Nancy Lee Balsam

Nancy Lee Claxton Essley Balsam, 87, born July 5, 1936, passed away on October 18th, 2023. Born to loving parents Lee Porter and Katherine Claxton. Nancy was a wonderful Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother.

Nancy was a 1954 graduate of Little Rock High School (Central), where she made her lifelong friendships with a large group of truly endearing people. Always one to think of others, she filled her retirement years volunteering at many different places around Little Rock. She was a selfless, God-fearing woman with endless generosity.

Preceded in death by sons Steven Lee, William Neil Essley, husbands Wayne L. Essley and Valentino Balsam, she will be sorely missed by children Janis Head and Wayne Essley, granddaughter Caroline Valdez (Cornelio) and great-grandchildren Cecilya Sliter, Valentino Garcia, Marcelo Martinez and Austen Essley.

Rosary and Visitation will be held Thursday, October 26th at 5:30-7:00pm at Smith Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Court, Little Rock AR 72205. Holy Catholic Funeral Mass Friday, October 27th at 1:30 PM at Christ the King Catholic Church, 4000 N Rodney Parham Rd, Little Rock, AR 72212.