Rev. J. D. McGrew

Rev. J. D. McGrew, age 95, of Hot Springs, passed away on Monday, September 20, 2021.

He was born on September 24, 1925, near Glenwood, the son of Larkin Samuel McGrew and Lillie Melissy Matlock McGrew. On July 6, 1946, he was married to Wilma Jean Wright McGrew who preceded him in death on March 27, 2005. He was also preceded in death by his sons, Dr. Gary McGrew and Randy McGrew; his parents; and four siblings, Geneva Greathouse, Paul McGrew, Billy McGrew and his infant sister, Donna Fay McGrew.

Bro. McGrew was a licensed Assembly of God minister for over fifty years. A United States Navy veteran, he was called into the ministry while stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas. He would pastor numerous churches in Arkansas from 1947 until 1986. After his pastorates and his move to Hot Springs, he became a member of Hot Springs First Assembly of God and in 2000, transferred to Lakeview Assembly of God. Throughout his ministry, he would be involved with other work. He owned McGrew Livestock Auction, now Cattleman’s Livestock Auction, from 1967 until 1972, managed Clark County Livestock Auction for 1972 until 1975 and worked for the Arlington Hotel from 1989 until his retirement in 2007 at the age of eighty-one.

He is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Regina and Terry Thomason and Kina and Danny Clayton, all of Hot Springs; seven grandchildren, Tina McGrew, Trisha Murphy, Lt. Colonel Tim McGrew, Tiffany Sharp, Derek McGrew, Kyle McGrew and Willa Thomason; nine great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and his special caregivers, Florica Omut and family.

Services will be at 2:00 PM, Friday, September 24, 2021, in the Lakeview Assembly of God Church with Rev. Wayne Gore, Rev. Scott Gallimore and Rev. Matt Stevenson officiating.

Visitation will be Thursday, 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM, at the funeral home.

Interment will be in Mount Tabor Cemetery under the direction of Davis-Smith Funeral Home, Hot Springs.

Pallbearers will be Terry Thomason, Danny Clayton, Larry Hicks, Bruce Burroughs, Kyle McGrew and Derek McGrew.

Guest registry is at www.davis-smith.com.

Churches served by Rev. J. D. McGrew:

Glenwood First Assembly of God, 1947-1950
Church planted in Corpus Christi, Texas, 1953
Culvert Springs Assembly of God, 1953-1956
Amity First Assembly of God, 1958-1962
Nashville Assembly of God, 1959-1961
Truman Assembly of God, 1962-1963
Hilltop Assembly of God, 1964-1972
Mountain View Assembly of God, 1975-1977
Glenwood First Assembly of God, 1978-1980
Curtis Assembly of God, 1982-1984
Oma Community Church, 1984-1986