"Remembering" by Russell Yarbrough

Note: At a family reunion in June 1996, Barbara Anne Yarbrough Bullard shared a notebook of family history that featured our family tree and other information. A number of pages of recollections from Russell Albert Yarbrough were included. Below are excerpts from those recollections recorded beginning in 1972 until his death in 1974. I thought you might enjoy reading it again (or for the first time for the younger among us). - Tim Yarbrough, Alpharetta, Georgia

As I sit here, it is the night after Christmas and I am lonely. My thoughts go back to that long ago childhood and the times that Santa Claus would come and fill our stockings with goodies. How my sister and I longed for morning, so we could see what Santa brought us. I think one of the best things I got was an alligator that would crawl when wound up. We would look for Santa's sleigh tracks, and sure enough, we would find them. Our Daddy and Mother would have a time getting us to come to breakfast. When springtime came the baby pigs and calves, we would have to name them.

How well I remember the time Daddy took a raft of logs down the Tennessee River to Paducah, Kentucky, and brought back a living room suit, and a kitchen range with a reservoir on it to heat water. Oh, how we loved our daddy. I'll never forget the time Daddy let me drive six miles with a big load of logs, that was a happy day for me.

My Daddy bought a farm, and there was a place to wade in the creek. This creek also caused us to get paddled by our Momma. One day we were playing and saw a big snoke eating Momma's eggs. We ran to the house and told Momma. She got a hoe and killed it, cut him open and found four eggs, but we were afraid to eat them, so we threw them away.

More to come...a dog named Mack and a goat named Billy...

Tim Yarbrough Elected Editor of Arkansas Baptist News

Nov 19, 2010

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (BP)— Tim Yarbrough of the North American Mission Board was elected as editor of the Arkansas Baptist News by the ABN board of directors Nov. 18. Yarbrough is the son of June Yarbrough of Malden, Mo.

Yarbrough, 50, has been NAMB's Acts 1:8 challenge coordinator since 2002. He will become ABN editor effective Jan. 1, succeeding Charlie Warren, who is retiring after 11 years as editor.

"I am deeply humbled to be called as the next editor of the Arkansas Baptist News," Yarbrough said. "It has become increasingly evident to me over the past several weeks that God wants my family and me back in Arkansas. It will be a privilege to serve alongside our friends in the state, in addition to making new friends.

"The Arkansas Baptist News is an important trust and should play a significant role in advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ at home and around the globe," Yarbrough added. "I look forward to telling the story of how God is using Arkansas Baptists to boldly proclaim Christ to a lost and dying world."

In addition to directing the Acts 1:8 strategy for NAMB, Yarbrough earlier served as media strategist and director of church relations at NAMB. Previously he served as the communications director of the Missouri Baptist Convention from 1995-2002. From 1989-95, Yarbrough was an editor of a magazine, books and other publications at the Baptist Brotherhood Commission, which later merged with NAMB.

"The board of trustees of the ABN is very excited about our new editor, Tim Yarbrough," said Erby Burgess, ABN board president. "Tim brings with him experience, leadership and journalism skills and a wealth of ideas to creatively communicate Christ's story to the masses.

"Tim has a heart for missions, for Southern Baptists and for God's Kingdom work," added Burgess, pastor of Park Hill Baptist Church in Arkadelphia. "The work of the Arkansas Baptist News -- to inform, inspire and involve Arkansas Baptists in fulfilling the Great Commission -- will be greatly enhanced by Tim's leadership. I hope all Arkansas Baptists will plug into the ABN and be better informed so as to strengthen our effort of witnessing to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth."

Yarbrough's election came as a recommendation of the ABN personnel committee, chaired by Judy Shaddox, a member of Park Hill Baptist Church of North Little Rock.

"Tim is definitely the right person to continue the legacy of great editors who have 'informed, inspired and involved' Arkansas Baptists in the work of God," Shaddox said. "He not only brings a wealth of experience in journalism and technology, but a career that is marked with strong commitment to Southern Baptist work and to missions. His enthusiastic dedication to Christ and to the people in the pews is contagious."

Born in Kennett, Mo., Yarbrough's family moved to Arkansas in 1967, settling in Jonesboro. Yarbrough was saved during a revival at Walnut Street Baptist Church in Jonesboro. He and his wife Pamm were married in 1986 at First Baptist Church in Russellville. They also have been members of Baring Cross Baptist Church of North Little Rock and First Baptist Church of Maumelle.

From 1987-89, he was a section editor for the Arkansas Democrat, and earlier served as news editor and staff writer for various daily and weekly newspapers, including the Courier Democrat of Russellville. He taught journalism as a graduate assistant at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he earned a master of arts degree in journalism. Earlier he earned a bachelor of science degree in journalism from Murray State University in Kentucky.

He also taught strategic communications as an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri School of Journalism and taught public relations at Columbia College, both of which are located in Columbia, Mo.

The Yarbroughs have two children.

Reported by the staff of the Arkansas Baptist News.

Copyright (c) 2010 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press
901 Commerce Street
Nashville, TN 37203
Tel: 615.244.2355
Fax: 615.782.8736
email: bpress@sbc.net

Thanksgiving 2005

Here's a blast from the past! Aunt Barb and Uncle Jerry at Mom and Dad's during Thanksgiving 2005. Dad passed away three years later.

"Papa" was a Huge Influence on My Spiritual Life

Papa Yarbrough with his mule, Jackie.

NOTE: This is an excerpt from a writing assignment I did in seminary class. I thought you might enjoy reading it.

By Tim Yarbrough

My spiritual journey and ministry – perhaps like a lot of people – had a very unlikely start. As I reflect on my life and how God has used situations, circumstances and experiences, I see some patterns emerging that He used to mold and shape me into the man I am today. There have been twists, turns and events along the way that, at the time, I did not understand. As I grow older and look in the rearview mirror, God’s hand on my life, His steady guidance, and protection has been unmistakable.

Growing Up on a Farm and Spiritual Influences

My earthy journey started rather humbly in a rural hospital in extreme Southeast Missouri (known by many as simply as the “Bootheel”), near the Arkansas state line. The hospital at Kennett, Missouri, in Stoddard County was one of the closest to the home of my parents near Parma in New Madrid County. It is near Parma there where my father farmed about 300 rented acres of land at the time I was born.

The shaping influences in my life were culture and community. Customs and practices of farmers, and the Southern culture in general, helped shape my view of God, country and Americans. Adults – or “your elders” as they were called – were to be addressed with the respect, using “Yes Sir, No Sir” and “Yes Ma'am, No Ma'am.” Church was to be attended a minimum of three times a week: Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night. If visitation was held on Monday or Tuesday nights, you were expected to be there. Every few months, a church fellowship “potluck” was held that always featured fried chicken, lots of casseroles and everyone’s favorite desserts. Revival services were held annually with an evangelist and music leader coming from a sister Baptist church not more than 50 miles away. And almost without fail during those revival meetings, the town drunk or another local “sinner” came forward – many times only to disappear from the church body within a matter of weeks or months.

My grandfather, Russell Yarbrough, a farmer who never farmed large acreage of land compared to today's standards, was a powerful influence in my life; teaching me spiritual truths, a respect for nature, about God and the workings of the church. Having lost his father at an early age due to a logging accident, Russell had to quit school and go to work to support the family. While he may not have had a lot of formal education, he remains one of the smartest people I have every known. Everyone in my family was expected to work hard and have a strong work ethic.

In many ways, these culture and community shaping influences played a big part in guiding me following my profession of faith in Jesus Christ at age 11; and throughout my teen-age years and on to college and a professional career. Choices I made in my life were greatly influenced by the simple farm culture and rural community of faith. Because of my upbringing, I was expected to know the difference between “right” or “wrong” and make the right choice through the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit. There was simply no middle ground. God used these humble culture and community influences to guide my professional career and call to ministry.

Moving to Arkansas and Starting School

Jonesboro, Arkansas, holds many pleasant memories for me, I guess because I lived there during some of my “formative” years, between the age of 7 and 14. I had a hard transition moving in first grade. We didn’t have kindergarten in Risco, so I started first grade in Jonesboro a bit behind the other kids in school. That, coupled with totally new surroundings, impacted my “settling in” greatly. There were several days my stomach hurt prompting me to want to stay home and not go to school. Mom made me go anyway, but I did go to the nurse often and had my mother called several times to the nurse’s office that first year in Jonesboro.

As my grandparents aged, it became increasingly apparent they would need help in getting along. Although he had a mild heart attack when I was a small boy, my grandfather was always the picture of health. Russell was a sturdy-looking man even into his 70s. Standing at 6 feet, I considered “Papa” – as his grandchildren called him – to be a giant. He met his match, however, when my grandmother’s health began to fail. Back in Jonesboro, the moving business our family was involved in wasn’t going so great anyway, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to sell out, return to familiar territory, and start anew. Dad always seemed to have a fondness for the Southeast Missouri area, having been born and reared in the small town of Kewanee near New Madrid on the Mississippi River.

The move back to Missouri in 1973 was particularly hard. Earlier that year, I started junior high in the seventh grade at the historic Annie Camp Junior High School in Jonesboro. The school had probably 500 students at the time I attended it, which was in sharp contrast to the school in the town of Risco, which had 300 students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade.

After returning, I never really felt like I fit in with other students at Risco. Most kids were tied to farming in some way, which at that time still provided a rather nice living for many farmers. While my dad planned to farm my grandfather’s 80-acre farm at some point, his main source of income was driving a truck for Arkansas Best Freight (ABF), a firm from which he would eventually retire.

Age 13 is awkward for all kids I guess. Your body is changing. You’re growing at a rapid pace. Generally, you are gaining more understanding of the world around you. You are seeking independence. Moving to a new school at such an awkward age isn’t fun, but I made the most of it. Fortunately, there was another new kid at the school the year I started. His name was Marty. We soon became friends and stayed close throughout high school.

One of the best parts about moving back to Risco was being around my best friend, Papa. While he was up in years – 78 when we moved there – we were always close. In spite of my awkward age, we would have long conversations about life and God. My grandfather was a very spiritual man. He referred to God as “The Good Lord” and told me to always keep my eyes on Him. I know my grandfather wasn’t faultless during the years I knew him, but I truly believe he had grown to an age of understanding about what life was all about: Living for God.

After we returned to Risco to take care of my ailing grandmother and to help my grandfather, it wasn’t long before things took a dramatic turn. Granny died in the hospital after suffering a stroke and Papa was never again the same. Depressed, he moped around his house, called my parents often and never was the same again. We watched as he went down month after month. Not long after my grandmother died – about 10 months later in the same year – my grandfather died in a Memphis hospital after having kidney stones, with which he had a long ailment, removed. To this day I believe he died of a broken heart. He just didn’t want to go on without my grandmother.

Watch the Reunion Photo Presentation

We had more than 200 photos - mostly old, but new ones too - for our Yarbrough Reunion 2010 video, "Reunion: A Celebration of Family." Thanks to everyone who sent in photos. Here's the video via You Tube:

Hannah Yarbrough Named All County

Hannah Yarbrough, daughter of Tim and Pamm Yarbrough, recently was named to the Forsyth County "All County" Lacrosse Team. A photo of the team was published by the Forsyth County News on Sunday, June 19 (above). Hannah is No. 32 pictured in the lower left.

Hannah's stats for the season were as follows:

28 Shots on Goal
15 Draw Control
27 Groundballs
13 Takeaways/Turnovers
17 Goals
4 Assists

Photos from Yarbrough Family Reunion 2010

Click for photo album on Flickr.com

Wow! What a day! It was awesome to get to see everyone at the Yarbrough Family Reunion 2010. Great fellowship. Great food. Who could ask for more? :-)

Here is a link to photos I took at the event. If you would like to have your photos added, please email to yarbroughfamily@gmail.com or tyarbrough@gmail.com.

Thanks again to everyone's hard work, especially Phillip Dixon whose persistence made it happen!

Blessings to all,

Tim Yarbrough