George Audie Duke

George Audie Duke, age 81, of Conway and Black Springs, passed away on Monday, June 13, 2022.

George was born on October 6, 1940, in Black Springs, the son of Audie Absalom Duke and Anna May Rowell Duke. On February 1, 1964, he was married to the love of his life, Nancy Hurd Duke.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, and his sister.

George and Nancy opened their home to many foster children over the years, who still love and adore them for their wonderful care.  One of his many accomplishments include being selected as the 1970’s Outstanding Young Man of America.  He received his master’s degree in music education, working as a Music Teacher, Choral High School Director, and Band Director at Bartlett High School in Dyersburg, Tennessee.  George surrendered to fulltime Christian Services as a minister of music at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Dyersburg. George also served as music minister in many churches such as First Baptist Church in Lepanto, Calvary Baptist in West Memphis, Arkansas, for several years at First Baptist in Glenwood, Southside Baptist Church in Damascus, First Baptist Church of Coldwater, Mississippi, Highland Baptist Church in Senatobia, Mississippi, and Crystal Valley Church in North Little Rock. He faithfully helped over one hundred smaller churches throughout his ministry. George also worked many revivals in Oklahoma, Michigan, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, and Mississippi.  Along with his music ministry, George decided to try his hand at something new and went to work for Molex in Maumelle, where he would end up working for twenty-two years.  This certainly proved that George was truly a “workaholic”, as he was always known to be.  He was also an avid Razorback fan. 

George was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and foster father, who loved and cherished his family.  He will truly be missed by all who knew and loved him, but his beautiful gifted voice will live on in each of our hearts forever.;  

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Duke of Conway and Black Springs; his two sons, Benjamin Curtis Duke and David Samuel Duke, both of Conway; his daughter, Sarah Elizabeth and Lance Strickland of Conway; his grandchildren, Benjamin “David” Duke, Hailee Duke, Victoria Duke, Emily Strickland, Robert Strickland, Kaadyn McCormack; his great-granddaughter, River Evants; his special foster child, Bonnie Sue Spencer of Crescent City, California; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members and a host of wonderful friends.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday, June 20, 2022, in the Smith Family Funeral Home Chapel, Glenwood.

Visitation will be held Monday, 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM, prior to the services.

Interment will be in the Black Springs Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Emily Strickland, Robert Strickland, Kaadyn McCormack, David Duke, Benjamin “Benji” Duke, Lance Strickland, Benjamin David Duke, and Hunter Frisby.    

Guest registry is at www.smithfamilycares.com.