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Jeremy Dewitt Black, age 32, of Conway, formerly of Monticello, passed away Saturday, March 17, 2012, at the Conway Regional Medical Center in Conway, AR. He was born July 7, 1979 in Monticello, AR. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Buddy and Mary Hales.
Jeremy served his country by serving in the Army National Guard, was a freelance writer, loved music and playing the guitar.
Survivors include his father, Dr. Marcus Dewitt Black and stepmother Laura Gill Black of Rogers; his mother, Laura Hales of Conway; one half brother, Andrew David 'Drew' Osbourn of Bay St. Louis, MS; four half sisters, Morgan Black, Ann Ashley Black and Peyton Black all of Rogers and Amber Parker of Vicksburg, MS; paternal grandparents, William and Bennie Wilson Black of Monticello; and numerous aunts, uncles, relatives and friends.
In Jeremy's words, the following summarizes his life as a writer:
'I'm a full-time freelance writer based in Conway, AR who understands that writing is a gift meant to be shared with the masses. It's not a job - it's a calling and I've come to understand that I'm a much happier person when I embrace my talents instead of running from them. But I didn't always feel that way.
Nearing graduation from the University of Central Arkansas with a Bachelor of Arts degree, I fell into a deep depression, dropped out vowing to never write again. When I was little, I used to write about faraway places and treasured characters but somehow by age 26, writing conjured up nothing but pressure, deadlines and a misguided sense of achievement. I wrote to make the grade - my talent's worth was reduced to a letter etched in red ink on top of my paper 'and if that letter grade was less than an 'A' there was a price to pay.'
I so easily could have given up on my talent, but the light inside of me would have died if I had chosen to push my dreams aside. So I learned to trust my instincts, follow my ideas and pen whatever touched my soul. But the most important thing I learned was to equate success with happines and a strong sense of self - not with job titles, pressed pantsuits or a six-figure home. And I fell in love with writing all over again. It's a relationship built on laughter, sweat and tears meant to last a lifetime and beyond.'
"A few wrong paths are the only paths you can take if you wish to discover the right path." J.D.B.
Jeremy served his country by serving in the Army National Guard, was a freelance writer, loved music and playing the guitar.
Survivors include his father, Dr. Marcus Dewitt Black and stepmother Laura Gill Black of Rogers; his mother, Laura Hales of Conway; one half brother, Andrew David 'Drew' Osbourn of Bay St. Louis, MS; four half sisters, Morgan Black, Ann Ashley Black and Peyton Black all of Rogers and Amber Parker of Vicksburg, MS; paternal grandparents, William and Bennie Wilson Black of Monticello; and numerous aunts, uncles, relatives and friends.
In Jeremy's words, the following summarizes his life as a writer:
'I'm a full-time freelance writer based in Conway, AR who understands that writing is a gift meant to be shared with the masses. It's not a job - it's a calling and I've come to understand that I'm a much happier person when I embrace my talents instead of running from them. But I didn't always feel that way.
Nearing graduation from the University of Central Arkansas with a Bachelor of Arts degree, I fell into a deep depression, dropped out vowing to never write again. When I was little, I used to write about faraway places and treasured characters but somehow by age 26, writing conjured up nothing but pressure, deadlines and a misguided sense of achievement. I wrote to make the grade - my talent's worth was reduced to a letter etched in red ink on top of my paper 'and if that letter grade was less than an 'A' there was a price to pay.'
I so easily could have given up on my talent, but the light inside of me would have died if I had chosen to push my dreams aside. So I learned to trust my instincts, follow my ideas and pen whatever touched my soul. But the most important thing I learned was to equate success with happines and a strong sense of self - not with job titles, pressed pantsuits or a six-figure home. And I fell in love with writing all over again. It's a relationship built on laughter, sweat and tears meant to last a lifetime and beyond.'
"A few wrong paths are the only paths you can take if you wish to discover the right path." J.D.B.