Wayne Douglas Elkins

Wayne Douglas Elkins, born February 9, 1946, in Texarkana, AR, departed this life August 21, 2026.

He was the youngest son of David and Loutie Elkins who preceded him in death. He also had nine siblings; all but one sister, Helen Hughes, are deceased. They are James Elkins, Virginia Jewel, Eugene Elkins, Fincher Elkins, Dovie Dodson, William Elkins, Charles Elkins, and Ruth Curtis. He is survived by his wife of 6O years, Janice in Little Rock, Arkansas; a daughter and son-in-law, Shannon and David Webber of Murphysboro, IL. and three grandchildren, Emma Bryant (Colin) of Nashville, TN, Owen Webber of Plainfield, IL, and Reilly Thomas (Will); of Memphis, TN.

The Elkins have lived in Little Rock for fifty plus years. Wayne held a Bachelor of Arts degree from Little Rock University, a Bachelor of Christian Education degree from the Missionary Baptist Seminary and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Arkansas, Little Rock. He spent 38 years as a full time or part-time staff member of Baptist Churches and the last twenty years of his work was as a Psychiatric Social Worker while working part time in Ministry. He was an Associate Pastor and Minister of Music with Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Denison, TX; Unity Baptist Church in Little Rock; for twenty years an Associate Pastor and Minister of Music with Antioch Baptist Church in Little Rock, and Associate Pastor and Minister of Music with Faith Baptist Church in North Little Rock, and with Springhill Baptist Church in Alexander. Wayne calculated at one time that he had spent well over a year of his life in Church Encampments, mostly at Bogg Springs Baptist Camp. During his Little Rock Ministry he was also an Instructor at the Missionary Baptist Seminary for twenty-two years. He was a member of the Editorial Committee for the American Baptist Association Hymnal, "In Spirit and in Truth" and held several elected positions in the local, state and national Associations. As a Social Worker (Mental Health Professional and Clinical Therapist), he worked for Howard Memorial Hospital in Nashville, AR; Professional Counseling Associates, for Baptist Health Medical Center and for Neuropsychology Associates all in Little Rock. For 10 years, he was a Field Instructor for the UALR Graduate School of Social Work and a group facilitator for Alzheimer's Arkansas. He was a Fellow of the Arkansas Gerontological Society and was on the Board for several years. Mr. Elkins retired in 2016. He was most recently an active member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock; he sang in the choir and was a substitute Bible Class Teacher.

The brightest lights in his life besides his wife Janice, were his daughter Shannon whom he always said was "might' nigh perfect" and the grandchildren, Emma, Owen and Reilly who followed in their mother's footsteps by being "might' nigh perfect" also.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial Gifts may be made to Alzheimer's Arkansas or to Bogg Springs Baptist Camp.

A visitation will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, August 27, 2026, in the Chapel at Immanuel Baptist Church (501 N. Shackleford) with a memorial service following at 2:00 PM.