Norma Carol Smith Penn, age 87

Norma Carol Smith Penn was born near Jesup, Arkansas to Eddie Smith and Freda Guthree Smith on October 8, 1936. A quiet, shy blonde girl, she always strove to be her best and finished school at the top of her class. She married Boyce Wayburn Penn in 1955 and built a life, a family and a business with him for 65 years until he went to be with the Lord in 2020.

They moved to Indiana for work right after they were married and their first child, Sherrie (Steve) Clemons was born there in 1957. Dickie (Rhonda) was born in 1959 after they moved back to Jesup. Boyce (Tonya) soon followed in 1962 while the family lived in Cave City.

In the fall of 1962, Wayburn and Carol followed a job offer to Jacksonville, a town that would become their home for the reminder of their lives. They soon joined Landmark Baptist Church, where they met many dear lifelong friends. Carol taught 1st grade Sunday School for over 40 years, was active in the Ladies Auxiliary and helped out in every way she could. In her later years, as a member of 1st Baptist Church, she worked faithfully with the Pathfinders until her back surgery in 2015.

Carol was the ultimate homemaker, gardener, seamstress and cook. Something many don’t know about her is that she was a pianist and accompanied a gospel quartet in her small community of Strawberry and surrounding areas in the 50s. She managed the books for Wayburn’s Construction business and even babysat to help bring in extra money. Together, she and Wayburn traveled by camper to every state in the US except Hawaii. Many of these trips were shared with their good friends. She loved their Friday Night get-togethers, going out to dinner and playing cards or dominoes almost as much as Wayburn did.

Her grandchildren, Sarah Clemons (Stratton) Kelly, Richard (Lyndsay) Penn, Whitney Clemons (Jessie) Hodges, and Megan Penn (Daniel) Davis, knew her as MawMaw and as a lot of fun!  They will forever remember the camping trips, the homemade treats, the sleepovers along with tent building and the New Years Eve Parties at MawMaw and PawPaw’s home.

The past few years, Carol has been home bound. She has enjoyed reading, watching her game shows and Razorback Sports (especially basketball) and visiting by phone with friends, her sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. She always shared those conversations with a lot of joy.  She was especially proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Liam Kelly, Allie Hodges, Caleb and Rhett Davis, and Laney-Grace and Palmer Penn. She often spoke of how blessed she was.

Carol passed from this life to her eternal home on August 6, 2024, Wayburn’s birthday. Dickie said it best when he called Sherrie to say, “Daddy came and got momma this morning, on his birthday.” They will both be missed until the day we see them again. For now, we will remember the life they lived and celebrate the one they have now with Jesus.

Visitation will be held Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 9:00am with Funeral Service starting at 10:00am in the chapel at A Natural State Funeral Service in Jacksonville. Graveside will follow at 2:30pm at Lancaster Cemetery in Strawberry, Arkansas.

Arrangements by A Natural State Funeral Service 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas 72076. 501-982-3400. Online guestbook available at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com