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Rev. Michael Binns, Sr. age 58, passed away Sunday, July 31, 2011 in Pine Bluff, AR. He was born February 10, 1953 to Flossie and Wilson Wells of Monticello, Arkansas.
Michael graduated from Monticello High School as an honor graduate in 1971. He then graduated from the University of Monticello in 1975 where he received his BA in Choral Music. He continued his studies with the late Marjorie Lawrence of Hot Springs and did graduate work at UALR and the University of Arkansas Fayetteville in counseling and Special Education. In 1993, Michael received his MME from the University of Arkansas Fayetteville in Music.
On November 5, 1978, Rev. Binns was ordained as a Baptist Minister. He attended the Morris Booker Seminary, The Arkansas Baptist Theological Seminary and in 1994, he received his Doctorate of Divinity from the Universal Life Seminary.
At age six, he joined Holmes Chapel Presbyterian Church under the leadership of the late Y.C. Jordan. In 1976, He united with the Morning Star Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. T.S. Skipper with the encouragement of his grandmother, Sister Charlie V. Binns, who was a Deaconess and Mother of Morning Star. He remained a faithful member until 1980, when he accepted the position as pastor of the Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church in Wilmar, Arkansas. He resigned in 2002 and later became an associate minister of Mt. Tabor and was later appointed by Rev. Floyd Daniels, who was pastor at the time, to the position of Minister of Music. He remained as Minister of Music under the current pastoral leadership of Rev. Shay Gillespie, until his death.
In 1975, Mr. Binns began the Monticello Junior High School Choir Program. He directed two concert choirs, two madrigal groups, two girls' ensembles and two boys' ensembles. During this tenure as choir director, he placed over two hundred students in the Southeast Arkansas Junior and Senior All Region Choirs, and placed many students in the Arkansas All State Choir. Mr. Binns choral groups were known for receiving 1st Division ratings at the regional CPA (Choral Performance Assessment) and the state level of competition.
Michael enjoyed the pleasure of judging other choral groups in Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana. He loved his students, and as evidenced by their hard work for him and beautiful gifts he received, they loved him as well.
Michael was a member of the Seark CDA, American Choral Directors Associations, Ark CDA, ADE, MEA and served as the Southeast Regional Chairman. Other accolades he received are as follows: Kiwanis Club chose him as 1995 Teacher of the Year, 1994 Award from the House of Representatives of the Ninth General Assembly, received the award for the 1994-95 Junior and Senior Director of the Year, Monticello Parks and Recreation Commission gave him a citation for nineteen years of service in 1997, the 1998 Award from the House of Representatives of the Eighty-First General Assembly and Union Bank & Trust Co. chose him as the Monticello 1998 Master Educator of the year.
From 1980-2002, Rev. Binns pastored the Mt. Tabor Baptist Church in Wilmar, where he served as the pianist and organist. He also received the 1999-2000 award for Junior High Director of the Year and the award for 2002-2003 Senior High Director of the Year, was included in the 2004-2005 Who's Who among American Teachers, again received the award for Senior High Director of the Year in both 2006 and 2008 and in 2007 received a House and Senate Citation from Senator Jimmy Jeffress. Michael taught Choral Music for the Monticello School System for 35 years. On May 28, 2010 his retirement became official.
Michael leaves to cherish his memories his mother, Flossie Wells (Wilson) of Monticello; his father, Wilson Wells of Monticello; one son, Michael Binns, Jr. of Bryant; one brother, Larry Wells (Vicki) of Colorado Springs, CO; a nephew, Lawrence Wells of Colorado; an aunt, Bobbie Dunlap (Louis) of Monticello; his uncles, Jewel Binns (Brenda) of Monticello, Calvin Binns (Viola) of Wilmar, Sam Binns, Jr. (Ronnie) of Gary, Indiana; four grandchildren, three god sons, one god-daughter along with a host of cousins, friends, and former students. He also leaves a very devoted Christian friend and cousin, Eric Lamb and family of Conway.
Michael graduated from Monticello High School as an honor graduate in 1971. He then graduated from the University of Monticello in 1975 where he received his BA in Choral Music. He continued his studies with the late Marjorie Lawrence of Hot Springs and did graduate work at UALR and the University of Arkansas Fayetteville in counseling and Special Education. In 1993, Michael received his MME from the University of Arkansas Fayetteville in Music.
On November 5, 1978, Rev. Binns was ordained as a Baptist Minister. He attended the Morris Booker Seminary, The Arkansas Baptist Theological Seminary and in 1994, he received his Doctorate of Divinity from the Universal Life Seminary.
At age six, he joined Holmes Chapel Presbyterian Church under the leadership of the late Y.C. Jordan. In 1976, He united with the Morning Star Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. T.S. Skipper with the encouragement of his grandmother, Sister Charlie V. Binns, who was a Deaconess and Mother of Morning Star. He remained a faithful member until 1980, when he accepted the position as pastor of the Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church in Wilmar, Arkansas. He resigned in 2002 and later became an associate minister of Mt. Tabor and was later appointed by Rev. Floyd Daniels, who was pastor at the time, to the position of Minister of Music. He remained as Minister of Music under the current pastoral leadership of Rev. Shay Gillespie, until his death.
In 1975, Mr. Binns began the Monticello Junior High School Choir Program. He directed two concert choirs, two madrigal groups, two girls' ensembles and two boys' ensembles. During this tenure as choir director, he placed over two hundred students in the Southeast Arkansas Junior and Senior All Region Choirs, and placed many students in the Arkansas All State Choir. Mr. Binns choral groups were known for receiving 1st Division ratings at the regional CPA (Choral Performance Assessment) and the state level of competition.
Michael enjoyed the pleasure of judging other choral groups in Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana. He loved his students, and as evidenced by their hard work for him and beautiful gifts he received, they loved him as well.
Michael was a member of the Seark CDA, American Choral Directors Associations, Ark CDA, ADE, MEA and served as the Southeast Regional Chairman. Other accolades he received are as follows: Kiwanis Club chose him as 1995 Teacher of the Year, 1994 Award from the House of Representatives of the Ninth General Assembly, received the award for the 1994-95 Junior and Senior Director of the Year, Monticello Parks and Recreation Commission gave him a citation for nineteen years of service in 1997, the 1998 Award from the House of Representatives of the Eighty-First General Assembly and Union Bank & Trust Co. chose him as the Monticello 1998 Master Educator of the year.
From 1980-2002, Rev. Binns pastored the Mt. Tabor Baptist Church in Wilmar, where he served as the pianist and organist. He also received the 1999-2000 award for Junior High Director of the Year and the award for 2002-2003 Senior High Director of the Year, was included in the 2004-2005 Who's Who among American Teachers, again received the award for Senior High Director of the Year in both 2006 and 2008 and in 2007 received a House and Senate Citation from Senator Jimmy Jeffress. Michael taught Choral Music for the Monticello School System for 35 years. On May 28, 2010 his retirement became official.
Michael leaves to cherish his memories his mother, Flossie Wells (Wilson) of Monticello; his father, Wilson Wells of Monticello; one son, Michael Binns, Jr. of Bryant; one brother, Larry Wells (Vicki) of Colorado Springs, CO; a nephew, Lawrence Wells of Colorado; an aunt, Bobbie Dunlap (Louis) of Monticello; his uncles, Jewel Binns (Brenda) of Monticello, Calvin Binns (Viola) of Wilmar, Sam Binns, Jr. (Ronnie) of Gary, Indiana; four grandchildren, three god sons, one god-daughter along with a host of cousins, friends, and former students. He also leaves a very devoted Christian friend and cousin, Eric Lamb and family of Conway.