, to Minnie and Theodis Warren Sr., who preceded him in death. Sonny gave his life to Christ at a young age at Christ Episcopal Church. He was a young, dedicated member who took an active role in the ministry as an altar server. Christ Episcopal Church remained his home church.

Sonny attended and graduated from Lincoln High School Class of 1970. Sonny attended Pine Bluff (AM&N) College, now known as The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, on a band scholarship. The band was a massive influence on his life. He enjoyed music throughout his life; his favorite songs were “Save the Children” and “God is Love” by Marvin Gaye. In his early career, he specialized in gas and oil projects, bringing him to Memphis, Tennessee. He later retired in 2016 from American Petroleum as a technician.

In 1984, Sonny married the love of his life, Betty Jones, and together, they built a family and a life filled with love and laughter. Their union was blessed with one child, Michael Warren. We deeply respected and admired Theodis’ role as a father and a family man.

His warm-hearted, outgoing personality, adventurously spirited, and entertaining sense of humor allowed him to relate to and converse with people from all walks of life. When you think of Forrest City, you would inevitably think of Sonny… it just went together. Although Memphis was his second home, he stayed true to Forrest City. On most weeks you would be able to find him in Forrest City doing what he loved - visiting family, socializing with friends, and preserving his family legacy in Happy Hollow. Sonny’s love for classic cars, his admiration for them evident in the way he meticulously buffed and waxed them, was a source of nostalgia and fondness for him.

During his life Sonny would tell everyone who would listen about the history of many cultures and various ethnic groups. He was exceptionally deep in knowledge about the Delta. Sonny’s passion for high school basketball and football, and his ability to recall the best athletes from most local schools and colleges, was a testament to his appreciation and recognition of these sports.

Sonny was the life of the family vacations that we often termed Wally World because something would always go unhinged. But through the ages, Sonny would be the spirited one in the group who would like to be the hero and keep us laughing and crying simultaneously from Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Milwaukee, Bahamas, Costa Rica, and many places too numerous to mention.

Last but not least, Sonny was a huge Dallas Cowboys fan. He loved to hear the games and watched many football games with his wife and family, especially on Thanksgiving.

Sonny leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of 40 years, Betty Warren; his son, Michael of Memphis, TN, and daughter-in-law Mecca Weaver of Dallas, Texas; two sisters, Beverly Grandberry and Tina James of Missouri. His grandsons are Stephon (Rebecca), Malik (Eryne), and Jaylen; one granddaughter, Mercedyz; and two greatgrandsons, Landon and Loghan, of Dallas, Texas. He also leaves many other family members and friends, many too numerous to count. His sons, Craig Weaver and Keith Willis, and a sister, Sonji Allen, preceded him in death.

Scripture

The Celebration of Life

Sunday, May 18, 2024 11:00 A.M.

Larry S. Bryant Wellness Center 2510 Washington Street • Forrest City, Arkansas 72335

Reverend Ronald Williams ~ Eulogist Lane Chapel CME Church

“Reflections of Love”

Carrie Walker - Family

Acknowledgements.........................................................................................Larry

Eulogy........................................................................................Reverend

Recessional

LTributes oving

To My HusbandDear

I wish I could see you one more time, Come walking through the door... But I know that is impossible, I will hear your voice no more.

I know you can feel my tears And you don’t want me to cry, Yet my heart is broken because I can’t understand why someone So precious had to die.

I pray that God will give me strength And somehow get me through.... As I struggle with the heartache That came When I Lost You.

I will always love you

Dad

You may have thought I didn’t see, Or that I hadn’t heard, Life lessons that you taught to me, But I got every word. Perhaps you thought I missed it all, And that we’d grow apart, But Dad, I picked up everything, It’s written on my heart.

Without you, Dad, I wouldn’t be

The man I am today; You built a strong foundation

No one can take away.

I’ve grown up with your values,

And I’m very glad I did; So here’s to you, dear father,

From your forever grateful kid.

- Mike

To My Brother

We Can’t Choose Our Family Members As We Go Along Life’s Way. When It Comes to Who’s in Our Family TreeWe Just Don’t Have Any Say. But if the Time Ever Came Along and It Were Possible to do, when 1 Was Picking out a Brother There’s No Doubt That l’d Choose You.

-Bev

Poem of Life

Life is but a stopping place, A pause in what’s to be, A resting place along the road, To sweet eternity.

We all have different journeys, Different paths along the way, We all were meant to learn some thing. But never meant to stay….

Our destination is a place, Far greater than we know. For some the journey’s quicker, for some the journey’s slow.

And when the journey finally ends, We’ll claim a great reward, And find an everlasting peace, Together with the Lord.

~Acknowledgements ~

We, the family of Mr. Theodis Warren Jr., wish to express our deepest gratitude for your words of comforts, cards, flowers, and your heartfelt expressions of love and encouragement extended during our time of bereavement.

Special Thanks

We would like to thank Larry S. Bryant Wellness Center and the staff from Harrison’s Memorial Chapel Inc.

Gregory

Brandon

Melvin