Larry Meeks
March 24, 1947 – July 2, 2025
Larry Wayne Meeks, 78, of New Hope, passed away Wednesday.
Larry was born on March 24, 1947, to JC and Ethel Meeks in the small town of New Hope, Alabama, where he spent his childhood and much of his life. At the age of 19, while working at Spivey’s Service Station right here in New Hope, Larry met the love of his life, Shirley. He often said that the first time he saw her, he heard bells and saw fireworks-and from that moment on, he was smitten.
After finally working up the courage to ask her out, the two dated for just three months before Larry proposed. Shirley, understandably a little overwhelmed, ran him off for two weeks-but soon realized the kind, genuine man she had almost let get away. They were married on July 21, 1967, beginning a partnership that would last a lifetime.
Shortly after their wedding, Larry was drafted into the United States Army. He reported to Fort Benning, Georgia, on October 17, 1967, and deployed to Vietnam on March 1, 1968. While he was serving overseas, their first son, Larry Wayne Jr., was born in May of that year.
After returning home from the war in 1969 as a Sergeant, Larry moved with his young family to Oklahoma for a brief time before settling back in New Hope at the end of the year. Over the years, Larry wore many hats-he was truly a jack of all trades. He worked as a school bus driver and volunteer firefighter, owned and operated a trailer park and store, and even sold fabric. While working at Dunlop, he also attended night classes at Drake, studying barbering, auto mechanics, and electrical work. In June 1973, Larry and Shirley welcomed their second son, Gregory Allen.
Larry believed in the value of hard work and passed that lesson down to his sons. While working the night shift, he would come home, hand-cut trees, and haul the logs to a local sawmill. With the lumber he milled himself, he built their family home with his own two hands in 1977.
He and his parents also grew crops and raised hogs-some for sale, others for the family table. Holidays and family gatherings, especially the Fourth of July, were a time of celebration, food, and love. He enjoyed preparing the family’s homegrown barbecue, and later in life, helped his oldest son build and run New Hope Bar-B-Que.
Larry had a passion for life that extended into his hobbies-especially racing. He and his brother-in-law built and raced a ’55 Chevy drag car, chasing speed and excitement down the track.
But perhaps one of the most transformative chapters of Larry’s life came through his faith. Though he initially tried to resist God’s call to preach, Larry had a vision-an angel came to him one night and showed him a heartbreaking scene: two caskets holding his beloved sons. He knew then that obedience to God’s will wasn’t optional-it was essential. From that moment forward, he answered the call. For 29 years, Larry served faithfully as a pastor to several congregations, guiding others with the same strength and compassion he showed his family.
In his later years, Larry battled cancer and eventually had to step down from his position as pastor at Mt. Olive Church. But even through illness, his faith never wavered. Shirley often said Larry was a man after God’s own heart-and he remained so until his final breath.
Larry’s last days were spent at home, just as he wished, surrounded by those who loved him most. He spent that precious time talking, singing, and sharing memories. Songs like Hey Good Lookin’, Hot Rod Lincoln, Old Time Preacher Man, and The Prodigal Son filled the room-songs that had become family favorites over the years. He laughed, he told stories, and he made sure everyone knew how much he loved them.
On July 2, 2025, Larry was called home to be with the Lord. He passed peacefully, held in the arms of his family, just as he had always hoped.
Larry leaves behind a legacy of faith, love, hard work, and devotion. His wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were the center of his world. And though his time with us has ended, the impact he made on our lives will never fade.
He touched so many and will forever hold a special place in all our hearts.
He was preceded in death by father, J C Meeks and mother, Ethel Meeks.
Surviving are wife, Shirley Ann Meeks; sons, Larry (Renee) Meeks and Gregory (Kristin Walker) Meeks; daughter, Juanita Cloud; brother, Jerry (Jo Ann) Meeks; three sisters, Roberta (Billy) Vann, Rebecca (Dave) Warinsky, and Donna Meeks Greiger; grandchildren, Loren (Michael) Jones, Hona Broadway, Chelsea (Erika) Meeks, Krystin Meeks (Geoff Stewart), Nathaniel (Kaylah) Meeks, and Major Walker; great grandchildren Adalaya, Micah and Hendrix Jones, Cooper Broadway, Emma and Bennett Meeks, Ashton Stewart and Blakely Meeks; host of nieces and nephews; and special friends, Virginia “Tookie” Day, Karen Cooper and Nancy Harris.
Visitation will be Tuesday 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at New Hope Funeral Home. Services will be held at New Hope Funeral Home Chapel, Wednesday at 2:00 PM with Bro. Mark Askew and Bro. Wayne Walls officiating. Pallbearers will be Larry Meeks, Gregory Meeks, Chelsea Meeks, Krystin Meeks, Nathaniel Meeks, and Michael Jones. Honorary pallbearers will be Joel Harris, Tommy Harris, Billy Vann, Dave Warinsky and Darrell Day.
Interment will be in Brown Cemetery.
www.nhfh.net