Dr. David Robert Ard

Dr. David Robert Ard, or Brother David as known by most, was born on October 4, 1946, in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, where the Ard family lived and farmed in the Thaxton Community. Brother David graduated to his heavenly residence on Thursday, January 29, 2026. A fellowship visitation will be hosted by his family beginning on Thursday, February 5, 2026, from 4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. in West Hall at Waller Funeral Home and again prior to the service beginning at 10:00 A.M. A celebration funeral service will begin at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, February 6, 2026, in the Chapel of Waller Funeral Home. Burial will follow the service at Oxford Memorial Cemetery. Waller Funeral Home will be serving the Ard family during this time of remembrance.

Brother David’s early years were spent on a small farm before moving to the then small town of Oxford, Mississippi in 1957. He grew up in Oxford’s pre-boom era and enjoyed all the benefits of a small college town life. He often reminisced with others of his era that God blessed them with living in the best town and during the best time of our nation’s history. He attended University High School prior to becoming an alumnus of the first graduating class of Oxford High School in 1964. Afterwards, Brother David enrolled in the Business School at Ole Miss. After four years and lacking nine semester hours before receiving his Business Administration degree, Brother David joined the ranks of the Mississippi Highway Patrol graduating from the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy in April of 1968. During his law enforcement career Brother David renewed his educational pursuits and completed the required course work for his Bachelor of Public Administration (Criminal Justice) Degree in 1975 and his Master of Criminal Justice Degree in 1978. In 1976 Brother David left the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and became a Project Administrator for Division of Continuing Education at the University of Mississippi.

During his years at Ole Miss, God began the process of redirecting Brother David’s life. God called him to become a Minster of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In 1980 he was called by Shiloh Baptist Church to serve as pastor. In the fall of 1980, he enrolled at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary where he received a master of Divinity Degree (1983) and later a doctor or ministry degree (1993), all while serving the Lord as a pastor. His pastoral service at Shiloh Baptist Church continued for the next fourteen years. In 1993 God called Brother David to the pastorate of Olivet Baptist Church, later becoming LifeWAY Baptist Church, in Little Rock, Arkansas where he remained for the next seventeen years. In April of 2010 Brother David retired as pastor of LifeWAY and his wife, Richie, retired after a twenty-two-year career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They relocated to Lafayette County, built a home, and began the dream of spending their remaining years in Oxford and Lafayette County.

David Ard married Richie Turnipseed on June 9, 1965. Their lives were welded together for forty-seven years until Richie’s untimely death on December 24, 2011. To David and Richie were born Lori Renee Gardner and Amanda Leigh Arman. Brother David’s five grandchildren are Emily Gardner Williams (James), Elizabeth Gardner Brown (Tyler), Kayla Arman Fikes (Austin), Justin Arman and Noah Arman. He has three great grandsons, James “Tripp” Williams III, Gabriel “Gabe” Williams, and Decker Wayne Brown; and three great granddaughters, Brooklyn Grace Brown, Mary Jules Williams, and Maeve Adeline Fikes. Selena Crabb has a special place in David’s life and heart. After the death of their mates, God melted their lives together and they became valued treasures to one another and shared the joy of spending many blessed days upon this earth. In addition to the life gift of Selena, Brother David’s heart has overflowed with the wealth and blessings of countless, cherished friends and associates that walked life’s pathway alongside of him.

Dr. David Ard settled upon a foundational life purpose and that was to know the Lord Jesus Christ and to make Him known to others. Brother David is now at home with that Savior who died on the cross, rose from that tomb, and gave him eternal life. His life has not ended; he has just graduated and relocated. Brother David leaves you with this question, “Where will you be when your earthly life is over and you get to where you are going?” Come to Jesus, trust Him as your Savior, then in Heaven after your death, you can join in the eternal celebration of rejoicing before the Lord. Brother David will be there. You will find him as a glorified man laying his earthly crowns at Jesus’ feet. God’s blessings upon each of you and thanks for traveling this earthly road of life with me!

Memorial contributions in Brother Ard’s memory made be made to Mid America Baptist Theological Seminary, Germantown, TN, at mabts.edu.

Composed by David Ard on May 26, 2025