DR. GEORGE EMERSON LANKFORD III,
85, of Batesville, Ark., and then Little Rock, Ark., made a peaceful transition to Heaven on September 18,
2023. He was born on August
18, 1938 in Birmingham, Ala., to Elaine Jordan and George Emerson Lankford, Jr. If George were writing his own obituary, he would stop here.
You see, George was the most kind, gentle, and humble soul one could ever meet. It appears he did not get the memo that his accomplishments, in so many different fields, were nothing short of extraordinary.
First, George was a prolific author, publishing over 16 books and authoring numerous book chapters and articles during his life. Topics included folklore, history, religion, and archaeology. He even wrote a novel based on an unsolved murder from 1841, managing to solve the murder in the process. Unfortunately, his surviving family is still not bright enough to understand any of the books.
A graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, George served as a Presbyterian pastor in his younger years before making the change to academia and obtaining his Ph.D. at Indiana University. Though his specific awards and accomplishments in collegiate academics are far too numerous to include here (and no doubt would cause George to roll over in his ashes if we did), George was a tenured professor and chair of the Social Sciences Department at Lyon College in Batesville, Ark. In 2001, he was named Professor Emeritus of Folklore. He changed the lives of countless students with his incredible breadth and depth of knowledge in the fields of theology, folklore, archaeology, social sciences, humanities, microcomputer learning (before anyone else knew what that was), and anthropology. George was the leading expert on the Civil War, and people flocked to hear his talks on Native American folklore.
George was passionate about his work with the many fortunate charitable organizations to which he gave his time and attention. Earlier this year, the Arkansas Historical Association presented him with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. His recognized achievements with the Historical Society include immeasurable hours of research on Arkansas History, Native American folklore, archaeology, and religion.
After retirement, which George once stated he was “flunking,” he served as Editor of the Independence Country Chronicle for the Independence County Historical Society. When he moved to Little Rock, the Society unanimously named him as Editor Emeritus of the publication. He also enjoyed acting with the Batesville Community Theatre and singing with the Batesville Choral Society. He painted pictures no one would ever see “to get the words out of his head.”
However, as incredibly talented and successful as George was in his many fields of interest, this does not compare to how special he was as a person. Kind, generous, funny, and always there for everyone, George was beloved beyond compare by his friends and family.
A lifelong bachelor, George discovered the perfect arrangement early in his life — to be the absolute best uncle and great uncle ever — and then quickly return the children to their rightful guardians.
George’s incredible legacy will live on, not only in the form of an endowed scholarship at Lyon College, but in the hearts of his loving friends and family.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Elaine Jordan Lankford; his father, George Emerson Lankford, Jr.; his brother, Richard Jordan Lankford (and wife, Mary Bess Malone Lankford).
He is survived by his niece and nephew, Malone Moore Lankford and Jack Jordan Lankford (and wife, Annamary Burton Lankford); as well as by his grand-nieces and nephews, Mary Margaret Lankford, Jackson Russell Lankford, Elizabeth Ann Dougherty, John Samuel Dougherty, and Catherine Thompson.
George will be laid to rest in Magnolia Cemetery in Mobile, Ala., in the Lankford Family plot. A celebration of his incredible life will be held Saturday, September 30, 2023 from 5-7 p.m. at The Heritage House, 2030 Bearette Drive, Batesville, Ark.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that we all drink a Coke and enjoy vanilla wafers in George’s honor, as this was his favorite snack. Donations to the Lankford Endowed Scholarship Fund at Lyon College are also appreciated. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com.