BRYANT — If you have run into Deacon John and Nettie Duke lately and they can’t stop smiling, it’s probably because some long-overdue words of thanks got spoken Feb. 23.
That’s the evening the Saline Memorial Health Foundation honored Duke with its “Heart of Saline” honor at Bishop Park in Bryant. The audience packed the house with people who have known him through Our Lady of Fatima Church in Benton, Alcoa, Saline Memorial Hospital, the Diocese of Little Rock or Saline County in general.
Highlights of his community service include serving two terms on the Saline Memorial Hospital board of directors and five years as a chaplain for the Saline County Sheriff’s Department.
Kim Hammer, a hospital chaplain by profession, worked with Duke when he also served as a chaplain. On occasion, Duke got called to visit a patient who was near death.
“He responded very, very promptly and he stayed the whole time. He practices what he preaches,” Hammer said.
Part of Hammer’s role at the evening event was in his other duty as a state representative. Hammer gave Duke a legislative honor recognizing the civic leader for his lifetime of service. The honor also came from state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson who was unable to attend.
“I express my appreciation given by the hospital,” Duke said.
Msgr. James Mancini, former pastor of Our Lady of Fatima in Benton, read a commentary written by Duke, 82, of reflections on life experiences. Some of the comments were little-known, like the fact Duke lost his bowling ball twice in high school — on bets. He also proposed to Nettie at Gulf Shores and later, served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. Over time they would have seven children.
They came to Benton when John Duke went to work for Alcoa. The loss of one of their sons led Duke on the path to deacon and, eventually, diaconate director for the Diocese of Little Rock.
Tom Baxley of Benton recalled days as a professional man in his early 20s, getting active in the community. He met Duke and they went to work on something called “payroll deduction.” He learned he would speak to Alcoa employees at the end of a shift. Duke guided the session with the employees.
“He was so kind,” Baxley said. “He told me what a great job I did.
They met their United Way goal that year, too.
“I feel today that the main reason for that was every other day he would call me with a different place for us to meet. I figured out after I left that John Duke talked with every one of those persons one-on-one.
“I believe to this day that he single-handedly made the difference with United Way on that drive,” Baxley said.
The stories about Duke are true, too. “I heard stories about phone calls at 1 o’clock in the morning, like Kim said,” said Matt Brumley, foundation director.
He said Duke was known for picking up hitch-hikers on the drive to Oklahoma. Duke used the minutes to evangelize.
“They were going to hear about Christ,” Brumley said. “They were going to hear about the Gospel. This man’s heart is more than filled with Saline. It’s filled with Christ.”
The Dukes live in Benton. They have been married 61 years and have 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. With such deep roots in a community, they often run into friends from years past.
Baxley said it is a common experience to run into Duke, be asked how things are going and in what ways was Baxley giving back to the community? Baxley is one of the principal owners Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors and active in the Chamber of Commerce.
“And I’m telling you,” Baxley said, “you better come back with something. You didn’t want to lack an answer when John Duke asked you,” he said, to laughter from the crowd. “I’m staying involved at least another 30 years because I’m not letting John Duke down.
“I really appreciate him giving me the trial by fire and putting me out there,” Baxley said.
