A Life of Education

Pearl - Mr. Douglas Arnold, 84, a long-time resident and community leader of Pearl, Mississippi, passed away at the age of 84 on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at his residence in Fayetteville, Georgia. He was born on August 4, 1938, to the late Grady and Cebelle Arnold of Meadville, MS.  Douglas is also preceded in death by his brother Bobby Jo Arnold and twin brother Robert Terrell Arnold (both of Meadville, MS).  He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Ann Sanders Arnold (orginally of Anguilla, MS); sons, John Thomas (Kristy) Arnold of Fayetteville, GA and Todd (Dana) Arnold of Austin, TX; grandchildren, John Douglas, Elizabeth Ann, Emma Catherine, Mattie Elyse, and Grady; sister, Dolores Day of Brookhaven, MS.

Douglas graduated from Meadville High School and received college degrees (up to a Specialist degree in Education) from Southwest Junior College, Mississippi Southern College (University of Southern Mississippi), and Mississippi College.  He began teaching in Anguilla, MS, in the early 1960's.  While there, he married Ann Walters Sanders on June 9, 1963.  He and Ann would soon return back to Meadville as Douglas would continue teaching.  In 1968, he moved his family to Pearl, MS, after he was hired by Henry F. Shepherd to begin his career at Pearl Schools.  After teaching in Pearl for several years, he served as assistant and high school principal, and 30 years as Assistant Superindendent of Schools.  Douglas spent a total of 55 years in education, as he also taught College Alegebra at Hinds Community College, and Master's level education courses for Mississippi College, and Belhaven College.

He was active in the Rankin County Kiwanis Club and Pearl Chamber of Commerce, where he served both as President (1988-90 and1995-96, respectively). He was presented the "Pillar of the Community" award in 1993 by the Pearl Chamber of Commerce, chosen for the Outstanding Citizen Award in 2000 by the Pearl Day Committee, and inducted into the Pearl Schools Hall of Fame in 2004.  He was a deacon at McLaurin Heights Baptist Church, and Desoto Hills Baptist Church.  He served as an Election Commissioner in Rankin County.  He also represented Pearl as a torch bearer in 1996 Olympics Torch Relay.  He loved camping, woodworking, baseball, and playing dominos.

A funeral service will be held at McLaurin Heights Baptist Church (Pearl, MS) on Sunday, October 2, 2022, at 3:00 PM (CST).  Dr. Steve Jackson will officiate.  Visitation will be held prior to the service from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at the church.  Douglas will be laid to rest in Floral Hills Memory Gardens (Pearl, MS) on Monday, October 3, 2022 at 10:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Douglas F. Arnold Mathematics Scholarship made payable to Hinds Community College Foundation, P.O. Box 110, Raymond, MS  39154, with the name of the scholarship in the remarks.