Roy Thomas Salley was born on Wednesday, January 12, 1938, to the proud parents of William and Selma Salley in the small community of Pine Grove located in Sparkman, Arkansas. Roy was the baby and was welcomed to the family by Cora, Alice, Elma, John, Safronia, Julia and Nora Salley. They were raised on a farm that sits on 70 acres which operates to this day. His parents, siblings, daughter -Deborah Ann Flint and grandson -Nicholas Todd Dickerson, proceeded him in death.
Roy Thomas joined the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church at a very early age where he worked in many phases while attending there. He remained in a relationship with his home church and visited when the opportunity arose. He later joined the First Missionary Baptist Church of Bearden, Arkansas and remained a member there as he pastored the Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church of Fordyce, Arkansas for 32 years. He also pastored the Calvary Baptist Church of Ivan, Arkansas for 10 years as well. During his tenure as a pastor, he had the opportunity to experience many facets within the religious arena. In the Greater Bradley District Association, Reverend Salley served as the President of Section Number Two; Vice-Moderator under the leadership of Reverend F.O. Jones and then as Moderator when Dr. J. N. Bass resigned. He served the GBDA for 19 years. Reverend Salley also carried the title of Moderator Emeritus after stepping down due to his health. He loved to teach and lead the children of God to a closer walk with the Lord, while also leading others to accept the gift of salvation. This was his focus for many years until his health failed him. He loved being in service for the Lord.
Roy Thomas attended the Sparkman Training School and received his diploma in the year 1958. He worked at an odd job or two, which encouraged him to attend college at AM&N in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He would often tell the story about leaving home with a small scholarship, a mere twenty-five dollars and all his belongings in a duffel bag to begin college. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Agriculture Education in 1962 and his Master of Education from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Arkansas. He also obtained several certifications along the way in the disciplines of Science and Career Education. His love for teaching and helping young people kept him employed for over 42 years in the education field. While teaching in the Bearden School District for all of his 42 years before his retirement, he would leave the classroom daily to drive the school bus and continued to drive the school bus and substitute teach even after retiring. He would meet many of those students whose lives and paths he crossed while teaching. Many lives have been touched as a result of his educational career. He received his Honorary Doctor’s Degree from The Arkansas Baptist College as a blessing which added to the many other accolades attached to his name. He would sometimes relinquish his title as Reverend, Doctor Roy Thomas Salley due to carrying a sense of feeling as though he was “not deserving” of such an honor – however, God’s blessings come when one submits to God’s will.
Mr. Salley was very active in the community. He served in the capacity of Bearden City Alderman and NAACP treasurer. He had a love for doing theme presentations and did so without hesitation in many churches of the Greater Bradley District Association before becoming a pastor. He received many awards and plagues to honor him and his accomplishments. He was a light in the community of Bearden and his legacy will continue to be a beacon.
Roy met the love of his life Marian Lillian Wright while attending school in Sparkman, Arkansas Roy and Marian were married on September 20, 1958, and remained together for 66 years. In this God Ordained Union they raised a family – Deborah, Ronald and Sandra. Mr. Salley was also blessed with his eldest child Joyce, from a previous relationship. While on their journey together, they became the legal guardians for three other children: Danetta, Jeanetta and Chellie Wright. Their family grew, adding grands and great grandchildren.
Left to cherish Roy’s precious memories is his wife of 66 years, Marian Wright-Salley; his children, Joyce Denise Dickerson-Parham of Sparkman, Arkansas; Ronald Jay Salley of Bigelow, Arkansas; Sandra Salley-Lambert (Terry) of Bearden, Arkansas; Danetta Wright-Davis (Henry Lavell) of East Camden, Arkansas; Jeanetta Wright- Blood (Larry) of Bearden, Arkansas and Chellie Wright of Fort Worth, Texas; grandchildren to cherish his memory and continue his legacy as well: Jeremy Flint (Stacy) of Little Rock, Arkansas; Jarrod Flint (Ashley) of Bearden, Arkansas; April Lambert and Tempestt Lambert both of Little Rock, Arkansas; Terry J’Roy Lambert of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; Sha’Kira Davis of Camden, Arkansas, Lavelle Davis II, and Jy’Rah Davis of East Camden, Arkansas; Lataja Rolle (Nathaniel) of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Latreese Wright, Jordan Blood and Larry Blood, Jr, of Little Rock, Arkansas; Royalty Winfree, and Kerrington Chatman of Fort Worth, Texas; Great-Grands: Jada and Nyia Flint of Little Rock, Arkansas; Serena, Jackie, Deborah and Franklin Flint of Bearden, Arkansas; Majesty Brewer of Little Rock, Arkansas; Honesty, Emery and Amari Rolle; Brooklyn, Laden and Karter Blood; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends that will remember him as “Fah, Unc, Uncle Roy, or Mr. Salley”.
Roy Thomas Salley stood the test of time and lived a life that could so easily relate to the motto of Martin Luther King, Jr. derived from an old religious hymn – “If I can help somebody as I pass along, If I can cheer somebody with a word or a song; If I can show somebody he’s traveling wrong – then my living will not be in vain”.
So long until we meet again – Reverend Dr. Roy Thomas Salley –
Funeral services are under the direction of Mitchell Funeral Home of Arkadelphia, AR. Visitation will be Friday, November 15, 2024, at Mitchell Funeral Home from 2 P.M.- 5 P.M. The Celebratory Service will be at the Bearden High School Auditorium at 12:00 Noon on Saturday, November 16, 2024 with Pastor Troy E. Moore officiating and GBDA Moderator, Pastor Verna R. Thompson serving as eulogist. Burial and final resting place will be at Mount Carmel Cemtery in Sparkman, AR.