Birth date: Feb 28, 1963 Death date: Aug 2, 2023
Former Newport and University of Arkansas basketball player Charles Balentine, who hit one of the biggest shots in Razorback hoops history, died on Wednesday in Texarkana at the age of 60. Balentine’s four-foot jump shot with fiv Read Obituary
I had the pleasure of meeting Charles many years ago when he was a customer in a record store I was managing. I found him funny and kind. I am so sad to hear of his passing. May his memory be a blessing to all who knew and loved him. And I wish his family peace and comfort.
In high school, Charles and Eric Brandon and I got in trouble in Mrs. Green’s English class… all over a little raccoon I kept clipped on my jacket, one of them would get it and they’d play keep away from me until Mrs. Green took it, kept it on her desk and when class was over told me to not bring it back! Charles was a true friend to us all, no matter how much time had passed since HS. I will miss him!🙏🧡
My name is Ethan Garrett, and I don’t think I ever got the pleasure of meeting Charles’ family, but I sure did get to meet Charles. To me Charles was like an uncle for a major part in my childhood to young adult days. I met him through my dad, Mark Garret, and Fred Johnson. I’ve known Fred my whole life. When I met Charles it was watching my dad play basketball for a radio charity team and they would go around all over Missouri to do charity basketball games. They were kind enough to let a 5th grader be apart of the team too. Over the next couple years we started traveling a lot with Charles and I learned a lot about him. I was obsessed with basketball my whole life so when Charles started telling me his experience I learned that not only was Charles a good basketball player, not only did he play division 1 basketball, not only did he get drafted, he BEAT MICHAEL JORDAN. My favorite player ever, and I was sitting there talking to a man who BEAT him AND had a picture of it on him always. I can’t even tell you how many people I’ve told that to. How many questions I asked him about it. I’m sure I was more than annoying to him but Charles never showed it. He was always kind and took time to talk to me. Not just about basketball but about life. How to work hard. How to be a gentleman. How to gain respect by showing it. He was an amazing man and really wish I could’ve seen him more in my life than I got to. But I know two things will and are very true. He was immeasurably loved by his family and friends, and this little kid from nowhere special in Missouri will tell anyone who will listen about Charles, until the day I die. Continuity praying for you family. Much love from the Garrett’s
To the Family: Thinking of you. Praying for your peace and comfort during this difficult time. Doris Gentry and family
Charles was a hero of mine and like a big brother in many ways, especially through my Walmart career. I held him on the salesfloor when he collapsed in Silver City NM many years ago and always told him that was the scariest I’ve ever been. He was a beautiful man and I loved him a lot. Miss you already big bother.
We first met Charles in May of 2007, he was a groomsman in our daughter Jessica and Arneal wedding. Charles had this warm, charming, engaging personality with a great smile that makes you feel as if you have known him all your life. Over the years we exchanged Christmas Cards, text
messages, an occasional visit thru Omaha, Dallas Cowboys games and of course we attended Charles and Marie’s
wedding.
On March 5, 2017, me my wife, both of our daughters and one of our granddaughters were traveling back to Omaha after attending my brother’s funeral. Just before 10:00 am on a wet highway just outside of Mena, Arkansas, we hit a deer. The damage was severe, but our family was safe. The local police and a tow service got us to the town and to a local hotel. Arneal called Charles and explained our situation. Even though Charles was out of town on a business trip he was on his way to get us. Several hours later and literally a drive across the state, Charles arrived at our hotel and drove us to a car rental place where we continued our trip back to Omaha. Despite all the things we were dealing with that day, Charles getting there to help us, made us feel like “family”. His act of care and kindness that day will forever be a part of our lives.
We are all better and blessed for having crossed paths, with Charles Balentine.
Thank you,
Marie and family, for sharing him with all of us,
Awilda and Craig Jacobs
Arneal and Jessica Long and family
Jayson and Nicole Enke and family
