Rex Twist

Reginald (Rex) Twist of Memphis, formally of Twist and Forrest City, Arkansas died on May 1, 2008 at Baptist Memorial Hospital. He was born July 3, 1926 in Twist, Arkansas, son of Claribell Bond Twist and John Francis Twist. His grandfather Ira F. Twist, his father and his uncle built Twist Brothers Plantation, a farming enterprise in northeast AR in the early 1900's. At one point the Twist farm consisted of acreage in Crittenden and Cross counties, becoming one of the largest single farming units in Arkansas. After attending school in Earle, AR, the family moved to Memphis in 1939, where he attended Belvedere Jr. High and Central High School. He graduated from Castle Heights Military Academy in 1944 where he was an All Midsouth football player. He was a World War II Navy veteran assigned to PT boats and saw action in Pacific theater. He was released from the Navy after returning on the US Oyster Bay. Mr. Twist attended Dartmouth College before going into the Twist family farming business. He and his brother, John Twist grew the family Twist Farms holdings to include farmland in St. Francis County AR, Yazoo City, MS and Guatemala. Mr. Twist was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Forrest City where he served on the board. He was on the Board of Directors of Planters Bank and Trust for many years. He was a former President of the Forrest City County Club and a graduate of the Brookings Institute in Washington, DC during the late 1960's. He was a successful real estate broker in lake developments in Kentucky and Missouri as Vice-President of American Reality. He was an avid pilot, flying both for farm business and for pleasure. He also enjoyed hunting, traveling and photography for many years. Mr. Twist was very active in his retirement years, he continued his interest in farming as manager of the various John W. Henry Farms located in St. Francis County, AR. He was preceded in death by his parents John Francis Twist and Claribel Bond Twist and two sisters, Juila Twist Kirkpatrick and Marilee Twist Stratford. He is survived by his wife, Martha Ree Belshe Twist of 58 years. He is survived also by his son, Edwin (Eddie) Belshe Twist and daughter in law, Glenda Gilbreath (Gigi) Twist of Boca Raton, Florida, his daughter Linda Twist Hill and son in law, Hank Hill III of Memphis. He leaves two grandchildren Catherine Carleton (Kaki) Twist and Hank Hill IV. He is survived by one brother, John F. Twist and one sister, Helen Twist Thomas, both of Memphis, and numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service for Mr. Twist will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Forrest City, AR at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 3rd. A reception will follow in The Fellowship Hall of the church after the service. The church address is 101 S. Izard St. 72335. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Stevens Funeral Home. Phone number 870-633-5400.Family requests memorials be sent to the First United Methodist Church in Forrest City, AR, or donor's choice. Online registry at stevensfuneralhome.net

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Rex Twist

May 1, 2008