Bryan Wilson Speed, son of John Luke and Nolie Speed, was born in Pickens County, Alabama, on November 13, 1925. He died in West Memphis, Arkansas, on March 30, 2015. Speed, a lifelong member of the Methodist Church, was a veteran of World War II having served in the Philippines and in Japan. He was a graduate of The University of Mississippi and Arkansas State University. A gifted musician and composer, Speed also studied at the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Dayton, Virginia. Additionally, he authored children's books, a history of Crittenden Lodge No. 607, and collections of poetry, much of which related to his long residency in Earle, Arkansas. There, he served the community as an educator, elementary principal, director and curator of the Crittenden County Museum. He was a member of Crittenden Lodge No. 607, a 33rd Degree Mason and was deputy district grand master for the Eastern Arkansas Scottish Rite Bodies. Speed is also remembered for his long service to the First United Methodist Church of Earle where he played piano and directed the church choir. In 1986 he was elected to a term on the Crittenden County Quorum Court. Speed was profiled in the Memphis Commercial Appeal's 1989 series "A Thousand Points of Light" for his community volunteerism. In 1995, he was recognized by the Delta Artist Society as their "Artist of the Year" in part for his work on the "WWII Troop Train Mural" located in Earle. He is also a past recipient of the West Memphis Noon Lions Club "Communitarian of the Year" Award. In 2003, the Crittenden Lodge presented him with the "Pillars of Solomon Award" for his long time service to the lodge and community. He was preceded in death by his aforementioned parents, as well as six siblings (Robert Speed, Ester Brownlee, A.J. Speed, Louise Cole, Porter Speed, and Ann Atkins). He is survived by his loving wife, Jane, and their children: Drew (Jill), Mark (Brenda) and John. He is also survived by grandchildren Bryan, Macon, Allison, and Olivia and great-grandson Max. Additional survivors are his brother Jack (Paula) Speed and sister Gladys Cline (Arthur) Leighton and many nieces and nephews. "A Celebration of Life" will be held on Monday, April 6th, at 11am, at the First United Methodist Church of Earle, Arkansas. Memorial Funeral Home of Columbus, Mississippi is in charge of arrangements.
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