of Little Rock, AR

December 28, 1943 - April 25, 2024

LARRY WARD BURKS, 80, passed away peacefully on April 25, 2024. Larry was born in Little Rock, Ark. on December 28, 1943 to Mildred Lochridge Burks and V. E. Burks during his father's deployment in World War II.

Larry grew up in Little Rock, Memphis and North Little Rock. He was baptized in Berclair Baptist Church, Memphis and became involved with Park Hill Baptist Church and DeMolay. Larry graduated with honors from North Little Rock High School in 1961, where he was active in the debate and thespian clubs while also playing team sports.

In 1965, Larry graduated the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, with a BSBA as an accounting major. Larry participated in campus activities and organizations including the accounting fraternity Beta Alpha Psi and social fraternity Sigma Chi, meeting lifelong friends along the way.

Following graduation, Larry married his college sweetheart, Liz Clinton and in 1966, they welcomed their first daughter, Stacey Elizabeth Burks.

Larry then entered active duty as a Lieutenant for the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war era. Larry was the executive officer of a Nike nuclear missile battery in Painesville, Ohio. Later, he was honorably discharged as a Captain from the U. S. Army Reserve.

In 1970, Larry graduated Law School at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and was employed as a trial attorney with the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission, St. Louis Branch Office. While in St. Louis, Liz and Larry happily welcomed their son, Clinton Ward Burks. Liz and Larry moved to Little Rock where he joined the law firm of Friday, Eldredge & Clark, until his retirement.

Larry was a career long member in the American Bar Association, Arkansas Bar Association and Pulaski County Bar Association, where he served on various committees and task forces for each. Larry was licensed to practice law before the United States Supreme Court, the Arkansas Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, Eighth and Tenth Circuit U. S. Courts of Appeal, U. S. District Court Eastern and Western Districts. He was a diplomat member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals and served on the boards of mediators-arbitrators for Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and Midcontinent Independent System Operator Energy. He also operated an alternative dispute resolution business mediation and arbitration. Larry's law career spanned more than 50 years.

In 1985, Larry married Betty Jean Andrews, who he lived 39 happy years with by his side. Larry enjoyed all outdoor hobbies especially working with English Setters and golfing. Larry was predeceased by his parents, Mildred and V.E., and Clinton and Liz.

Larry is survived by his daughter, Stacey Briggs, her husband, Eric and granddaughter, Janet all of Nashville, TN; brothers, Donald and David, WA and cousin, Lana R. Oakley, Booneville, MS and his wife, Betty Jean Burks.

Cremation arrangements are by Roller-Chenal Funeral Home. A memorial service will be at Second Presbyterian Church at 11 A.M. on Tuesday, April 30th.

Please direct any memorials to the American Heart Association, Arkansas Chapter, https://www.heart.org/, or Wounded Warrior Project, http://woundedwarriorproject.org/

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Chenal Funeral Home
13801 Chenal Parkway
Little Rock, AR  72211
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com