Norma Jean Stotts

Norma Jean Carner Stotts was born October 1, 1934, to Albert “AB” Marion and Ora (Adcock) Carner of Lake City, Arkansas, and met her Savior face-to-face on Saturday, August 30, 2025.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 55 years, Lloyd John Stotts, Jr.; her daughter, Patricia JoAnn Panneck; brothers Eugene “Bootsie” Carner, Raymond “Hatchet” Carner, and Billy Joe Carner, all of Lake City; and sisters Leavourn McGough, Juanita Adams, Bonnie Carner, Bettye Emerik, and Sarah Overman.

She is survived by her children, Daniel Taylor Stotts of Haskell; David Lloyd Stotts (Lisa Barnett) of Jonesboro; and Melissa Stotts Cole (Randall) of Maumelle; grandchildren, Susanna Cole of Maumelle and Michael Jon Panneck of Jonesboro; and brother, Marion “Buddy” Carner of Lake City.

Norma grew up on the prairie outside Lake City and moved to Jonesboro at the age of 37. She was an honor graduate of Lake City High School, Class of 1952. She was a retired public school teacher.  She taught at Lake City, Lafe High School, MacArthur Middle School and completed her career teaching Kindergarten for Jonesboro Public Schools.  After retirement, she was a tutor at Jonesboro Adult Education Center for 9 more years.  After raising her family, she earned her Master of Early Childhood Education from Arkansas State University, along with 45 hours of post-master’s credit. Among her many students was Bart Barber, who later became President of the Southern Baptist Convention—a fact Norma was proud to share as one of her favorite teaching memories.

She raised her family in the church and was a longtime member of Central Baptist Church of Jonesboro. In her later years, she was active in the JOY Sunday School class in Maumelle.

Throughout her life, Norma was blessed with many dear friends, including Johnni Huckabee of Jonesboro, Joy Rapert of Lake City, and Mary Jo Myers of Mayflower.

Norma Jean was a determined and vibrant woman. If she set her sights on something, she pursued it with energy, humor, and a competitive spirit—especially on the badminton court. She began competing in the Arkansas Senior Olympics in her late 60s, where she discovered her love for the sport. She went on to be named “Outstanding Woman Field Athlete” at the 1999 Arkansas Senior Olympics and earned runner-up in the national badminton championship final in Louisiana in 2001.

She also loved traveling, gardening, and sharing the beauty of her flowers—particularly her impatiens—with friends and neighbors.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org), the Arkansas Senior Olympics (www.arseniorolympics.org), or Alzheimer’s Arkansas (www.alzark.org).

Family will greet friends from 6:30–7:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 4, at Christ Church of Central Arkansas, 9732 Maumelle Blvd, Maumelle, AR 72113, with a Celebration of Life to follow at 7:30 p.m. Pastor Chris Perry will officiate. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 5, 2025, at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery, 3910 Harrisburg Road, Jonesboro, AR 72401, with Pastors Chuck Owens and Bill Panneck officiating. Services are under the direction of Emerson Funeral Home of Jonesboro.