John Paul Maddox, 92, of Cabot, passed from this life Tuesday, July 6, 2021. He was born March 20, 1929 near Hazen, Arkansas to Elijah Alexander and Alice Foster Maddox. Paul grew up on the farm as the youngest child in a large family during the difficult years of the depression and World War II. The hardship of those days developed in him a strength of character that gave him an optimistic, can-do attitude, a never-lose-hope perseverance and an appreciation of hard work. The defining moment of his life occurred in the spring of 1949 when at a revival meeting he accepted the Savior's call to follow Him. Four years later he surrendered his life to the ministry of preaching the gospel. He graduated from the Missionary Baptist Seminary and faithfully served as pastor to churches throughout Arkansas and Florida over the course of nearly 50 years. In 1972, having always enjoyed carpentry as a hobby, he began a second career as a home builder, building homes throughout Central Arkansas until his retirement. In his later years, Paul spent much of his time searching the scriptures and writing. He authored books on the second coming of Christ and a two volume commentary on the Book of Revelation. He loved studying family history and wrote a book on the history of the Maddox family, tracing it back hundreds of years to its roots in Wales. He also loved playing golf, fishing, gardening, carpentry, flowers, following current events and joking with anyone he came across. Paul was proud of his service to his country, having served in the Korean War as a member of the 90 ^th Field Artillery Battalion of the 25th Infantry Division, United States Army, with eleven months spent near the front lines.

Paul married the love of his life, Malene Martin, August 28, 1953. Their two month long courtship led to a lifetime (nearly 68 years) of love and happy memories. They welcomed four children into their Christ-loving home, Charlotte, Philip, Carla and Bruce. They were blessed with nine grandchildren, David (Natalie) Leonard, Amy (Alex) Becker, Emily (Justin) Howard, Benjamin (Whitney) Maddox, Lauren (Thomas) Soehner, Lane (Andrew) Sword, Jacob Maddox, Audrey (Dillon) Maddox and Channing (Lindsey) Hopkins, along with twelve great-grandchildren. Paul loved his family immensely and was a wonderful father, husband, grandfather and friend. We will miss him greatly until we see him again. Paul was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Charlotte; brothers, Lee, Mark, Jesse and Dalton Maddox; sisters, Maydell Creswell, Eardeal Cunningham and Jean West Laster, along with a multitude of other loved ones and friends.

Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at Moore's Cabot Funeral Home, 501-843-5816.  Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, July 15, 2021 at Faith Baptist Church, Cabot, Arkansas. Interment will follow at Center Point Cemetery, Hazen, Arkansas.