praying_angelWe requests your prayers for the Nianzer Anderson, the Ernestine White Gibson and the E. Lynn Harris families.

Nianzer Earl Anderson, 59, of Fayetteville, departed this life Monday, March 23, 2009. Nianzer Earl Anderson attended the University of Arkansas, where he met and married Evelyn Jones. He was employed at the University of Arkansas Student Union from 1978 to March 1, 2009, when he retired.

Anderson held many positions on the university campus. He worked for the University of Arkansas Police Department as a night manager and he held the associate director of operations for the Student Union. The position he treasured the most was the night manager’s position. It was this position that gave him the opportunity to interact with a multitude of students on campus. He had an opportunity to train and work with students. He truly took the concept of “Students First” to heart.

Please remember to pray for the family, wife, Evelyn Anderson, three daughters, Zenobia Michelle, Essabia Anderson, Neandria Anderson, and one son, Adonis Anderson, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Ernestine White Gibson, 57, of Fayetteville, departed this life on Tuesday, May 12, 2009. Gibson was a community activist. She was a member of the Northwest Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Planning Committee and served as president. She was instrumental in the efforts to rename Sixth Street in Fayetteville to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Gibson also was a charter member of the Phi Alpha Omega in Bentonville, Arkansas, and the Eta Upsilon Chapter in Jonesboro, Arkansas. She also served as Black Alumni Society 2007 Reunion Chair, 2009 secretary and the 2007, 2009 Reunion Gospel Celebration chair.

Gibson was employed as an administrative assistant in Student Support Services of the University of Arkansas. She was affectionately known as the “nurturer” for those who worked around her.

Please pray for her husband, Robert Gibson III, daughter Deanna Stokes, son Robert Gibson IV and her grandson Robert Gibson V.

E. Lynn Harris, 53, cheerleading sponsor/coach for Arkansas and a passionate Razorbacks fan, passed away on Friday, July 23, 2009. He was on a book tour of the West Coast.

Harris, a best-selling author whose work dealt with black, gay culture and delved into athletics, was a passionate Razorbacks fan. A Little Rock native, he graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1977. For the past eight semesters, Harris served as a “visiting” professor for the English department.

Most recently, Harris wrote his 11th novel, “Basketball Jones,” which involved an NBA player and the player’s gay lover. Prior to “Basketball Jones” Harris penned “Just Too Good To Be True,” a novel detailing the life of Heisman Trophy candidate Brady Manning. Harris’ novel focused on the pressures surrounding Manning and the support system the star athlete leaned on to help him through dark and troubling times.

Harris received the 1999 Citation of Distinguished Alumni from the Alumni Association and was a Silas Hunt Legacy Award recipient.

Please send job promotions, weddings, births and deaths to Angela Mosley Monts.