Patricia Ann Newsom

Patricia, better known as Pat, 86 of Cabot, Arkansas, formally of Natchez, Mississippi passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on June 16, 2023, just 4 days shy of her 87^th birthday.

Pat was born June 20, 1936 in Natchez, Mississippi in her family home to her late parents, William Therrell Woodward and Mary Mackin Woodward. She is a 1955 graduate of Cathedral High School in Natchez.

She was employed at the Eola Hotel in Natchez for several years, where she met many celebrities and liked to tell the story about when she literally bumped into Elvis Presley at the Louisiana Hayride. Later in life, she became a switchboard operator for South Central Bell until becoming a stay at home mother. Family was the most important thing to Pat. She loved her sisters and baby brother and helped to raise them after the untimely death of both of her parents at an early age.

She was welcomed into Heaven by her parents, a sister, Betty Bromwell, her daughter, Billie Jean Ellington, a granddaughter, MaKenzi Rushing Jackson, a special niece and Goddaughter, Corrie Clay, and special friends, Virginia Patridge and Marion Thomas Hutton.

Pat was an accomplished poet and wrote many beautiful poems, mostly about her family but also about a wide range of topics, both serious and funny.

She is survived by her daughters, Mary Beth Johansson (Larry) of White Hall, Arkansas, Rebecca Jacobson of Cabot, Arkansas, Lori Cox of Daphine, Alabama, Catherine Holzwarth of Cabot, Arkansas and bonus daughter, Kimberly Baker of Jacksonville, Arkansas. Her grandchildren, Arin Rushing, Jason Ellington, Kimberly Passini, Danny Ellington Jr, Travis Ellington, Katie Aikanoff, Eric Johansson, Chelsea Alaniz, Brandon Cox and Tyler Cox and her 19 great grandchildren, her sisters, Bonnie Woodward, Kathleen Clay and her baby brother John Lamar Woodward.

Pallbearers will be Jason Ellington, DJ Ellington, Arin Rushing, Travis Ellington, Brandon Cox and Eric Johansson. Honorary pallbearer will be Tyler Cox. Officiating will be Mike Chapman.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital, a charity that was near and dear to Pat. She was a monthly donor for 25 years, whether she could afford it or not, or the charity of your choice.

Visitation will be 1:00-3:00 PM, Monday, June 19, 2023 at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home. Graveside service will be 12:00 PM, Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at Natchez City Cemetery in Natchez, Mississippi.

Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St., North Little Rock, AR  72114.  501-758-1170.