The Rev. Bernard Shannon, Sr. passed away on Sunday, July 14, 2019 at Clarksdale Nursing Center after a lengthy illness. Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 21, 2019 at Union Grove M. B. Church in Clarksdale. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 20 at Meredith-Nowell Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements. Burial will be in Oakridge Cemetery.
The Rev. Shannon was born on January 12, 1934 in Winona to Rochester and Artelia Shannon, the sixth of eight children. He moved with his family to Clarksdale young in life. He confessed Christ at an early age under the leadership of the Rev. M. M. Morris at Bell Grove Baptist Church, where he sang in the male chorus. He worked professionally as a carpenter and interior decorator for decades, and much of his unique craftsmanship can still be seen in many churches and other structures around town and other surrounding areas, including his own church home. He became an ordained minister on Jan. 22, 1976 at Silent Grove M. B. Church, under the pastorage of the late Rev. E. L. Johnson. He pastored Mt. Olive Church of Jonestown and Calvary M. B. Church of Clarksdale for a number of years. In 1984, acting on a vision by God, he set out on his own and founded the Rise Again Baptist Church in Clarksdale, where he served as pastor until his illness in 2016 and ultimate passing. During his service as a pastor and minister, he impacted innumerable lives by his soft-spoken manner and humble spirit. He was known to give so freely of himself, even to his last, if it could help someone. He trained many young men in the art of carpentry as a way of building their career skills. He served as a father figure and mentor to dozens of young people through his church and his community. He was a gifted singer and loved singing, always instructing his choir members to learn the meanings of the words of the songs they sang so they could feel them in their hearts first, because "that from the heart reaches the heart".
Preceding him in death were his parents, brothers Granville Shannon and Rochester Shannon, sons Darrin Dickerson, Marvin Pittman, and Paul Pittman, and daughter Peggy Cooper. Left to forever remember his gentle spirit are his beloved and devoted wife Elsie Pittman-Shannon, eleven sons, Bernard Shannon, Jr. (Joyce) of Alamogordo, N.M., Christopher Shannon (Jerdie) of Troy, Ala., Charles Dickerson (Helen) of Clarksdale, Eric Jones (Cynthia) of Memphis, Charles Pittman of Little Rock, Ark., Aubrey Pittman of Carrollton, Texas, Shaun Pittman (Sharon) of Bowie, Md., Kevin Arnold, Kenneth Arnold, Martinez Thomas, and Mario Thomas; seven daughters, Katherine Wilson (Milton) of Lyon, Debra Taylor of Plano, Texas, Shelia Mayfield (Luther), Lisa Sision (Danny), and Tana Vassel (Daniel), all of Clarksdale; LaVerne Harris (Leonard) of Houston, Texas, Helen Cockrell (Raynard) of Missouri City, Texas, and Tanesha Arnold of Horn Lake; four sisters, Laura Butler, Mattie Askew, and Augusta Blue, all of St. Louis, Mo., and Lucille Cummings (the Rev. Johnnie) of Clarksdale; one brother, Eddie Shannon (Ruthie) of Hernett, Calif.; 56 grandchildren; numerous great grandchildren, many faithful church members, loving family members, cherished friends, and a legacy of love and service.
