Obituaries

Carolyn Simmons Flynt

Photo of Carolyn Simmons Flynt
Carolyn Simmons Flynt of Fayetteville, Arkansas died April 8, 2017 in Fayetteville, Ark. She was born January 4, 1924 in Memphis, Tennessee, to William Thomas and Julia Clara Harrell Simmons. Carolyn spent much of her childhood in Stuttgart, Arkansas and graduated from Stuttgart High School in 1941. Carolyn attended Ouachita Baptist College in Arkadelphia, Arkansas where she met her future husband, Bill Flynt. She was proud to have graduated from Ouachita on the morning of May 22, 1944 and to have held her wedding ceremony in the same auditorium on the same afternoon. Carolyn and Bill moved to Fayetteville in 1944 and lived there until 1946 while Bill continued his college education at the University of Arkansas. While in Fayetteville, Carolyn was employed by the Office of the Registrar of the University of Arkansas, the War Food Administration, and Littoral Canning Company. From 1946 through 1954, Carolyn resided in Louisville, Ky., where she began her family, having her first two children while her husband completed studies at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Carolyn was a dedicated pastor's wife at the First Baptist Church of Ashland, Ky., the First Baptist Church in Millington, Tenn., the First Baptist Church of Conway, Ark., and the First Baptist Church of Danville, Va. Her youngest two sons were born while she lived in Millington, Tenn. While in Conway, Carolyn completed her Master of Elementary Education degree at the University of Central Arkansas, preparing her for a lifetime devoted to educating elementary students. In Conway, Ark., Carolyn taught at Ellen Smith Elementary School; in Danville, Va., she taught at Park Avenue, Elementary School and, upon returning to Fayetteville in 1974, Carolyn taught the fifth grade at Butterfield Trail Elementary School in Fayetteville until she retired. Carolyn was a member of Rolling Hills Baptist Church of Fayetteville since the late 1970s where she taught Sunday school for many years. Carolyn will be remembered for her many acts of kindness, her grace, and her strength, but she will be remembered most of all for her beautiful and unwavering faith. As a Sunday school teacher at Rolling Hills, she transformed each week's lesson from words on a page into tangible ways for her students to apply the message. Drawing on personal experience and her rich and amazing knowledge of the Bible, she joyfully shared the faith that sustained her for a lifetime. That faith was demonstrated not only in the Sunday school class, but in every aspect of her life. She had many talents, many gifts, but perhaps her greatest ministry was the ministry of presence. Carolyn was a woman who was always available to help whenever there was a need, and she was the one on whom we all knew we could rely. If there was a need for an extra casserole at a church dinner, Carolyn prepared it. If a granddaughter needed help with her hair before school, "Grandmother" was there to help. Her kitchen became that special place where her grandchildren could go after school while their parents finished up a late workday. Her daughters-in-law were often the recipient of her helping hand when little ones were inconsolable and only Grandmother's soft voice and gentle rocking could calm them. Our lives were deeply blessed because of her. She taught us all so much, and our deepest tribute to her will be to try to continue the ministry and faith that she so lovingly and generously shared with us. Carolyn is survived by her daughter, Kay Flynt, of Rogers, Ar.; two sons, Rick Flynt and his wife, Debra, of Fayetteville, Ark.; and Dale Flynt and his wife, Junko, of Fayetteville; one daughter-in-law, Fran Flynt of Springdale, Ark.; two brothers, Dr. James Simmons and his wife, Vanita, of Memphis, Tenn.; and Dr. Bill Simmons of Benton, Ark.; six beloved grandchildren, Zachary Flynt, and his wife, Jessica of Old Greenwich, Conn., Matthew Flynt and his wife, Allison, of New York, N.Y.; John Edward Flynt and his wife, Courtney of Ft. Worth, Texas; Callie Flynt, of Fayetteville, Ark.; Lance Flynt and his wife, Anna, of Ft. Lee, N.J.; and Bryan Flynt of Gifu, Japan; five great-grandchildren, Chloe, Braxton, Brady, Liam, and Olivia and many nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, William Thomas Simmons and Julia Clara Harrell Simmons; her husband, William T. Flynt, and her son, Thomas William Flynt. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Saturday, April 15, 2017 at Rolling Hills Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Ark. with Reverend Steve Sheely officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Memorial Gardens, Fayetteville, Ark. Memorials may be made to Rolling Hills Baptist Church, 1400 E. Rolling Hills Drive, Fayetteville, Ark. 72703, or to The Willard Walker Hospice Home, 325 E. Longview Street, Fayetteville, AR 72703. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home, Fayetteville, Arkansas. To sign the online guest book visit www.nelsonberna.com.

Published April 13, 2017

Upcoming Events