Arnold Claude Black, 96, of Hazen, died Sunday morning, December 21st, 2025. Arnold was born on September 17, 1929 in Hazen, Arkansas to the late Carlis Black and Fannie Lee Black. He was a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church of Tollville and also attended St. Al ban’s Episcopal Church of Stuttgart. He graduated from DeValls Bluff High School in 1948 where he played basketball and met his wife, Markoleta Elizabeth Toll, whom he married on November 19, 1948.
Arnold was an outstanding baseball player and played many years after his high school graduation with various area teams. He enjoyed all sports and attended as many of his sons, grandsons and great grandsons and great granddaughters’ baseball, football and basketball games as he possibly could. Arnold was an avid hunter and especially enjoyed turkey hunting in the Ouachita Mountains and deer hunting as a member of the Neal Barnes Hunting Club in Fordyce, Arkansas. Arnold spent his entire working career, some 40+ years as a service man for Arkansas Power & Light Company (now Entergy Arkansas, Inc.), earning awards for customer service and safety. If your electricity went out in Hazen, Tollville or DeValls Bluff, Arnold was the man you called to restore your power.
He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, and his sisters, Jettie Roach and Helen Harper; and daughter in-law, Linda Black; and son-in-law, Phil Prislovsky. He is survived by his son, Dickie Black of Pine Bluff, son Danny (Leslie) Black of Little Rock, daughter Paula Prislovsky of Rogers and daughter Karen Black of Hazen; and one sister-in-law, Gladys Hatfield of DeValls Bluff; grandchildren, Jennifer (Thomas) Burnett of Little Rock, Jamie Dennis of Little Rock, Gabriel (Genevieve) McTigrit of Little Rock, Lauren Black of White Hall, Carly (Trapper) Padgett of Carlisle, Kelli Black of Little Rock, Meryl Prislovsky of Hazen, Jillian (Justin) Horton of Fayetteville and Ariel (Vince) Tate of Des Arc; and twelve great grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
The family is grateful to the staff at Hospice Home Care in Little Rock for their compassionate care provided to Arnold and his family.
Funeral service for Arnold will be Monday, December 29th, 2025 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Tollville beginning at 1:00 P.M. officiated by Father Ray Brown. Interment will follow in Oakland Cemetery in DeValls Bluff.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Oakland Cemetery, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and St. Alban’s Episcopal Church.
Arrangements are entrusted by Westbrook Funeral Home of Hazen, Arkansas.
Mr. Arnold Black will be dearly missed, but his wonderful legacy will be forever cherished by those who knew him. For nearly a century this kind gentleman impacted the lives of others around him. We would often see Mr. Arnold at various local restaurants and he always had a kind word to say. Occasionally getting to eat at the table with him was a special blessing as Mr. Arnold , a seasoned veteran of life’s experiences, would summarize by word and demonstrate by action the things that are most important in life: family, friends, respect for others, etc. His recollection of events of his school days at DeValls Bluff, his memories of many years with AP&L, his unconditional love for family and friends, his respect and appreciation of others—these are some of the things that testify that Mr. Arnold Black was indeed an extraordinary man whose long life blessed many others. He will be missed.
Billy and Gail Booth
Sending prayers for the family.He was a very sweet man Rest In Heaven Mr.Black🙏🌹
I first got to know Mr. Arnold during my high school and college years when I worked at Vail’s. He was one of our “coffee drinkers”. The coffee table was the men’s version of a beauty shop…lots of stories, lots of laughter, and some drama. Mr. Arnold was always a gentleman and so nice and polite and kind. In later years I have been living “across the field” from Mr. Arnold. He would often stop by and visit with me and Larry when we were in the yard or garden. Over the last several years there have been many “yard visits” and I totally enjoyed each visit and will miss not getting him a yard chair to sit in, or giving him strawberries and tomatoes. I called Mr. Arnold on his 96th birthday (Sept. 17) and we had a good little chat. He never made a big fuss about his birthday, but I think that he realized that every birthday after his 90th was kinda extra special. He was such a nice man and I am lucky that I got to spend some time with him once in a while for over 35 years.
Paula and family,
I am so sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Prayers for his family and friends. He will be missed at the Hurley House. He was a good friend.