From a mischievous youth to a man of God, Robert Netterville has gone from tormenting his younger sister to providing aid to almost 200 families each month in Arkansas.

In 2008, the Vicksburg-born Netterville has joined other pastors, affiliated with the Booneville, Ark., Ministerial Fellowship, to start the Logan County Resource Center, a program that helps find jobs, food and shelter for families in need. A year and a half later, those efforts continue.

“The center we established is ongoing,” Netterville, 50, said.

“When the disaster occurred, it gave us the interest to start the center,” he said, referencing an explosion at Cargill Meat Solutions in April 2008. Netterville had been in Boone-

ville about 18 months before the plant, a major employer in the town of about 4,000, exploded, leaving 800 people without jobs and releasing toxic amounts of anhydrous ammonia and carbon dioxide into the air, forcing an evacuation. Many folks had worked at the plant for more than 35 years and had developed no other skills, Netterville said.

The Family Life Center of First Baptist Church of Booneville, where he was pastor, became a distribution center. Church volunteers handed out water, food and products for infants while providing shelter for about 300 people.

“We also provided spiritual guidance,” Netterville said. “We felt that was necessary, as well.”

The ministry has hosted two job fairs, collaborated with local colleges and created a $500 scholarship, which is awarded to three former Cargill employees each semester.

Netterville’s mother, Dorothy May, who lives in Vicksburg, said her son’s work wasn’t surprising to her, “because he’s always been a very thoughtful kid. I was amazed that he had been involved in so many things, and just a little small town church preacher,” she said.

But, as a child, May said, Netterville gave his grade-school coach and his sister trouble.

“He was the demon of this neighborhood, but everybody loved him,” she said.

He also rebelled against his calling to the ministry, May said. “He told me one day, ‘Mama, I feel like I’m being called to preach, and I don’t want to.’”

While fighting his calling, Netterville became sick and lost weight.

“I was in depression,” he said, “but when I went into the ministry I haven’t been depressed since.”

Netterville and his wife, Linda, have two grown children and two grandchildren. Netterville is a graduate of H.V. Cooper High School, Mississippi College, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Anderson Theological Seminary. He holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees.

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Contact Tish Butts at tbutts@vicksburgpost.com