Obituary for Jennifer Cox Smith

Photo of Jennifer Cox Smith
Jennifer Cox Smith

Jennifer Cox Smith of Jonesboro, who performed in the Northwest Arkansas Gridiron in 1988 and was the niece of Brenda Blagg, died April 4, 2018, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis. She was 48.

Jennifer was born in Jonesboro and lived 18 years in Walnut Ridge, where she was a 1987 graduate of Walnut Ridge High School. She lived briefly in Fayetteville and Washington, D.C., before returning to Jonesboro where she graduated from Arkansas State University. Jennifer was a member of First United Methodist Church of Walnut Ridge.

Jennifer married David Smith in 1995 and they made their home in Jonesboro, where she loved to invite old and new friends into their home. Jennifer thoroughly enjoyed hosting family reunions, business dinners and community philanthropic gatherings with equal enthusiasm. It was a tradition on the Smith Farm in Lawrence County that during harvest, Jennifer would arise early each morning, prepare a meal for each worker, labeling each dish and delivering it to that person at lunch time.

Jennifer was an active member of the Northeast Arkansas Humane Society, board member of the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Northeast Arkansas Women’s Crisis Center. She was active in Make-A-Wish, Arkansas Children’s Hospital Run for the Roses Celebration, and the Lawrence County Ralph Joseph Leadership Class. Jennifer was a Chi Omega National Advisor and was a past Lawrence County Rice Queen.

Survivors included her husband, David Smith of the home; her parents: Jerry and Sondra Cox of Jonesboro; one son, Andrew Smith of Pasadena, California; a sister, Deana; a brother Chad Cox of Fayetteville; two nieces: Eden McCormack and Haven McCormack; two nephews: Zachary Cox and Nicholas Cox; and her two Italian greyhounds, Roxy and Rita.

Entombment was at the Jonesboro Memorial Park Mausoleum under the direction of Emerson Memorial Chapel.

Pallbearers included Seth Bemis, Neil York, Bobby Willis, Danny Finch, Johnny Smith and Ray Stone.

For lasting memorials, the family asked that consideration be given to the Northeast Arkansas Women’s Crisis Center, PO Box 721, Jonesboro, AR 72403, or Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation, PO Box 2222, Little Rock, AR 72203.