Our staff is comprised of dedicated and licensed professionals with the experience to answer all your questions regarding our services. Please feel free to contact any of our staff members at any time.
President & Vice President
Jeff, John and Kay's son, joined the staff in June 2006 as a funeral director. In 2010 Jeff and Leslie stepped into the role of leading the funeral homes. They plan to continue the legacy of the funeral home. Jeff graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor's Degree in Small Business Management and the University of Memphis with a MBA. He is proud to carry on the Smith family tradition of funeral service and the proud father of three children, Hayden, Kaylee, and Sawyer. As Vice President, Leslie adds her motherly touch to our Smith Family.
Former President
The Smith - North Little Rock Funeral Home was founded February 14, 1955 by Clifford Smith, father of John, who has worked there in some capacity since it's inception. John took over management of the funeral home in 1972.
Former Vice President
Kay, John's wife, has worked at the Smith - North Little Rock Funeral Home since 1977. Kay oversees the clerical work and helps on services as needed.
General Manager of Operations, Smith Family Funeral Homes
Clay came to work at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home in 1979 as an apprentice. He became a Funeral Director in 1983 after serving his apprenticeship and going to Mortuary School in Dallas. He was Manager of Smith - North Funeral Home from 2005 to 2015, and is now General Manager of Operations of all Smith Family Funeral Homes locations. Clay and his wife Audrey have two children and he is "PaPa" to his four grandchildren.
Manager, Funeral Director & Embalmer
Vicki, Manager of Smith-North Little Rock Funeral Home, a licensed funeral director and embalmer, joined the firm in 2011. She knew as a teenager that she wanted to be involved in the funeral Industry and considers serving grieving families to be a "ministry" that allows her to fulfill that calling. She attended Arkansas Tech and is a graduate of Commonwealth Institute, Houston, TX. Vicki and her husband are residents of North Little Rock. When not at work, her favorite days are spent with her three children and three grandchildren.
Administrative Assistant & Human Resources
Corporate Bookkeeper
Sharon joined the Smith Family in 2018 but has been serving North Little Rock and Central Arkansas families through church ministry since 1995. She is passionate about helping others know there is life after loss and will be beginning a grief support follow up through our Smith Family Funeral Homes soon. Sharon’s other passion is her family. She and her husband, North Little Rock Police Chaplain David Barnes, have three adult children who also serve their communities: Blake and Shelly Barnes – grandsons Dalton and Garrett, Eric and Amber Barnes – granddaughter Berklee, and Lauren Barnes.
Manager of Smith Sherwood Funeral Home, Funeral Director & Embalmer
Craig, a licensed funeral director and embalmer, has been with Smith family since 2010. He is the Manager of Smith Sherwood Funeral Home and is on the Sherwood Chamber of Commerce Board.
Funeral Director
Brent, a licensed funeral director and licensed prearrangement counselor, joined the firm in 2000. Brent produces most of our Life Celebration videos and takes care of the websites and social media. Brent and his wife Connie have six children between them; Amanda Boxley, Stephanie & Thomas Pack, Heather & Matt Johnson, Christopher & Andrea Tolleson, Shannon Tolleson & Tate; Bethany Brooke Hill; seven 1/2 grandkids; Mya Belle, Ally & Alex, Tyson, Dovovan, Lilah Maebry Pack and baby Boy Pack, two dogs Ms. Sassy and Zoey. He serves on NLC Creative Production Team and runs the cammate Jib camera. On his days off you may see him flying the friendly skies of Arkansas with his Phantom 3P, P4,P4Pro and Mavic 2 Pro drones.
Funeral Director
Billy Byrd is a funeral director who has been with Smith Family since 2016. He specializes in taking care of families during funeral and memorial services.
Funeral Director
Josh has been with the Smith Family since 2013. He lives near
Beebe with his wife and two children.
Funeral Director
Funeral Director & Embalmer
Richard, a licensed funeral director and embalmer, joined our firm in 2003.
Wife Sally, proud father of seven children and three grandkids and two great-grandkids. Member of Center Point Church in Benton. Richard has been in the funeral service since 1970.
Care Center & Cremation Center Manager
Emory, a licensed embalmer and funeral director, joined our firm in 2011. He is the manager of Smith Family Care Center along with our Cremation Centers in Little Rock & North Little Rock. Emory is a CANA certified crematory operator, an honor graduate of ASU – Mountain Home with a degree in Mortuary Science, and a member of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.
Emory has one daughter,
Erica, and is a very proud uncle to Caden, Blayklen, Nicholas & Peyton. He
and his spoiled dachshund, Doxie, live in Alexander, Arkansas. Emory is a
member of the Central Arkansas Perinatal Loss Coalition, serves on the
Association for Death Education & Counseling Credentialing Council, and
serves as Board President of Nichols Cemetery Association in Marked Tree,
Arkansas. In his free time, he enjoys cruises, road trips, camping and spending
time with his family and friends.
Senior Embalmer, Smith Family Funeral Homes
Bruce, a licensed funeral director and our senior embalmer, joined the firm in 2001. He graduated from San Francisco College of Mortuary Science in 1976, and is a certified crematory operator. He and his wife Lisa have four boys and he is a grandpa to four grandkids. Bruce is a member of Indian Springs Baptist Church.
Funeral Director & Embalmer
Ernnie is a licensed funeral director and embalmer who has been with Smith Family since 2016, when Huson Funeral Home became Smith Sherwood Funeral Home. Ernnie graduated from the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope with a funeral service degree and has also earned her embalming license. She is married to Rev. Dr. D.L. Flowers, a pastor of Faithway Baptist Church and a more than 30-year employee of the Arkansas State Police. The couple lives in Little Rock and has two daughters; Marcie, a UAPB graduate, and Kaydee, a senior at UAPB.
Funeral Director & Embalmer
Dennis is a licensed funeral director and embalmer who joined Smith Family in 2018.
Apprentice Embalmer & Funeral Director
Ashley is an apprentice embalmer and funeral director, and she joined the team as a part time employee in 2019. She is a recent graduate from Arkansas State University Mountain Home with a degree in Funeral Science. She and her husband Dylan enjoy tending to their vegetable garden, their chickens, and their two dogs, Aubrey and Rico. In her free time, you can find Ashley cooking, outside with her pets, or reading a good book.
Maintenance
Secretary/Receptionist
Jewel, who files all the insurance papers and death certificates among many other duties, joined the staff in 2002. Jewel is a mother of 2 and is a "Nana" to three beautiful grandchildren.
Receptionist
Brenda has been with Smith family since 2003.
Receptionist
Receptionist/Hostess
Receptionist & Bookkeeper Assistant
Debbie is a receptionist who joined Smith Family in 2017.
Receptionist/Hostess
Funeral Assistant
Bill Smith has spent most of his career in Trust and Investment banking and working in an Investment Advisory role. Bill grew up in Little Rock, spent several years out of state working for large banks and returned in the late 90's with one of Arkansas's largest banks. Bill received his education having attended both Hendrix College and finishing at UALR. Bill is married to the former Judy Ferguson, having six children, fourteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Bill describes his work at Smith Family Funeral Homes as a "vocation he wishes he had found years ago."
Prearrangement Consultant
David moved to Arkansas from Texas with his wife Kathy in 2012 to be near their children and grandchildren. That is when he began his career in the funeral business after 3 decades in church ministry. When the opportunity became available for him to come to work at Smith-North Little Rock Funeral Home in February of 2015, he “jumped at the chance to work for the best funeral home in Arkansas.” He loves the fact they the employees are encouraged to love and even pray with each other and our customers. David is a licensed prearrangement consultant and has helped dozens of people with their preplanning. He enjoys the opportunity to serve people.
Prearrangement Consultant
Gary is a prearrangement consultant for Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home and American Home Life Insurance Company. He and his wife have three children and is grandpa to two grandchildren. Gary serves as the pastor of Ministry of Caring at McArthur in Jacksonville.
Prearrangement Consultant
Security
Eddie handles security for our night visitations.
Prearrangement Consultant
Jeff is a prearrangement consultant who joined Smith family in 2019. He has been married to Sheila 35 years this June. They have a daughter named Jessica who is an RN in Cabot. She’s married to Matthew and they have three beautiful children, Savannah, Charlotte and Rhet. Their youngest daughter, Jennifer, is a first grade teacher in Benton. Jeff loves music and painting.
Marketing
Secretary/Marketing
Heather joined Smith family in 2018 as a community outreach assistant with the marketing team. She has since started doing secretarial work as well. Heather has three children Preston, Allie, and Alivia. Her hobbies include spending time with her family, going to church, and traveling to the beach.
Retired
Kathy, retired 2018 as our bookkeeper and works part-time as a front desk hostess, She started with the funeral home 2005. Kathy and husband Elroy are members of Forest Tower Baptist Church. Mother of two kids Kevin (Meggan) Murphy and the late Tony Murphy. Kathy is known as "Gran" to her grandkids.
Funeral Director & Embalmer
Laymon, a licensed funeral director and embalmer, joined the firm in 2001 after his retirement from Roller-Owens Funeral Home. Laymon and his wife Ruth live in North Little Rock.
Retired Visitation Host
Joe, after retiring from the military, VA Hospital as a therapist, joined the firm in 1987. He and his late wife Regina have two children and five grandchildren. They are members at St. Anne's Catholic Church.
Retired Secretary/Receptionist
Susan, who answers the phone and performs many clerical duties, joined the staff in 1990.