29 Apr 2024 Couple of the Month: Jean and Walter Hervey Jr
HIS STORY:
I am always faithful – Semper Fi.
Native of: Arkansas.
Education: I graduated from East Side High School in Menifee (Conway County) and received a degree as a junior accountant from the Hot Springs Rehabilitation Center in Hot Springs (Garland County).
Place of employment: I am retired from the U.S. Marine Corp and, after 45 years of employment, retired from Winrock Farms Inc. as accountant clerk for the estate of Winthrop Rockefeller, Winthrop Paul Rockefeller and Liseanne Rockefeller.
honors: I received two Purple Hearts for my service in Vietnam.
community activities: I am chairman of deacons, treasurer and Sunday school teacher at Mount Carmel Baptist Church.
Hobbies: I enjoy fishing and reading and am a member and treasurer of Chapter 13 Disabled Veterans of Arkansas.
What do you love about living in Central Arkansas? I love friendly people.
What is the secret to a long, happy marriage? Faith and trust. Keeping our lives Christ-centered and loving my wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
HER STORY:
I am an extrovert who is self-confident and mild-mannered.
Native of: Arkansas.
children/grandchildren: Yolanda Criswell (her spouse is deceased) and Schanta Barksdale. Our grandchildren are Brandon Criswell and Brittany Criswell. We are extra proud of our great-grandchildren, Malaysia Criswell, Jayda Criswell and Kamari Criswell.
Place of employment: I work for Workers United.
honors: Outstanding Labor Leaders Award, Rosita Tucker Award-A Philip Randolph Institute, Lottie Shackelford/Jimmie Lou Fisher Honoree and Keeper of the Flame from the NAACP.
Community activities: I am the financial secretary for Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., a deaconess and chair of the Beautification Ministry at Mount Carmel Baptist in Plumerville.
Hobbies: I collect bells and rare stamps. I have traveled to Europe, South America, all the states in the U.S. except for four and to 25 countries on the continent of Africa. I also work with Faces of Our Children to help find a cure for sickle cell anemia.What do you love about living in Central Arkansas? I love the people and the homey environment. I enjoy state parks, beautiful lakes, rivers and the mountains. I think Arkansas is a beautiful small state with lots to offer. Our state is a well-kept secret.
Why is family important to you?
I am hosting a family reunion this month. I am one of 13 and the 10th child. My family loves me unconditionally. Our family is close-knit; we help each other in hard times, as well as celebrate the good times. Family can be a support mechanism when nothing else is available to you. I describe our family as “love, love, love.”
THEIR STORY:
We met through a mutual friend and relative, Jimmy Charles Rice. We dated for four years before getting married on Easter Sunday, March 26, 1967. We love and respect each other. We both believe that our faith and belief in God helps to bind us together in Christian love.
We love going to different restaurants and trying all kinds of food. You might say we love fine dining.
We spend a lot of time together driving throughout Conway County and other parts of our state, getting to know the different cities and the people that live there. What a great time to have on Saturday evening and on a Sunday afternoon!
