Alvin E. Wilbanks

Bishop Alvin E. Wilbanks, 84, of Osceola departed this life on Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro, Arkansas.  He was born on July 23, 1939 in Chewalla, Tennessee to Noah Walker and Cylenia Greene Wilbanks. 

 Alvin was in ministry for forty years from August 1976 – December 2015 at Carroll’s Corner Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He was known as the man with the million-dollar smile and was Papaw to everybody.

He is preceded in death by his parents, four sons: Dewayne, Randall, Mark, and James “Bo” Wilbanks, one daughter: LeeAnn “Annie” Wilbanks, one granddaughter: Jennifer Wilbanks, one grandson: Kyle Wilbanks, four brothers: Clarence, Clyde, Charles, Sr., and Jerry Wilbanks, three sisters: Thelma and Imogene Brumley, and Geraldine Barclay.

Alvin is survived by his wife of fifty-three years: Dorothy Garrison Wilbanks of the home, three sons: Alvin Wilbanks, Jr., of Kennett, Missouri, Kevin Wilbanks of Oak Hill, West Virginia, and David Wilbanks of Osceola, Arkansas, three daughter in laws: Penny Wilbanks of  Osceola, Arkansas, Cathy Wilbanks of Olive Branch, Mississippi, and Michelle Wilbanks of Dyersburg, Tennessee, two brothers: Paul Wilbanks (Wilma) of Carroll’s Corner and Eugene Wilbanks of Fenton, Michigan, one sister: Vernell Guthrie of Schwartz Creek, Michigan, twenty-three grandchildren, thirty-five great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, his favorite dog: Jack and a host of other nieces, nephews, close loved ones, other children and grandchildren that adopted him.  He was loved by many and will be greatly missed. 

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 29, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Both services will be held at Pentecostals of Carroll’s Corner.

Brother Keith Stokes will officiate the service.

Arrangements are under the care of Delancey Funeral Home in Lepanto, Arkansas.