Jerry Billy Pendergist

Jerry Billy Pendergist was born on April 18, 1940, in McCrory, Arkansas, to Jesse and Ibria (Cariker) Pendergist. Growing up in the community of McCrory, and Augusta, he graduated from Augusta high school, where he was a varsity star in football. He went on to play college football for the state teacher college in Conway, now known as the University of Central Arkansas. After college, Jerry tried his hand for a while at farming and a few other professional pursuits, but soon found his forte was banking and municipal securities. Banking took Jerry on a journey away from his roots, starting in Memphis.

Growing up in a Baptist Church, but without any personal relationship with Jesus, Jerry lived the life of a youthful sinner, until the hound of heaven finally caught up with Jerry in the early 1970s. Following a business lunch with a friend at Diane’s, the famous restaurant atop the 100 N. Main building in Memphis, Jerry had his pivotal encounter with the Lord. On the elevator ride down from the top of the tallest building in Memphis at the time, Jerry realized that if the elevator failed, he was going down even further, straight to hell. Very soon, Jerry was at the home of another Christian friend where he was greeted with the words, “I hear you want to meet a Friend of mine“. So began Jerry’s walk with Jesus. Jerry would immediately begin to devour the Bible, associated books, tracts, pamphlets, and tapes (it was the 70s!) of all things Christian. In the mid 70's, the Lord led Jerry to take a position in Honolulu, Hawaii as a favor to a friend. For most of us this would be a dream posting, but for Jerry, it was too far from the black swamp of the Cache River in Woodruff County. Nevertheless, it was in Hawaii Jerry first met Denise. After marriage and a short stint in Knoxville, Tennessee, Jerry and Denise were back in Memphis. Finally, in 1986, they made their way to Stephen’s Inc. as Vice President of the government trading desk in Little Rock. Home at last...but still maintaining dual-citizenship in Gregory.

To say that Jerry Billy was an avid sportsman would be a grand understatement. Growing up the son of the Woodruff County sheriff, not only did Jerry learn to fear the law, he learned to love the swampy bottoms of the Cache River Valley. He was an accomplished hunter and fisherman, an avid duck call collector, and eventually a skilled craftsman. What began as collecting and critiquing calls led Jerry to start making his own, resulting in his custom duck call business, Snazz Duck Calls, which he built with the same care, precision, and personality that marked everything he did. The time between hunting and fishing seasons was often filled with fine-tuning duck calls, and preparing for the next duck season in the blind.

When his red truck was parked in front of the cabin in Gregory, it meant a steady stream of visitors, guests, hunting and fishing buddies, old friends, and new acquaintances would be pouring through the “Pool Hall”; the unofficial name of the official meeting place for all things Woodruff County. You see, hunting, and fishing and opining on the most current Razorback misery was not simply a way to spend time in Gregory. It was the method Jerry used to build relationships. And relationships were at the very heart of everything Jerry did. Time in a duck blind or a fishing boat meant time for uninterrupted conversation. Whether it was recalling an old funny story, duck calling tuneups & lessons, or dissecting the most current grave spiritual conflict, Jerry had and took the time to listen closely, think biblically, and speak wisely. Always, and in every conversation, Jerry took his companions back to Jesus and to the foot of the cross. Relationship with Jerry meant that very soon we would learn about his most cherished relationship, the one with his Lord and Savior, Jesus. Such was “how it was” with Jerry.

Jerry Billy passed away on December 25, 2025. Jerry has been preceded in death by his parents, by an older brother, Jesse Junior, and by an an older sister, Flo Della. But because of his many deep relationships, Jerry leaves many to grieve his passing. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Denise; by three children: Cody (Brian) Hollis of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Cami Darnell of Farmington, Arkansas, and Bill (Amy) Pendergist, of Little Rock; 10 grandchildren: Samuel Hollis, Isaac (Kethryn) Hollis, Isabel Hollis, Madison (James) Hawk, Chance Darnell, Sarah Darnell, Sophie Pendergist, Sadie Pendergist, Jack Pendergist, and Jude Pendergist; five great grandchildren: Edmund and Juliet Hollis, Phoenix Pendergrass, Caladria Pendergrass, and Jameson Hawk; one nephew: Dickey (Darlene) Pendergist; and innumerable other family & friends, whose lives have been enriched through knowing this country boy from Woodruff County, Arkansas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to:

Immanuel Baptist Church

501 N Shackleford Rd

Little Rock, Arkansas 72211

Or

American Family Association

P.O. Drawer 2440

Tupelo, Mississippi 38803

Smith Little Rock Funeral Home

8801 Knoedl Ct, Little Rock, AR 72205 501-224-2200

www.SmithFamilyCares.com