Sherwood

Hannah Chambers Ashley, Funeral Director and Assistant Manager, joined Smith Family Funeral Homes in 2017. Shortly thereafter, she began working toward her funeral director’s license which she received in 2020. Hannah is a National Funeral Directors Association Meet the Mentors graduate and attended The International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association University in 2023.

Hannah says “My purpose as a funeral director is to provide compassionate and dignified end-

of-life services with unwavering integrity. Through my work, I strive to offer solace and support

to grieving families, honoring their loved ones’ lives while helping them navigate this difficult

journey.”

Hannah is a native of North Little Rock and attended North Little Rock High School. She and her husband Chuck enjoy the lake, beach time in Florida and being around their family and friends.

They have three cats, Ruffles, Loretta Lynn and Ruby.

jennifer@smithfamilycares.com

Office: (501) 758-1170

Mobile: (501) 590-7928

patricia@smithfamilycares.com

Mobile: 501-288-1266

Jeff Smith joined the staff in June 2006 as a funeral director. In 2010 Jeff and his wife Leslie stepped into the role of leading the funeral homes. They plan to continue the legacy of the funeral home. Jeff graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor's Degree in Small Business Management and the University of Memphis with an MBA. He is proud to carry on the Smith family tradition of funeral service. He and Leslie are the proud parents of three children, Hayden, Kaylee, and Sawyer. As Vice President, Leslie adds her motherly touch to the Smith Family.

John Stephen Smith took over as President of North Little Rock Funeral Home in 1972 when he was 23 years old. John's father, Clifford, founded the funeral home on Valentine's Day, 1955.

John had worked in the funeral home in some capacity since its inception when Clifford and Frances Smith moved their family into the upper level of the funeral home.

Kay, John's wife, has worked at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home since 1977. Kay oversees the clerical work and helps on services as needed.

In 2010, John retired and sold the funeral home to his son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Leslie Smith.

Clay came to work at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home in 1979 as an apprentice funeral director. He became a licensed Funeral Director in 1982 after serving his apprenticeship. He then went to Mortuary School in Dallas and was licensed as an embalmer in 1983.

He was Manager of Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home from 2005 to 2015, and is now General Manager of Operations of all Smith Family Funeral Homes.

Clay and his wife Audrey have two children, Adam and Holly, and is "PaPa" to his five grandchildren, Clayton, Harleigh, Kennedy, Beau, and Hollyn.

Clay and his wife are members of Immanual Baptist Church in Sheridan. When not at work, Clay raises horses, long horn cows, chickens and he likes to hunt and fish.

Craig is a Regional Manager,  licensed funeral director and embalmer. He has been with Smith Family Funeral Homes since 2010.  

He oversees the daily operations of five of the full-service funeral homes that fall under the Smith Family Funeral Homes umbrella. They are: Smith Westbrook-Beebe; Ruggles Wilcox-Arkadelphia; Smith Family Funeral Homes-Hot Springs; Smith Family Funeral Homes-Glenwood and Smith Family Funeral Homes-Sherwood. 

Craig has 38 years of funeral service management experience. He assists each location manager in ensuring their facilities are providing the best service for their community and the best work environment for their employees.

Outside of work, Craig serves on the Sherwood Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Emory, a licensed Embalmer & Funeral Director, joined our firm in 2011. He is the Manager of Smith Family Care Center along with our Cremation Centers in Little Rock, North Little Rock & Glenwood.  Emory is a CANA certified crematory operator, an honor graduate of ASU – Mountain Home with a degree in Mortuary Science, and a member of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. Emory received scholarships to attend ICCFA University in 2019 & 2021, and he is the 2020 recipient of the Clifford Smith Award. 

Emory has one adult daughter, Erica, and is a very proud uncle to Nicholas & Peyton. He and his spoiled dachshunds, Doxie & Frankie, live in Shannon Hills, Arkansas. Emory is a member of the Central Arkansas Perinatal Loss Coalition and serves as Board President of Nichols Cemetery Association in Marked Tree, Arkansas. When not at work, Emory serves as a Captain with Northeast Saline County Fire Department and enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.