Norma Jean Childress

Norma was born on January 26, 1927 to Ferrell and Addie Mae (Ussery) Allison in Perryville, Arkansas. After graduating from Perryville High School, Norma met the late H.L. “Kim” Kimbrough while working at Shorty’s Cafe on the Courthouse Square. They went on to marry and raise four spirited daughters: Jennie Jones, Judy Weiss, Jean Fitzwater, and Jan Sloss before Kim’s passing in 1976.

Norma had been a member of the First Baptist Church of Perryville since 1938, and was a long-serving member of Ragsdale Cemetery Board. She served as a member of the Perryville School District Board for 10 years, and for many years, she worked at Conway County Hospital. She also owned and operated a variety of businesses over a 30 year period, including a hotel, a gift shop, a washeteria, and a dress shop.

Known as “Mamaw” or “Miss Norma” to most of Perry County, her crown jewels were her grandchildren: Jenneal (Pat) Welch, Tim Jones, Julie (Jeff) Morgan, Janie (Michael) West, Russell (Suzanna) Weiss, Donnie Weiss, Jeannie (Kelly) Hill, Leslie Harden, Kimberlee (Brad) Carden, Lance (Rachael) Fitzwater, and Jim Sloss.

She taught many neighborhood children to tie a mean fishing knot. Even long after they had outgrown trick-or-treating, adults would still stop by to collect a homemade popcorn ball every Halloween. The correct measurement for every ingredient in her old fashioned banana pudding was “some”. She loved a good church choir and singing hymns on Sunday morning, sitting next to all of her kids, but Heaven help you if you ever commented on the rollers in her hair, should she make a quick trip to the store in them.

Norma found love again and a dancing partner with widower Leo Childress whom she married in 1991. They jitterbugged through their golden years together until his passing in 2007. Norma was also predeceased by her parents and her brothers, Merrell and Darrell. She is survived by her four daughters, son-in-law Gus Jones, 11 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, 24 great great grandchildren, and one great great great grandchild.

The family will receive guests at the First Baptist Church in Perryville on Tuesday, December 13th from 5:30-7:30 pm. In honor of her loyalty to the Razorbacks, guests are encouraged to don their red for the visitation.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, December 14th at 10 am at the church with Bro. Horace Gray and Bro. Jason Campbell officiating. Burial will follow at Ragsdale Cemetery.

Pallbearers include her grandsons: Tim Jones, Russell Weiss, Donnie Weiss, Lance Fitzwater, Jim Sloss, Pat Welch, Jeff Morgan, Michael West, Kelly Hill, and Brad Carden.

Memorials may be made to Ragsdale Cemetery and the First Baptist Church of Perryville

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.griffinleggettconway.com for the Childress family.