Nanthaniel Noble was in the fourth grade when he lost his mother, Lillie Noble, to a heart attack.
He and his younger brother were trying to wake her so that they could get ready for school, and she didn’t respond. “My childhood came to an abrupt halt after that,” he said.
The second youngest of nine children, Noble was raised by his older siblings after his mother’s death because of the emotional toll it took on his father. “I believe having to grow up so fast is why I dedicate my time to mentoring and tutoring children today,” he said. “I want to help them remain children and not have to be inundated with all the responsibilities and problems of adulthood before they have to.”
A native of Little Rock, Noble and his wife, Jamilyn, became involved with and joined the board of Methodist Family Health (MFH) last year after Executive Director Ashley Coldiron invited the couple to visit the Methodist Children’s Home in Little Rock. “We toured the facility and instantly knew that we had to be a part of all the great things Methodist was doing to enrich these children’s lives,” he said.
Some of these great things include the Walk for Children and Families on August 5 and the Kaleidoscope Kids Auction on September 16. Proceeds from both events will help MFH provide comprehensive behavioral health care services to more than 1,400 Arkansas children and families.
Coldiron, who has known Noble since elementary school, can attest to his compassion for children. “He has overcome obstacles in his early life, some that lesser men would not have,” she said, “and I think that is what gives him the compassion to want to help the children in our programs. He does not see a bleak future for these kids—he sees limitless possibilities!”
Noble attended Morehouse College in Atlanta. “I wasn’t as focused as I should have been,” he said, so when U.S. Military Intelligence came to the college, offering students the opportunity to put school on hold and become military translators, Noble signed up. For the next five years, he served as a Russian linguist, eventually supervising that section of Military Intelligence in a 24-hour, 365-day-a-year intelligence mission. His responsibilities included intercepting and translating Soviet communications during a tense political period.
“I spent three years in Germany because, at the time, Russia had a military presence in what was then known as East Berlin. I had the opportunity of living there during the fall of the Berlin wall. Knowing that we [Military Intelligence] had a small role in that was quite rewarding,” he said.
Noble pursued and obtained two degrees: a bachelor of science degree in biology and a bachelor of arts degree in chemistry, both from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He then put his degrees to work, first as a forensic serologist/DNA analyst for the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory and now in his current role as an organic chemist for the Arkansas Department of Health.
“Working as a scientist for the state of Arkansas, I get the chance to make a difference in many ways,” Noble said. “I test water samples from various sources around the state for pesticides. Safe drinking water is something we take for granted in the United States, but that’s not a reality globally. I am thankful to be a part of something so important.”
That attitude of helping others permeates all aspects of Noble’s life, as he works constantly to make a difference. In addition to his volunteer work with MFH, he mentors and tutors children, teaches a Sunday school class of 12- to 14-year-olds at St. John Missionary Baptist Church and serves on the boards of the Mosaic Templars Preservation Society, Little Rock Preparatory Academy and Rocking Youth into Reality.
“I know much is required of me because much has been given to me. Losing my childhood earlier than I probably should have has given me a heart for helping reduce that pain for some other young person who may be dealing with the same thing,” he said. “I feel that this society works best when those of us who are equipped to make a positive difference in a young person’s life take the time to do it.”
5th Annual Walk for Children and Families
6 p.m. registration, 7 p.m. walk, Friday, August 5
Cook’s Landing, North Little Rock
Tickets: $20 per person or $50 per family, includes ice cream, pizza and live music.
More info: Maggie Beeler, 412-6178, MBeeler@MethodistFamily.org
13th Annual Kaleidoscope Kids Auction
6:30 p.m., Friday, September 16
Woman’s City Club, 401 Scott St.
Tickets: $75 per person, $125 per couple, includes cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres, music, a wine pull and more than 100 live and silent auction items.
More info: 661-0720, Ext. 7304, AColdiron@MethodistFamily.org