Carl Brents

View Video Tribute Carl Reid Brents, 82, of Sherwood died September 8, 2012. Born in Cleveland, Arkansas, March 21, 1930 to Marvin and Rose Brents, he was the youngest of four children and grew up known as "Boad" Brents. He graduated from Wonderview High School and received his BSE from Arkansas State Teachers College (now UCA), which was followed by service in the U.S. Army with 16 months in Korea. He later earned a Master's Degree from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He was proud of his Conway County heritage and commented that when he was a child, there was little at Cleveland but Brents and bitterweeds. Following in the footsteps of both parents, Brents became a teacher. He taught at Scotland and Morrilton before becoming principal at Greenbrier High School, then moved to Bentonville High School as principal in 1960. In 1965 he changed careers, becoming a deputy clerk for the U. S. District Court, Western District of Arkansas, in Fort Smith. In 1973 he was promoted to chief deputy clerk in the Eastern District of Arkansas in Little Rock. In 1981 he was appointed Clerk of the Court (chief administrative officer) for the Eastern District, and served in that capacity until his 1994 retirement. Brents was active in the Federal Court Clerks Association, eventually serving as its national president. An innovative court manager, he was recognized as a leader in implementing new procedures and taught Court management courses across the country for the Federal Judicial Center in Washington, D.C. He worked locally with some of the finest federal judges in the country. In retirement, Brents remained active. He volunteered with Baptist Health North Little Rock for 18 years, where he initiated and chaired an annual golf tournament for 14 years. He served as Treasurer and President of the Auxiliary. He also volunteered with St. Vincent's Medical Center North. A man of deep religious faith, he served on the Board, was Sunday School Superintendent and taught a class for many years at First Church of the Nazarene in Little Rock. Brents also attended and supported First Assembly of God, North Little Rock. He enjoyed traveling and made four mission trips to Mexico and Barbados. An avid Razorback fan, he would let out a piercing hog call wherever he was, including the Washington, D.C. airport in concert with Federal Judge Elsijane Roy. He loved playing golf and was a regular at Burns Park for many years. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; son Kelvin Brents, his wife Katie and grandchildren, Ryan and Hannah of Roswell, Ga.; stepson Mike Perry and Traci; a daughter, Carla Kirkland of Memphis; brother, Loyd Brents of Cleveland, Arkansas and other extended family. He was preceded in death by brother, Harold Brents and sister, Hazel Bynum. Funeral services will be Tuesday, September 11th, at 10:00 A.M. at First Church of the Nazarene, Little Rock. Burial will be 2:00 P.M. in the Brents Cemetery in Cleveland, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to Arkansas Hospice or the Pulaski County Humane Society. Visitation will be 30 minutes before the service. Arrangements by North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St., 758-1170. Online obituary and guest registry at www.nlrfh.com.

Carl Brents

March 21, 1930 - September 8, 2012